The updates to Final Cut Pro for iPad and Mac that were announced earlier this year as well as the video capture app Final Cut Camera are available today.
Apple announced Final Cut for iPad 2 and the update to Final Cut for Mac during the Apple event centered around the iPad and redesigned iPad Pro event in May. Final Cut Pro for iPad 2, which is a mouthful of an app name, promises up to two times faster rendering and up to four times more streams of ProRes RAW when combined with the new M4 chip found in the new iPad Pro.
Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 also allows external project support, allowing users to create and open projects from an external storage device. Previously, files had to be transferred to the iPad in order to edit them and this update is going to make editing on the tablet smoother, especially when moving an iPad edit over to the Mac, and less taxing on the device since those files will no longer be clogging up the iPad’s internal SSD.
The editing app also adds 12 new color-grading presets, eight basic text titles, 20 new soundtracks, and dynamic backgrounds that can be used to create effect overlays and title sequences.
Perhaps most notable, though, is the addition of a new Live Multicam feature, which allows users to wirelessly connect and preview up to four iPhones or iPad feeds at once. On the commanding iPad, users will have a director’s view of each camera, manual control over their settings, and visibility to audio levels and remaining battery life. This feature only works if the connected devices have Final Cut Camera installed, which also became available today.
Final Cut Camera powers Live Multicam and also works as a standalone recording app on iPhone and iPad, letting users adjust settings like manual focus, shutter speed, ISO, and more. PetaPixel‘s Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake have reviewed the update found that it lives up to Apple’s promises, but it could use updates such as live-switching during a recording and tint control.
On Macs, Final Cut Pro version 10.8 is now available which adds Enhance Light and Color, which promises to improve color, color balance, contrast, and brightness in just one click. This AI-powered feature works on SDR, HDR, RAW, and Log-encoded media. Color corrections and video effects can also be given custom names in the inspector and effects can be dragged from there to other clips in the timeline or viewer.
The timeline index also allows users to search for clips with missing media or effects a text-based timeline search has been added that shows critical info like reel, scene, camera angle, and more.
The update to Final Cut Pro on Mac is free for existing users, but the app costs $300 for new users. Final Cut for iPad 2 is available as a subscription for $5 a month or $50 a year. Final Cut Camera is free.
Image credits: Apple