At the MacBook event, Apple also announced an update to its video editing app – Final Cut Pro X. It now gets new features for the Magnetic Timeline, Touch Bar integration on the new MacBook Pro and a redesigned interface. The Touch Bar replaces the keyboard’s traditional function row with a Retina-quality Multi-Touch display, which adapts to Final Cut Pro X. Besides, Apple has also released updates to Motion and Compressor.
“This is our biggest update to Final Cut Pro X since we completely redesigned it five years ago,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Apps Product Marketing. “The new version features a sleek interface and adds powerful new editing features that go far beyond what’s possible with traditional, track-based video editing apps; and integration with the revolutionary Touch Bar gives professional video editors a whole new way to interact with Final Cut Pro X.”
The all-new Magnetic Timeline in Final Cut Pro X is aimed to help users understand their film at a glance with customisable arrangement and colour coding of audio clips based on type or “role” such as dialogue, music and effects. Apple says it is easy to create and assign roles, and also give each one a unique colour. Moreover, for the first time, pro video software will also let users simply drag to instantly rearrange the vertical layout of their timeline or even highlight particular audio roles when editing.
Next in line is integrating the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro that lets users adapt to each task and also present intuitive controls. When using Final Cut Pro X, the Touch Bar will let you instantly switch between editing tools, adjust audio levels and tap into commands for trimming and playback. You will also find a colour-coded, interactive overview of the entire timeline.
The interface has been redesigned with darker, flat look to put the focus on the content, and there are customisable workspaces to adjust window arrangements for different tasks. There is also full support for wide colour workflows to let users import, edit and deliver video in standard Rec. 601 and Rec. 709 colour spaces, or in wide gamut Rec. 2020 colour space, Apple writes in its press note.
Some other highlights include Final Cut Pro 10.3 to include smooth jump cuts, easy deletion and reuse of select effects across multiple clips, timecode overlay effect , support for ProRes MXF, Panasonic V-Log and export of AVC-Intra, and direct video output via Thunderbolt 3 will allow high-quality video monitoring on an external display with a single cable.
Motion 5.3 offers a new interface that supports wide colour workflows and 3D text enhancements to improve the realism of 3D titles. And, the all-new Align To behaviour will let users easily connect separate objects to create advanced animations. Compressor 4.3 is said to come with a new dark look to match Final Cut Pro X and Motion.
Final Cut Pro 10.3 is available as a free update for existing users, and at Rs 18,500 for new users on the Mac App Store. Motion 5.3 and Compressor 4.3 are also available as a free update today for existing users and for Rs 3100 each for new users on the Mac App Store.