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Final Cut Express
By Steve Manke Apple forged new ground in the desktop video market with the release of the iMovie package. Since its release, the application has seen a great deal of new and powerful features. iMovie achieved overnight success due to its power and simplicity. The average home user finally had a video editing application that they could easily understand and use. For the amateur video editor, iMovie was the tool of choice. For professionals, Apple already had the powerful and feature rich Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Pro did more than just pick up where iMovie left off, it raised the bar for competing software packages in the professional field. Final Cut had the power and the feature set of professional packages that cost more than ten times as much. And to run this amazing software package, all that was needed was a mid range G4 Macintosh. There was no need for proprietary software or expensive hardware. Just plug a DV camcorder into your G4’s FireWire port and the majority of the hardware configuration was complete. It really was that simple. Much to my surprise, Apple looked at its two video editing applications and decided that they needed something to fill in the midrange. To that end, on January 7th, Apple released Final Cut Express. The package is intended to fill the gap where iMovie left off and where Final Cut Pro began. The package is intended for the amateur video enthusiast. Final Cut Pro carries a hefty price tag of $999. Final Cut Express cuts back on some of the high-end features, and drops the price to $299. Given that iMovie is free with the purchase of a G4, Express’s price point finds good middle ground. My only concern was for the features that had been eliminated. I am an amateur video editor and have loved working with Final Cut Pro. iMovie did not have the tools I needed to produce the type of video I work with, and I was concerned that Final Cut Express would be something of a watered down version of the professional package. Since the announcement at the Keynote Address, I have had some time to look at a great deal of literature on this new Final Cut. While my initial reaction was skeptical, I have since become enthusiastic. While I have yet to get my hands on the actual software package, it does appear to have many very advanced features intact. With Express, we still retain the ability to render filters and effects in real time. We also still have the ability to create chapter marks that can be imported along with the MPEG files into iDVD or DVD Studio Pro. I am also elated to see that we retain the powerful color correction tools found in the Pro version. The only major feature I have found missing from Express is the ability to work with SD, HD, and Analog video footage. If you intend to work with DV video footage exclusively, nothing will slow you down! In fact, many of the features I expected to see cut with the price are still intact. For anyone who has ever caught a glimpse of Final Cut’s interface, it is not nearly as intuitive as iMovie. This comes from the remarkable power and features found in the Final Cut line. It is much easier to create an intuitive interface for a software package that has a limited number of functions. When you add the more powerful features, you increase the learning curve. To that end, Apple has added a training center to their web site. Whether you are a professional user of Final Cut Pro, or a new user wanting to hit the ground running with Express, there is a wealth of information available. While I can’t form a truly educated opinion of the latest member of the Final Cut clan until I have some hands on time with the software, I have to admit that my initial cynicism was unfounded. The software packaged does in fact seem to be quite well rounded. I believe that Final Cut Express will be a welcome addition to Apple’s already impressive software lineup. 2003 should prove to be a very interesting year for digital video! |