Final Cut Pro is a professional, non-linear video-editing application developed by Apple, designed to revolutionize the post-production process for video editors.
What it Does
Final Cut Pro is an all-encompassing tool for creating, editing, and producing high-quality video content. It supports the import and editing of a wide range of video formats, from standard-definition to 8K resolution, including ProRes, ProRes RAW, and all major professional camera formats. This makes it an ideal solution for filmmakers, videographers, and content creators who need robust and versatile editing capabilities.Key Features
Editing and Organization
- Magnetic Timeline: Allows non-destructive editing of clips, enabling users to move, trim, and reorder clips without collisions or syncing problems. The timeline fluidly adjusts adjacent clips to eliminate gaps and sync issues.
- Compound Clips: Enables users to bundle video and audio clips into a single, movable package, simplifying the editing process.
- Smart Collections and Metadata: Users can tag clips and clip ranges with metadata, create Smart Collections based on custom criteria, and automatically assign keywords like “One Person” or “Wide Shot” to streamline the organization of media.
Advanced Editing Tools
- Multicamera Editing: Automatically syncs up to 64 angles of video with different formats, frame sizes, and frame rates. Users can view up to 16 angles at once and edit individual clips in the timeline.
- 360° Video Editing: Supports the import, editing, and playback of 360° equirectangular video in various formats and frame sizes, including VR headset playback.
- Ripple, Roll, Slip, and Slide Edits: Utilize state-of-the-art trimming tools and an inline precision editor to fine-tune edits.
Color Grading and Correction
- Professional Color Grading Tools: Includes a dedicated color inspector with color wheels, color curves, and hue/saturation curves. Users can apply camera and creative Look Up Tables (LUTs) and adjust corrections over time using keyframes. The tools support High Dynamic Range (HDR) video and include high-resolution scopes to gauge HDR brightness levels.
- HDR Support: Allows users to import, edit, grade, and deliver HDR video, including support for Dolby Vision and automatic color conforming from SDR to HDR or vice versa.
Visual Effects and Graphics
- Built-in Effects and Transitions: Offers over 300 built-in special effects, transitions, and generators that can be adjusted with precision keyframes and onscreen controls.
- 2D and 3D Titles: Enables the creation of studio-quality 2D and 3D titles, which can be set in motion directly within the application. Introduced in version 10.2, 3D titles can be extruded, textured, lit, and shaded with materials and environments.
- Motion Graphics Integration: Users can create stunning effects and graphics in Motion, Apple’s professional imaging effects app, and then open and adjust them in Final Cut Pro.
Performance and Integration
- GPU Acceleration and Multithreading: Utilizes Metal for significant speed improvements, allowing users to take advantage of external GPUs and multithreading to spread tasks across multiple CPU cores. This results in faster render times, especially on high-end Macs like the Mac Pro.
- Background Tasks: Performs tasks such as auto-saving, rendering, transcoding, and media management in the background, ensuring an uninterrupted editing experience.
Additional Features
- Closed Captions: Allows users to add closed captions in various formats without the need for third-party software or services.
- Workflow Extensions: Integrates with third-party apps and services, such as Frame.io for review and approval, Shutterstock for stock footage, and CatDV for enhanced media asset management.