Apple extends Final Cut Studio crossgrade until March 19, 2007
 

Apple has stated that all applications to upgrade Final Cut Studio 5.0 into 5.1 must be postmarked by December 20, 2006 which is this Wednesday. There is more info on the Apple site along with the form and specifics as to how to move to 5.1. The price to upgrade (which Apple is calling a crossgrade) from Final Cut Studio 5.0 to 5.1 is $49. Other versions, 4.0/4.5 have different rates ($199-I think). You can upgrade/crossgrade into the entire Final Cut Suite (FCP-DVD Studio-In Motion-GarageBand) for that price even if you only own one application, own Final Cut Pro 4.5, pay the money and you get the entire Final Cut Studio 5.1.

Just a friendly reminder

Be well

Rob

Thanks for the reminder Rob! Here are the details:

http://www.apple.com/universal/crossgrade/

Use the links there to download the order forms. I bookmarked this page myself because I have FCP 5.0 and can upgrade to the full Studio package for $99. However I'm still on the fence here. Of course it's a great deal, but I already have Motion and don't really feel the need for DVDSP or Soundtrack. Of course nobody knows what the upgrade path will be for the next version, but in my personal situation I tend to think that $99 spent today give me $99 of software I don't really need. I guess I'll have to make a final decision tomorrow though!

BTW, unless you know something I don't, GarageBand isn't part of FC Studio. It includes Final Cut Pro, SoundTrack Pro, Motion, DVD Studio Pro and Compressor.

The upgrade prices are very attractive (e.g. FCP to FC Studio) but I find it's unbelievable that Apple charges for point releases of the same product.

They usually don't. 5.1 was an exception because it was the move to Intel.

Yeah, Garage Band is part of the iLife suite and comes with every new Mac.

But more to the point Boyd, you are missing a great opportunity. Soundtrack Pro is worth the price by itself. It's a much improved application over the original Soundtrack including a nice wave editor. Some of the effects plug-ins are taken straight from the high end Logic Pro application.

-gb-

Does anyone know if this applies to educational versions of 4.5? Or just retail?

All educational versions are not upgradable. Definitely a drag.

I actually find that it's unbelievable that they ONLY charge $49 for the crossgrade considering the improvements.

I don't disagree, but it's just not something that I anticipate needing during the next 6 to 12 months. There are lots of cool things I don't need which sell at great prices :-)

After much pondering I have decided to let this one pass me by. For one thing, I just hate installing new software and wondering what will break, etc. My current setup on the dual G5 does what I need, and I just don't want to spend $99 for something that will sit on the shelf. When FCP 6 comes out, and when I am ready to move to Intel, then I'll take my chances with whatever upgrade path (if any) is being offered.

Having said all this, I would stress that it's just my personal, cranky old f*rt opinion and there's no disputing that the crossgrade is a great deal if you need what it offers.

Thanks Rob
 

Rob,

Thanks for posting this.

Just one small detail that I noticed. The form I pull up with the link above mentions in Step #2 of the instructions -

"Orders must be postmarked by March 19, 2007."

see screen grab here -

http://www.thisis24p.com/fcp-upgrade.html

Maybe you saw the date somewhere else... and Apple has not been consistent with their info? Or maybe they just decided to delay it?

- - -

Edit (11:45 a.m.) - I called the 800 number (hit 1 then hit 5 to speak to someone) and they let me know that the deadline was just extended to the March 19th date. Merry Christmas from Apple I guess.

No, they just changed it. I had printed out the form (and it says postmarked by 12/20/06) and was going to rush to the post office today. This is good news, because I can delay spending the money until after Christmas!

That's really interesting - I was sort of expecting them to do that. One might expect the offer would remain in place until they come up with another major FCP update (but of course who knows?)

But yes, that is definitely a change because I looked at the same link when I posted my response above and it definitely still said Dec 20. For me this a good thing... I might feel different about upgrading when March comes :-)

I'm changing the title of this thread to reflect the new deadline.

Well the biggest reason for that is the student price is usually the price for someone else doing a full upgrade(but not in this situation). But i feel your pain i have the student one also.

Funny as H*ll. I spent over 45 min at the post office with very disgruntled people (I was one of them) as we waited in line as the ONE man working at the window slowly waited on us. I stood there with my padded envelope with my installer DVD's knowing that I had to have this postmarked today. I patiently watched as the man five people ahead of me pulled out a shopping bag full of letters and asked if the teller could weigh each of them to make sure they had the correct postage.

This was also after working until 1am last night, driving home from the hellish NYC traffic, getting up at the butt of dawn to take my 4 year old to school while my 17 month old is sick and clingy (I will miss these days), going to a packed auditorium to watch the Christmas play (my four year old ROCKED! of course...), going to UPS to pick up my brand new V1U (and hoping that I would have a chance to play around with it) and knowing that I was now going to be hurrying my butt back into NYC to work at 4:30pm. Of course the NY Knicks had to go into Double OT (delaying me from getting back home so I could really play around with the V1U). But I'm a dedicated dvinfo.net reader so I happen to come across the extended cross grade offer...

Today was a good day.

Happy Holiday to everyone!

Todd

Actually, the educational versions are eligiable for the upgrade. In the terms and conditions the state:

"You must have purchased Final Cut Pro 4 Retail (M9038Z/A), Final Cut Pro 4 Upgrade from Final Cut Pro (M9039Z/A), Final Cut Pro 4 Upgrade from Final Cut Express (M9116Z/A), Final Cut Pro 4 Academic (M9153LL/A), Final Cut Pro HD Retail (M9038Z/B), Final Cut Pro HD Upgrade from Final Cut Pro 1,2,3 (M9039Z/B), Final Cut Pro HD Upgrade from Final Cut Express (M9116Z/B), or Final Cut Pro Academic HD (M9153LL/B) to participate in this program."

This is a REALLY good oportunity to get a full functional, upgradeable version of the Final Cut Studio.

Just a reminder on this March 19th deadline to others who may have waited till the last minute for the upgrade offer...

That was definitely bothersum when I purchased Studio with my education discount.

I wont mind upgrading down the road but I shouldn't have to. The only reason I will is because I'll make the money back quickly

Educational DOES upgrade
 

The academic version does upgrade! Mine upgraded with absolutely no problem. I was actually shocked to receive the retail version in exchange for my educational version. Whoever posted that you cant upgrade it was mistaken because I did, and so have many of my friends from school. Well worth the money!

Yes, it's a great opportunity at a great price

Did you receive the full version in exchange instead of the Academic?
I am about to send mine in today.

thanks for the reminders everyone!

Yes, that's what you get.

Yes I did receive the full version. I was shocked.

I haven't gone this path myself, but I did check the fine print on Apple's upgrade order form. Go to this page

http://www.apple.com/universal/crossgrade/

and follow one of the "Download order form" links. It explicitly mentions academic versions. Sounds like a no brainer to me if you currently have an academic version!

- Martin

Make sure you check the code numbers on your install disc. I have an academic version of the Production Suite through my teaching position, and I considered upgrading it to the new 5.1, but the FCP 4.5 install disc from the Production Suite doesn't match the posted code number on the Apple site.

-Jon

I'm waiting until the last second to do this, in case we hear word that 6.0 is imminent and only purchasers AFTER this date will be eligible for a discounted upgrade--in other words, will i have to pony up again in a month or two for the 6.0 upgrade, and should I just wait? or perhaps the upgrade from previous versions will get jacked up the equivalent amount. Sigh. No way to know, I guess.

I hear ya Charles... we know that Apple is planning to announce *something* at NAB. But typically they only offer nominal cost upgrades to people who purchase in the window between an announcement and a ship date....

Has anyone else noticed this? On Apple's site it appears there is now no upgrade path to Final Cut Studio from FCP 4 or FCP 5! If you look at the "Top Questions" page (http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/topquestions.html) and click on the crossgrade link (http://www.apple.com/universal/crossgrade/) you are redirected back to the Final Cut Studio home page.

Then if you click on the "Buy Final Cut Studio" (http://store.apple.com/AppleStore/We...nMore=MA285Z/A) you can upgrade from FCP 1, 2 or 3 for $699, or buy the package new for $1,299. But no mention of FCP 4 or 5.

Obviously they need to update these pages, and I wonder what the options will be since I decided to let the March 19 deadline pass me by...

Got mine postmarked at 6 p.m. on the 19th! yikes...

I'm sure when the next version comes out there will be some sort of upgrade from 4 or 5, hopefully it will be fair.

I was using only FCE and iDVD, but got the EDU version of DVDSP 4 to learn how to use it, with the intent to buy retail when I was ready to make money with DVDSP.

However, Apple quit selling DVDSP stand alone and my EDU DVDSP 4 installer disc mailed into Apple got me a retail version of FCS 5.1. Very happy camper! I got my copy last winter.

I talked to three Apple salespeople today. The first told me that there is no upgrade to Final Cut Studio from 4.5, the second told me the first guy was crazy and that it is $699.The 3rd guy at a Mac store told me there is no upgrade except for FCP 1,2, and 3.

I am really disappointed and feel pretty dumb. I wish I had been following this thread. I didn't know the $199 crossgrade offer was going to end. I use 4.5 and DVDSP, but am trying to upgrade to XH-A1.

The Apple people we're being super cryptic and saying that 6 might come out at NAB, might not, etc. Now I don't know what to do. Arghhhh.

Will the $699 upgrade from 4.5(if it even exists) disappear if 6 comes out? Will it be more expensive? Will 6 be delayed if it does come out?

Who knows? I think we might have an answer in a few weeks though. Seems very bizzare that you could upgrade from FCP 3 but not FCP 4 or 5! Well, I suppose I could always "upgrade" my old copy of FCP 3 if I still have it.

But I think we need to see what's happening with the next version before doing anything at this point...

Just noticed that Apple has changed the upgrade info on their site. Now it says that any version of FCP (except educational) can be upgraded to Final Cut Studio for $699...

hmmm...looks like I might have been doing the right thing by getting the crossgrade in the nick of time. Hard to imagine that it will cost $500 to upgrade from 5.1 to 6 when the time comes (i.e., I've now spent $199 and anything less than $500 will represent a savings over a total of $699)