Entered CNET Catalog: 04/20/2004
SKU: 0718908688809
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Manufacturer description
Experience unparalleled performance with real-time full-resolution HD effects on both desktop and portable systems. Final Cut Pro HD delivers over 150 render-free filters and transitions, real-time HD effects, and up to seven simultaneous streams of fully uncompressed SD. The fast, non-modal interface lets editors work quickly with professional editing and trimming tools, advanced color-correction controls, complete customization tools, and a scalable architecture that supports DV, SD, HD, and film.Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 04/22/2004
Upside: The big news here is that you can now import, edit, and export HD video over FireWire--no additional hardware required. There's no messing with media conversion: the program scales from DV to SD, HD, and film. With RT Extreme HD, an updated version of Offline RT, you can toggle between full-resolution, high-quality playback or preview mode--further freeing up editors to work off the cuff from their G4s or G5s.
Downside: This version supports the professional DVCPro HD format but not HDV, a consumer-targeted high-def format that five of the major camcorder manufacturers have agreed to use. According to the Apple Web site, the company plans to add support for the format in future versions of the software, but this means that Mac users still aren't compatible with the JVC GR-HD1's HD mode. Competing video-editing programs, such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Ulead Media Studio Pro, already support HDV.
Outlook: Although this update cuts both the cost and the time involved in HD-video postproduction, the fact is that high-def video is still out of reach for nonpros. The program is available now for $999. If you use Final Cut Pro 4.0, you can download an update from the Apple Web site. Use an older version? The upgrade price is $399.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2out of 2 user reviews
Best Video Editor
Pros: Basics are easy to use, so much for so little, works brilliantly on almost any Powermac G5 systems, Great Quality and HD editing
Cons: Steep Learning Curve, Only for macs, requires a powerful system
out of 2 user reviews
Final Cut Pro is the best out there.
Pros: There is only one good abotu final cut pro... EVERYTHING! i have never had a single problem with FCP and once you read up on how to use the program, its as easy as iMovie.
Cons: The one con with final cut pro is how many manuals there are. there is about a foot of manuals you have to read in order to understand the program, but its awesome when you get the hang of it.
