Final Cut Pro 4, the next generation of Apple's Emmy award-winning editing software, will go on sale June 14, 2003 at 4:00 pm at participating Apple stores (www.apple.com). The suggested price is $999. Registered Final Cut Pro users can upgrade to Final Cut Pro 4 for $399.
Final Cut Pro 4 introduces more than 300 new features, including RT Extreme for realtime compositing and effects, powerful new interface customization tools, new high-quality 8- and 10-bit uncompressed formats, full 32-bit floating point per channel video processing, advanced trimming plus timeline tools such as support for dynamic and asymmetrical trimming and enhanced audio editing capabilities with multi-track audio mixing and multi-channel audio output. Final Cut Pro 4 also includes three completely new complimentary applications -- LiveType for advanced titling, Soundtrack for music creation and Compressor for full-featured batch transcoding.
With its open architecture, Final Cut Pro 4 leads the emergence of a new ecosystem of professional video solutions based on open formats and industry standards. Final Cut Pro 4 fits into virtually any production pipeline and provides developer extensibility through a new XML interchange format and FireWire-based I/O framework. Partners such as Panasonic, AJA, Automatic Duck, Quantel, Pinnacle, Omneon and Curious Graphics have already announced tools that integrate Final Cut Pro 4 into a wide range of production workflows.
"With features like RT Extreme and support for an open and extensible XML interchange format, we're really excited about Final Cut Pro 4 and will be upgrading to it as soon as it ships," said John Papola, director/producer, Nickelodeon Creative Resources. "What sets Final Cut Pro apart from other professional video editing solutions is its powerful, flexible and efficient workflow. I love the fact that Final Cut Pro 4 allows me to capture and transport uncompressed audio and video to any of my Macs over FireWire. Since the media is stored in standard QuickTime format, there is far greater flexibility than any Avid-based solution for our unique workflow. I can cut on any Mac, with any combination of formats open all at once. And now the XML format will let you take your project to other systems seamlessly."
Sina Tamaddon, Apple's sr vp of applications, noted that "Final Cut Pro 4 sets new standards in video editing" because its full 32-bit floating point per channel video processing is available for the first time in an editing system costing less than $100,000.
Full system requirements and more information on Final Cut Pro 4, including a list of certified, compatible hardware and software can be found at www.apple.com/finalcutpro.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
