On the heels of announcing new music creation tools for Logic Pro on Mac and iPad, Apple has also updated Final Cut Pro for video editing on both the Mac and iPad as well. The new features are designed to help streamline workflows.
Final Cut Pro now includes improvements in timeline navigation and organization, as well as new ways to simplify complex edits. The apps leverage the power-efficient performance of Apple silicon along with a new machine learning model for Object Tracker. Export speeds are turbocharged on Mac models as well, powered by multiple media engines.
To ensure that creators maintain their flow while editing complex timelines, Final Cut Pro introduces automatic timeline scrolling, making it easier to stay focused by keeping their clips in view under the playhead during playback. Editors can dynamically adjust their timeline view during playback by using the Zoom tool or keyboard shortcuts.
This update will also allow editors to see the organization of their timeline at-a-glance and easily differentiate clips by assigned role, improving the experience of viewing video and audio role colours. The distinct colours also let you identify and highlight clips by role using the timeline index.
Editors can now work more efficiently by quickly cleaning up complex sections of the timeline and can fine-tune the edit by combining a selected group of overlapping connected clips into a single connected storyline. To further streamline organization, editors can also combine connected clips with existing connected storylines.
Video professionals often work on multiple projects at once, and with this update, exporting these projects is now faster. Speed up H.264 and HEVC exports by automatically sending video segments to available media engines for simultaneous processing.
Object tracking now offers a wide range of possibilities for creating effects with its new machine-learning model. Results are improved when using Object Tracker to analyze the movement of faces and other objects on Mac computers with Apple silicon. Final Cut Pro will choose the most suitable analysis when the analysis method is set to automatic.
Final Cut Pro for iPad, meanwhile, brings new features to further enhance the portable Multi-Touch editing experience, including support for voiceover recording, expanded in-app content options, added colour-grading presets, and workflow improvements.
The latest update to Final Cut Pro for iPad delivers a powerful set of tools for video creators to record, edit, finish, and share, all from one device.
Adding live audio is more convenient with this update as well. Creators can easily record narration and live audio directly in the timeline using the built-in microphones or external microphones on their iPad. Tap record as you play the timeline, or find the exact point where you want to start a voiceover and use a countdown to start.
Turn stabilization on in the pro camera mode to improve shaky footage for smoother videos, or turn it off to emphasize action and movement. Footage can be ingested directly into a project, so creators can start editing even faster with new enhancements such as connected storylines.
Creators can increase their efficiency by combining a selected group of connected clips or storylines and consolidating them into a single connected storyline. The new group command combines the power of the Magnetic Timeline with connected clips and organizes the timeline.
New keyboard shortcuts for voiceover and grouping clips help further increase editing speed. Finish your videos with a number of new colour-grading presets and a selection of new titles and generators to dial in the perfect look.
Final Cut Pro for iPad also supports the ability to import projects created in iMovie for iOS, and iPad users can export their Final Cut Pro projects to Mac for additional tools, like advanced colour correction and expanded third-party content options.
These updates to Final Cut Pro will be available later this month on the App Store. Final Cut Pro 10.7 will be available later this month as a free update for existing users and US$300 for new users on the Mac App Store. All users can download a free 90-day trial of Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Pro for iPad 1.3 will be available later this month as a free update for existing users, and available on the App Store for US$5 per month or US$49 per year with a one-month free trial. Final Cut Pro is compatible with M1 chip iPad models or later and requires iPadOS 16.6.