Last June, Apple caused a shock when it launched Final Cut Pro X, a completely revamped version of its pro-video editing software. Enthusiasts and pros alike poured scorn on its new interface, disparagingly dubbing it “iMovie Pro.”
At the time, Apple was keen to stress that with fresh code would come quick updates to address their concerns, and today, it’s hoping to make good on those promises with Final Cut Pro X 10.0.3.
Included in the update are support for multiple-cameras (64) and broadcast monitoring – in beta, admittedly – via Thunderbolt, a feature that’s all but essential for use in TV and film. Perhaps of most interest for the hoard of angry reviewers on the iTunes Store is support via a plug-in for importing projects from the older Final Cut Pro 7, handily side-stepping the issue of obsolescence.
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What’s piqued our interest however is the new time-syncing feature within multi-cam editing support, which by comparing audio, helps keep shots in sync from cameras that don’t even use a regular time stamp. That potentially paves the way for DSLRs, Micro Four Thirds cameras and even mobile phones to be used in serious shooting set ups, which is more exciting than it sounds at first glance.
Why? Portability and cost – in fact, sections from the upcoming Avengers movie were filmed using a lowly iPhone 4. In a world of rapid cutting blockbusters, this update could prove to be tremendously useful.
Final Cut Pro X is a free update, and it’s on the Mac App Store now.
