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Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has unveiled Final Cut Studio Pro 2 -- an upgrade of its suite of production, audio and graphics editing tools -- to rave reviews at the National Association of Broadcasters now underway in Las Vegas. The software is slated for release in May at a retail price of at US$1,299 for the complete package or $499 for an upgrade.
The Final Cut upgrade is a nice step forward for Apple, according to Michael Gartenberg, research director at JupiterResearch.
"The new features added to the suite cement Apple's position as a leading vendor for professionals that create [video and audio] content," he told MacNewsWorld.
Apples to Adobe
The closest likely competitor -- if it can be called that, considering the many differences between the two applications -- is Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) Creative Suite 3, which is now hitting store shelves. It has been rewritten to leverage the new Intel-based Macs, Gartenberg noted.
Ultimately, though, Apple's fanatically loyal user base is unlikely to be swayed by new options available on the market, he said.
"The marketing message Apple is delivering with Final Cut Pro is that it is a total experience that they are providing," Gartenberg added. Apple is delivering both high-end software and high-end hardware to an audience whose hearts and minds it has already won.
These users don't have to be sold on the value of a Macintosh product line, he said.
New Features
Final Cut Studio Pro 2 contains upgrades of several features in Final Cut Pro 6, Motion 3, Soundtrack Pro 2, and Compressor 3.
For instance, the new open format Timeline in Final Cut Pro 6 lets users mix and match source material in different formats and frame rates.
Final Cut Pro 6 also introduces ProRes 422, Apple's new post-production format that can be used when collaborating over an Xsan storage network or working on a portable computer in the field.
Other uses include working with non-native camera formats and preserving quality for composites and color grading work.
Soundtrack Pro 2 has a new single-window interface with tools for such tasks as selecting takes, spotting sound to video, and removing noise from field recordings.
Motion 3 offers two new options for correcting shaky shots. The image stabilizer can lock down a shot without setup required by most stabilization tools, Apple said.
The SmoothCam feature can retain standard camera moves like pans, tilts, and zooms while eliminating handheld camera jitters. Both are based on optical flow technology originally developed for Shake.
The processes for encoding jobs in Compressor 3 have been streamlined, including the output of multiple files to multiple formats. There is a customizable interface and drag-and-drop batch processing tools, as well as expanded support for such formats as MPEG-2 and H.264, as well as chaptering tools for podcasts and Apple TV.
This version of Final Cut Pro also introduces Color, a new application for professional color grading.
