Software.com Find us on

Search

New users

Sign Up with Facebook

Don't use Facebook?

Create an account on Software.com to receive additional membership advantages, and to shop online quickly and easily.

Joining is free. All you need is a valid email address.

7 Jul 2011 By ABradney-George

Apple Store Options For Final Cut X

7 Jul

Before Jumping Onto The Online Apple Store For Final Cut X, Check Out What Kind Of Bundles And Options Are Available To Get The Most Out Of This Software.

With the recent launch of Apple's new version of Final Cut comes some more options for downloading this program and other software that will complement it. The Apple Store website now offers Final Cut Pro X with Motion 5 and Compressor 4 to make the video editing process even easier.

To get an idea of what this Apple Store bundle could mean for people considering a Final Cut Pro X purchase, here is a look at each program and how they work together.

Final Cut Pro X

Final Cut Pro X is a nonlinear video editing application that has been used by professionals and hobby editors alike. Apple was one of the first software developers to create and release a nonlinear video editing program, ideal for the digital video editing revolution.

One of the biggest benefits of Final Cut Pro X is that it includes the key sound editing and color grading features from Final Cut Studio, so only single application is needed for the entire post-production process.

Apple Motion 5

Apple's Motion 5 is a new interface designed for editors to help make eye-catching titles, transitions, and effects that will complement the video footage. Some of the features of Motion 5 that will complement Final Cut Pro include:

64-bit architecture to help develop multilayered effects
Color-sync management across applications
High quality rendering
Unlimited file sizes for stills and video; and
Dynamic feedback options to optimize the final product

There are entire blogs and websites designed to help people get the most out of Apple's Motion software. In fact some of them, like Mark Spencer's Apple Motion site, will provide comprehensive tutorials for more advanced tasks like working with 3D particles.

Apple Compressor 4

Compressor is a robust encoding add-on for Final Cut Pro, allowing people to save time during the export process by customizing output settings and distributing encoding tasks between multiple computers.

As well as allowing people to share different settings, the Compressor options for customized output allow you to select the features of different elements including:

Codecs
File sizes; and
Frame rates

When these settings are saved they will automatically appear in the Compressor settings menu in Final Cut Pro so that they can be used time and time again. As with any type of media, file compression can play a big part in the quality of the finished product, while also keeping file size within an optimum range.

With these two additions to Apple Final Cut Pro X, there are even more ways to make basic editing look professional and professional editing look as pristine as possible. But if you are only just switching over to Final Cut from another program, it may be better to consider waiting before looking into these additional applications. That way you can adjust to the program and compare other video editing software before making a decision.