New version of FCPX available

[Nick Gordon]

I've just seen this - may be old news to some of you, but ...

Apple releases major update to Final Cut Pro X, release demo version

Available at the Mac App Store now

[Heath McKnight]

Apple called me to go over the updates, and they also went on the record that multicam and broadcast monitoring support will be available next year (2012). They also told me they are listening to us, and they care about the professional video editor.

Here are details from the call:

Apple Calls With Details On Final Cut Pro X 10.0.1 Update: XML, XSAN, Video and Audio Stem Exports Via Roles, and More | heath mcknight dot com

Heath

[Andy Wilkinson]

To little to late. I installed Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium on my Mac Pro today.

[Heath McKnight]

The 30-day trial is a great way to try it out and see if it's for you.

Heath

[Simon Wood]

Just to confirm; is this an update for existing FCPX owners (can it be updated from the program, or is this a demo of a new version)?

[Heath McKnight]

Hey Simon,

You can download the FCP X 10.0.1, Motion 5.0.1 and Compressor 4.0.1 updates from the Mac App Store's update tab, if you bought the first versions. The demo is the latest version, in case someone would like to try it before they buy it.

Heath

[Les Wilson]

I don't want to risk installing the trial on my FCP 7 system. I read somewhere here on dvinfo that FCP-X doesn't have support for keyframes in the color corrector filter. I don't see it in your blog post. Did they add that support?

[Heath McKnight]

I'll ask them as a follow-up. Here's some advice on installing FCP X on your system with FCP 7:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4722

I have both running on my Mac mini with 8GB of RAM, without partitioning the drive. You have to launch Motion 4 first, then you can open the new apps.

Heath

[Bob Willis]

Still no way to import FCP 7 projects.

[Randy Painter]

Originally Posted by Heath McKnight

I have both running on my Mac mini with 8GB of RAM, without partitioning the drive. You have to launch Motion 4 first, then you can open the new apps.

Heath

Any problems running this on your mini? Just down loaded the demo on my 2010 mini w/8gb ram, 2.66 processor. Do you need to boot into 64 bit mode to run it?

[Heath McKnight]

I have the entry model 2011 mini and it runs perfect. When I had 2GB of RAM, forget it -- I got stuttering video, the colored volley ball of doom, etc. I am reviewing an upgrade option from OWC for 16GB of RAM and an SSD. WOW! What a difference it makes.

Heath

[Daniel Weber]

Originally Posted by Bob Willis

Still no way to import FCP 7 projects.

I upgraded FCPX tonight and immediately tried to import an XML file that I had exported out of FCP7.

No such luck...

I read on some blog that this was one of the new features. What gives? Did a blogger get it wrong? That never happens!!! :)

Daniel Weber

[Andy Wilkinson]

That's Apple being economical with the truth again. If you read up on various forums you'll see this is a "new flavour" of XML (I'm no coding expert so will leave it to others to explain the nuances). It seems it may allow (eventually) some third party to develop a tool that will allow conversion from legacy XML (that you can export out of FCP6/7) to the new version used by FCPX. Then you'll get back the backwards compatibility that any new professional NLE upgraded should have had built in right from the start [....Let's not go there again!]

Just one word or warning for anyone in mission critical FCP6/7 projects that they need to read up before trying this FCPX trial. I've read on various forums that installing FCPX can cause many problems with a legacy FCS suites functionality that's on the sam Mac. Again, others in the thick of it can, I'm sure, elaborate the exact details of what could happen and best practice to prevent it. I do think its good that Apple have enabled people to try it out though - just be careful!

[William Hohauser]

Here's the technical side of XML and FCPX:

A quick note on the Final Cut Pro X XML format - Digital Rebellion Blog

This reminds me of way back to FCP2 when all sorts of functionality was being developed as third party items for the program and after a while Apple either came up with their own method or bought the program outright and integrated it into FCP. Cinema Tools is an example of this. Another example was serial deck control which didn't make it's way in until FCP3 if I remember.

[Heath McKnight]

For now, you can buy CatDV and import an XML from FCP 7, and it apparently will export an XML for FCP X.

What is CatDV?

heath