Apple adds HD, Soundtrack to Final Cut Express

  Apple today announced Final Cut Express HD, a major upgrade to its advanced video editing application. It allows users to capture professional-quality HDV over a single FireWire cable, without requiring any additional software or hardware. It also supports Digital Cinema Desktop, a feature that enables HD and DV preview monitoring on a primary or secondary Apple Cinema Display. It also features LiveType for adding sophisticated, HD-quality animated text and motion graphics to videos quickly and easily as well as direct iMovie file compatibility, Soundtrack integration, and more. It will ship in February for $300.

The included LiveType includes 27 animated LiveFonts, 150 pre-configured effects and a variety of customizable templates, backgrounds, textures and objects that can be added to any Final Cut Express HD project. Final Cut Express HD also supports direct timeline file placement from Motion, Apple’s revolutionary high-performance, real-time motion graphics design program for a smooth, integrated workflow.



Final Cut Express HD includes powerful sound editing tools including 99 audio tracks, real-time volume and audio filter adjustment and a voice-over tool. Additionally, Final Cut Express HD now includes Soundtrack, Apple’s innovative music creation software that allows any user to easily compose high-quality musical scores for their video without prior musical training. With more than 4,000 royalty-free, professionally-recorded instrument loops and sound effects, Soundtrack allows users to see their video as they compose, automatically matches audio loops regardless of tempo and key and provides real-time arranging and mixing. Soundtrack also supports Final Cut Express HD score markers for perfect video-to-soundtrack synchronization.



Final Cut Express HD offers a professional editing environment with a customizable user interface, real-time compositing and effects, 99 video tracks, cutting-edge tools for titling, color correction and audio, and flexible output options. It will be available in February for $300--with an upgrade price of $100 for current Final Cut Express customers. It requires Mac OS X 10.3.7 and a 500MHz G4/G5 processor.

Filed under: software
Other story tags: video editing