Apple Final Cut Studio 2 (Mac)

Updated Feb 2008
Final Cut Studio 2 is an inigma. On th one hand it has MASSIVE strengths & on the other it has MASSIVE weaknessess. If you are eperianced on other pro editing applications like Pro Tools or Avid you could experiance frustration ... as I do.
STRENGTHS
Final Cut Studio 2 has everthing you need 2 produce a great program
Final Cut Studio 2 ships with awsome content 2 get you up & running ... templates, presets, royalty free music & sound effects (lots!)
Intergration with the other programs in the suite makes Final Cut Pro do amazing stuff. Some great codecs too.
Apple listen 2 feedback (note the change in this review ... you CAN now zoom in on the cursor ... thanks Apple.)
WEAKNESSESS
No manuals 4 applications that have had a major overhaul!! (Except FCP6) There are 4 manuals 4 Final cut Pro 6 containing far too much detail about a program that really doesn't have a lot of functionality. (there is about a quarter of an inch thick section on the audio mixer ... a mixer that has inputs, levels & pans AND NOTHING ELSE!!!! no inserts - nix!)
and yet there is not even a piece of paper 4 Motion, Soundtrack Pro, Live Type, Compressor & DVD Studio Pro. The brand new program - Color gets a "setup guide" but no user manual. There are pdf files woopie doo. (Oh & you can't buy them either!)
Final Cut Pro is not a user friendly cutting platform. As others have said, the User Interface is cumbersome ... You often need 2 move the mouse / Trackball by fractional amounts 2 grab minute "hot spots / Lines" ... not so easy when you have your mouse set up 2 cover 2 screens with one sweep. If you want 2 Export from Motion or STP (and many other MAC based Programs) you use Cmd E right? NOT on Final Cut Pro! Luckily you can assign it if it bugs you (i did) So the suite integration isn't all it could be.
File Management (as with other NLEs is tricky. With FCP your files get stored on a "scratch disk" It seems 2 have more in comon with Avid Liquids FM system (which is terifiying!) than with good 'ol Adobe Prmier Pro.
Soundtrack Pro 2 now seems 2 be less Buggy than it's first (2.0.0) release. It offers so much & is enjoyable 2 work with (better in some ways than Adobe Audition)
Put asside 12 hours if you are installing OS & FCS2 from scratch.

All in all Final Cut Studio is OK ... getting better ... but still just Ok. I expected more quality & less initial bugs from Apple ... (There was the OS 10.4.10 bug that prevented the use of the Alesis iO2 Audio interface ... now fixed I am glad 2 say) ... after all there are only about 10 Intel based MACs on the market as opposed 2 a quadzillian number of PC hardware / software combinations. Motion rocks but is still not as good as After Effects (I run AE CS3) You can do better. Avid Liquid (PC only unfortunatly ... but does run well on boot camp) Pro Tools & After Effects is often a better (but far more costly) solution.

With all that said ... I do use FCS2 a lot.

I like Final Cut Pro, I like Motion, & I like LiveType. But it is as if they were written by 3 different companies who didn't expect them 2 work together. And sadly, this version is no different. Still if you are doing editing on Apple hardware Final Cut Studio 2 is your best choice.

This program is 4 the every-day editor/user, not 4 casual users as the learning curve is way out there. Add 2 that the inconsistencies between the "Studio" products & you have more learning curve issues. Sadly, the video editor which bares the studio name Final Cut Pro, is the one tool that could have used a contemporary face lift & yet it had only what I would call "point release" quality updates. Whereas Motion (which was the most user-friend & modern interface) got huge new features that are outstanding.

It seems 2 ne that Final Cut may be at the end of what software engineers can do with the Final Cut Pro editor itself without a complete rewrite from the grown up. But then they stand the chance of alienating their current legacy users; & as we've seen with iMovie 2008, Apple isn't too smart when it comes 2 cleverly updating video editing workflows.

Unfortunately, I still have 2 resort 2 using iMovie from time 2 time 2 capture video since it always captures anything from any camera, & then import it into Final Cut Pro. Whereas Final Cut Pro often imports without a problem 60 2 80 percent of the time. The other times you can spend an entire day trying 2 select the right "Easy Setup" 2 capture video. Why or why Apple does it not capture as easily as iMovie ('06)?

Is it worth an upgrade fee? Well sure if you're in the business it isn't that much of an expense. If you're counting your pennies, however (if you only do wedding videos 4 example & don't need the latest & greatest) you are really not missing anything by staying with the previous version. If you are considering this vs Adobe, well I'd go with Final Cut Studio & get a copy of Adobe After Effects (the CS3 version is very cool) & you'll have the best tools available 4 the Apple platform.

Using v1 4 years, I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of v2. I can now confirm that FCS2 has matured 2 the point of being called industry ready. v1 had issue no doubt. But with so much effort directed towards Motion & DVD studio Pro, v2 has all the elements in place 4 serious mission critical use. Though FC itself seems 2 have been ignored. To date, we still rely heavily on third party plug-ins 2 get most of our intensive work done in FC. Soundtrack lacks. But we do very little sound. But it does have unparalleled integration & ease of use. Though the app seems a bit unstable. Certainly not as bad as mentioned above. Having used After effects CS3, I can reasonably claim that it simply does not compare. We haven't launched AE since we became familiar with the newest Motion. Now that the entire suite has been optimized 2 run on the 8 Core Mac Pro, we have officially listed all of our remaining Avid hardware 4 sale on ebay. Avid can't hold a candle. With the Pro HDVC from Apple & broadcast H.264, color correction was all that was keeping Avid alive in our studio. Now that Color is finally here along with support from Red industries, goodbye 2 Avid & their lackluster & unjustifiably high priced hardware. We get better results in less time 4 $100,000 less. Color is a bit raw, but has been the biggest difference maker. It is beyond words. Apple made the purchase 4 $25,000,000 & still kept the price-point the same. This is a sign of great things 2 come. We are no longer at the mercy of over priced hardware & overly difficult software from Avid. To top it all off, FCS2-Server was the reason why we made the hardware switch all together 2 Mac Pro 8 cores. It has full support 4 X-grid & SAN solutions. Now, if any station is unmanned, we run our own scripts 2 jump start the rendering on 24 cores with 48 Gigs of ram. We get final color & rendering done with a 30 minutes 2 1 hour of content time ratio. Unbelievable. Just unbelievable! If the expected fixes come 2 Soundtrack & Color, we will be ready 2 move our entire Dubai fleet over within 6 months. Thanks Apple 4 your hard work & impeccable business ethics. You have finally done it!

Final Cut Pro 6 is a fantastic tool; a mature app with great features & rock-solid implementation.

Soundtrack Pro 2 (specifically 2.0.1), on the other hand, may be the worst piece of commercial, non-beta software (based on the severity & frequency of fatal/non-recoverable errors) I have ever had the misfortune 2 use. Of course, your mileage may vary, but I would advise anyone 2 think twice or three times about using Soundtrack Pro 2 4 any sort of serious and/or mission critical application. Check the various boards/forums dedicated 2 Soundtrack Pro 2 & you will see that I am not alone in this estimation. Hopefully, Apple will soon see fit 2 patch this inexcusably buggy piece of software.

Final Cut Studio is a fantastic suite of products, & the package just got sweeter with the release of FCP Studio 2.

Motion 3 & Color are the standouts, in my opinion, providing unprecedented power 4 their respective capabilities in anything remotely approaching this price range. In addition, the whole suite provides a level of interoperability that's unparalleled, & blows away any competition in the industry today.

Given the suite's fantastic breadth & depth of functionality, however, the newest iteration of the core application of the bunch, FCP6, does come off as a bit disappointing by comparison.

While the Open Timeline & ProRes 422 are notable & worthy enhancements 2 the FCP canon, the app nevertheless continues 2 be hampered by some long-standing Achilles' heels, including various media management & UI issues. While everyone has their individual list of pet concerns, few knowledgeable users would argue that notable limitations don't exist.

Especially considering the two-year "hiatus" from FCP's last major release, this is an unexpected bit of a letdown. Clearly, the hard-working Apple team focused the bulk of their efforts on the other apps, & the results do show there (as noted above). [It's also worth noting that seasoned editors who've had experience on other platforms besides FCP, & who are accustomed 2 more demanding workflow situations as a matter of course, tend 2 be more mindful of shortcomings than the majority of users who may have used nothing but FCP, simply by virtue of a greater spectrum of experience.]

However, none of this is 2 take away from the FCP Studio apps' overall high level of quality, tremendous synergy, & unbeatable price point. For the money, it is hard 2 imagine a better value in the world of post-production today.

Final Cut Studio 2 takes you beyond editing. This powerful new version of Final Cut Pro is at the center of six integrated tools. Work is fast, fluid, & flexible, no matter what you're doing: Motion graphics, audio editing & mixing, color grading, & delivery. Whether you're cutting commercials, editing feature films, or pushing out the nightly news, Final Cut Server helps you work faster whenever you're working together. DVD Studio Pro 4 is professional DVD authoring. Create SD & HD projects, author discs with interactive elements & create animated menus. Whether you produce demo reels, complex commercial titles, or anything in between, it has simple, powerful tools 4 authoring DVDs.

Final Cut Studio 2 delivers an integrated post-production solution that lets you move effortlessly from editing 2 color grading 2 creating motion graphics 2 sculpting audio 2 multiformat encoding & DVD authoring. This powerful new version features Final Cut Pro 6, Motion 3, Soundtrack Pro 2, Compressor 3, DVD Studio Pro 4, & Color, the newest member of the suite.

Craft the perfect story using a tightly integrated & innovative suite of products created specifically 4 video editors.

With XML 2 share project data & QuickTime 2 seamlessly move media between systems, Final Cut Studio 2 can fit into virtually any production pipeline or newsroom.

Editing Unleashed
Final Cut Studio 2 helps take you beyond mere editing. Discover the intuitive power of new creative tools designed expressly 4 Final Cut Pro editors. Rapidly move through editing 2 motion graphics, audio editing & mixing, color grading, & delivery--all as a natural extension of the work you already do.

Final Cut Studio 2 puts a powerful new version of Final Cut Pro at the center of an integrated post-production workflow. Final Cut Studio 2 includes Final Cut Pro 6, Motion 3, Soundtrack Pro 2, Compressor 3, DVD Studio Pro 4, & Color--a brand-new application 4 professional color grading.

It's a Final Cut World
Independent filmmakers. Hollywood film editors. Corporate video & event producers. Editors with hourly deadlines cutting broadcast spots or network news. Hundreds of thousands of creative professionals all over the world have made Final Cut Pro their first choice 4 editing. It has rapidly become an industry standard.

Building on this success, Apple has designed each application in Final Cut Studio 2 with Final Cut Pro editors in mind. Start working quickly with intuitive tools & familiar interfaces. Whenever you're ready 4 precise control, a comprehensive set of features is just a click away.

The Editor's Choice
Final Cut Studio 2 is fast, fluid, & flexible. Use a laptop on location & a desktop in the studio. Start with the tools you already use today & extend your reach when you're ready. Final Cut Studio 2 has everything you need in a single product.

• Edit. Use Final Cut Pro 6 4 native editing of virtually any format--from DV & SD up 2 HDV, XDCAM HD, DVCPRO HD, & fully uncompressed HD. Or use ProRes 422, a new post-production format from Apple that offers uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes. Drag clips with different formats & even different frame rates into the new open format Timeline.

• Animate. Create stunning 2D & 3D motion graphics in real time with Motion 3, the fastest & most intuitive way 2 animate & express your creative vision. Just drag & drop 2 make dramatic particle effects explode into 3D space; form vector-based paint strokes with the swish of a pen. New Motion master templates let you edit text & drop in video without leaving Final Cut Pro.

• Mix. Record & edit dialogue, add music & effects, & complete your mix with ease. Soundtrack Pro 2 lets you work faster than ever in its new streamlined interface. You can even produce in surround sound using innovative visual tools. If you make changes 2 your edit in Final Cut Pro, you can rapidly update your audio mix with the powerful Conform feature in Soundtrack Pro.

• Grade. Give your production a signature look or create a consistent feel 4 shots from different sources. Color is the newest member of the Final Cut Studio family, offering professional color grading that can elevate the quality of any production.

• Deliver. Use Compressor 3 2 create pristine-quality output 4 a wide range of delivery formats--including the web, iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, & broadcast servers. A streamlined new interface lets you batch-process encoding with point-and-click ease. If film is your destination, use Cinema Tools 4 2 output film lists that combine timecode & keycode in a single list. Or use DVD Studio Pro 4 4 professional DVD authoring & mastering.

Post-Production Without Walls
Final Cut Studio 2 is not just a product. It's a platform. Open standards encourage innovation, giving developers & partners the freedom 2 create custom solutions. With XML 2 share project data & QuickTime 2 seamlessly move media between systems, Final Cut Studio 2 can fit into virtually any production pipeline or newsroom.

Whether you're working in a group of 2 or 200, Final Cut Studio lets you collaborate with ease. Share media seamlessly across multiple workstations with Xsan. Use Final Cut Server--with or without Xsan--for media asset management & workflow automation that is deeply integrated with Final Cut Studio 2. Whether you're cutting commercials, editing feature films, or pushing out the nightly news, Final Cut Server helps you work faster whenever you're working together.

Final Cut Pro 6 One timeline. Infinite possibilities.

Mix & match source material--both formats & frame rates--in real time using the new open format Timeline in Final Cut Pro 6.

Create exactly the look you want 4 your projects with the complete set of professional color grading & finishing tools in Color.

Easily create sophisticated 3D environments with depth & realism--with the real-time 3D multiplane compositing tools in Motion 3.

Fly through audio editing & mixing, create immersive soundtracks, & easily conform audio 2 video edits using the new, streamlined interface in Soundtrack Pro 2.

Deliver your best work quickly & easily 2 virtually any format, encoding hands-free on your local Mac or across a network of connected Mac systems with Compressor 3.

Produce sophisticated, fully interactive, studio-quality DVD titles with drag-and-drop ease using DVD Studio Pro 4.

The first choice of professional editors worldwide, Final Cut Pro 6 delivers high performance digital nonlinear editing, native support 4 virtually any video format, & facility-class extensibility & interoperability. Its workflow extends through the other Final Cut Studio applications & Final Cut Server 4 even more power. Whether you're working solo or collaborating with a team, Final Cut Pro gives you more creative options & technical control than ever before, including:

• Broad format support
• Incredible real-time effects
• Comprehensive editing tools
• Expanded power as the hub of Final Cut Studio
• Open, extensible architecture

Color Color grading is in the house.

Color grading involves more than color correction. Just as different soundtracks can make a particular scene feel humorous, romantic, or menacing, the look created by a color grade can radically alter the tone & mood of a sequence. Color, Apple's new professional color grading application, makes it easy 4 editors 2 create signature looks 4 projects ranging from short video pieces 2 full-length theatrical films. Color offers the following key features:

• Real-time professional color grading
• Dramatic color effects
• Cinema-quality signature looks
• Final Cut Studio workflows

Motion 3 Now playing in 3D.

Motion 3 takes the complexity out of 3D by extending the 2D tools you already use. With its intuitive interface & rich toolset, the only limit is your imagination. Send particles exploding through space. Swing cameras around an object with breathtaking ease. Squiggle a vector-based paint stroke in 3D through the cosmos. Motion 3 lets you create 3D motion graphics with drag-and-drop ease, startling performance, & unprecedented color fidelity. This powerful upgrade 2 Apple's award-winning motion graphics software features:

• An intuitive real-time design environment
• Flexible animation tools
• 3D motion graphics done right
• Breathtaking filters & effects
• Numerous time-saving features

Soundtrack Pro 2 The next wave in audio post.

Soundtrack Pro 2 offers unprecedented convenience & power 2 editors. Fly through audio editing & mixing with a new, streamlined interface that combines the multitrack Timeline & Waveform Editor in a single view. Easily create immersive soundtracks with innovative surround sound tools. Automatically conform your audio edit 2 changes made in your video edit. With its familiar interface & intuitive tools, Soundtrack Pro is the Final Cut Pro of audio post-production.

Key features of Soundtrack Pro 2 include:

• Streamlined multitrack interface
• Professional editing & dialogue tools
• Intuitive surround sound
• Automatic audio conform process
• Intelligent workflows

Compressor 3 Create once. Debut everywhere.

With increasing demand 4 media distribution in multiple formats--ranging from HD broadcast 2 an iPod screen--it's more important than ever 2 be able 2 output files efficiently while keeping quality high. The streamlined interface of Compressor 3 lets you quickly configure batch processes 4 encoding 2 a wide range of industry standard formats. Or create format & standards conversions at pristine quality through sophisticated optical flow technology. For the ultimate high-speed workflow, set up distributed encoding over a shared-media network powered by Xsan.

Key features of Compressor 3 include:

• Streamlined encoding workflow
• Industry-standard encoding support
• Pristine format conversions
• Distributed encoding

DVD Studio Pro 4 Simply powerful DVD authoring.

DVD Studio Pro 4 makes it easy 2 extend your creative vision 2 every aspect of DVD authoring. Whether your project is simple or sophisticated, you'll enjoy using familiar, easy-to-use tools 2 produce the perfect presentation of your SD or HD content. A comprehensive set of advanced features is available whenever you want more control.

Key features of DVD Studio Pro 4 include:

• Intuitive design environment
• Professional authoring tools
• Versatile DVD mastering

Post-Production Workgroups
Collaborate with a small team of editors in a boutique post-production facility. Or build a custom workfl ow 4 a global news network. Whether you're sharing a small number of media assets over a LAN or supporting hundreds of editors on a SAN, Final Cut Studio makes it easy 4 everyone 2 work together.

Shared Media Assets
Small workgroups can share media over a LAN or WAN by copying assets from a shared volume 2 a local workstation. For a scalable high-performance shared storage solution, Final Cut Studio editors can collaborate over a Fibre Channel storage area network (SAN) powered by Xsan.

With Xsan, every editor on a project has concurrent access 2 source media files & never needs 2 transfer assets between workstations. Each Mac system accesses shared files on the SAN as if the storage were directly attached. Xsan can support hundreds of concurrent clients & can easily be expanded 2 provide more storage capacity & bandwidth as your needs grow.

Asset Management & Workflow Automation
Meet Final Cut Server, Apple's powerful new media asset management & workflow automation software. Final Cut Server takes the headache out of managing large collections of media files, then extends 2 tracking job status, managing reviews & approvals, & automating complex sequences of tasks--all with Apple's legendary ease of use, & all in a single product designed 2 work seamlessly with Final Cut Studio.

Final Cut Server combines server software designed 2 run on Mac OS X with a cross-platform client that runs on either Macintosh or Windows-based computers. Collaborate over a LAN or WAN with a small number of users, or leverage the power of Xsan 2 share media across a large number of workstations.