∞ Apple posts Final Cut Pro X FAQ

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Apple has posted a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list for Final Cut Pro X, its recently released pro video editing software. The FAQ seeks to answer some questions that users transitioning to the new software have asked.

[ad#Google Adsense 300x250 in story]Final Cut Pro X – now available for download from the Mac App Store, exclusively – has been one of Apple’s more controversial software introductions. The software is ostensibly the replacement for Final Cut Pro 7, which is used extensively in digital video and film editing.

But since its release earlier in June FCP X has been heavily criticized by FCP 7 users who say that it’s missing crucial features and functionality that they depend on to do their work – including no import function for existing FCP 7 projects. Some have even gone so far to deride FCP X as “iMovie Pro,” saying that it’s a more elaborate version of Apple’s video editing software aimed at amateurs and consumers.

In the FAQ, Apple acknowledges that there’s no way to import Final Cut Pro 7 projects, citing Final Cut Pro X’s “all-new project architecture.” Apple notes that FCP 7 can work side-by-side with FCP X, however, and that it will also work with Mac OS X “Lion” when it debuts in July.

FCP X supports video importing from many cameras including AVCHD models, though Apple acknowledges that some camera manufacturers will nee to update their plug-ins to support FCP X’s new 64-bit architecture. Apple has a similar comment about graphics and audio plug-ins.

Apple also notes that FCP X lacks support for “all the tape capture and output features” of its predecessor, and that multi-camera editing, while not supported today, is coming in the next major update. XML support is also coming in a future release, and Apple plans to release a set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that will enable developers to create tools to support OML, AAF, EDL and other exchange formats.

Apple also notes that volume licensing is coming for quantities of 20 or more.


  • CJ

    This is an odd release by Apple. I am a Logic user and appreciate the “Apple-ness” that was brought to the program. But this reminds me more of the iMovie ’08 update, where many capabilities were removed. Why didn’t Apple just wait until this was ready? The multi-camera feature is crucial, and believe it or not, so is the output to tape. A huge percentage of houses still use tape as a format, as it is universal, etc.
    Don’t get it. 
    Of course I write this while I’m trying to figure out how to RE-DO my entire website once iWeb is discontinued!!!!! Really pissed about this one!

  • http://twitter.com/ShawnKing Shawn King

    Apple responds to the Final Cut Pro X brouhaha…with information they should have had out at launch….

    • Steven Fisher

      Absolutely, they should have had this ready at launch. I wonder if they even realized at launch they’d need it in the future? My guess is they got caught completely blind on this.

      • http://twitter.com/ShawnKing Shawn King

        If they got “caught completely blind on this”, I’d worry about Apple. This uproar was *completely* predictable and understandable and, even worse, has happened many times in the past. Apple should have known better. We expect smarter from them, don’t we?

        • Steven Fisher

          I do expect better, absolutely, but I can’t see why they would have rolled FCPX out the way they did without this information if they were expecting this reaction. Not without going into crazy conspiracy theories, anyway. :)

  • http://twitter.com/ShawnKing Shawn King

    I can – no “crazy conspiracy theories” needed.

    Apple doesn’t care about Professional Video Editors. Check this out:

    http://yml.me/mGtt0K

    From someone whose high end product, Shake, was absorbed into Apple.