Direct link to App Store: Purchase FCP X (http://itunes.com/mac/finalcutpro) $299 USD

Apple site: Apple - Final Cut Pro X - A revolution in creative editing. (http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/)
FCP X User Manual is located here: http://help.apple.com/finalcutpro/mac/10.0/

and.... Motion 5 is only $49.99 USD Apple - Final Cut Pro X - Motion 5 - What's New (http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/motion/)
The Motion 5 User Manual can be viewed here: https://help.apple.com/motion/mac/5.0/help/English/en/motion/usermanual/index.html

Compressor 4 is also $49.99 Apple - Final Cut Pro X - Compressor 4 - Powerful encoding for Final Cut Pro X (http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/compressor/)
Compressor 4 User Manual: http://help.apple.com/compressor/mac/4.0/en/compressor/usermanual/

Installing FCP X seems to reorganize the apps from Final Cut Studio into their own folder.

Guess there's time to wait for evaluations to come in. And to see if Adobe or Avid do any special deals!

How will it handle AVCHD?

Ron

ps bet you £200 plus in the UK until and if available as a download when hopefully just priced in USD wherever you live

£179 in the UK with Motion and Compressor at £29.99 each - bargain!

I will not be ditching final cut pro 7 just yet for major projects.. but that doesn't mean that I didn't just buy it and we'll start testing it now... I'll report back.

Cool! FCP X supports the h.264/AVC hardware assisted encoding/decoding with the new Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs, that should be a nice boost to performance. And it can natively use iTunes, Aperture & iPhoto as media management libraries.

Audio features look good, J&L cuts look like a snap, and the included Logic effects, narration & downloadable audio content are pretty beefy.

No word any kinda of DVD authoring much less Bluray. I dont expect another DVDSP but I would expect some kind of DVD exporter.

Yes there is basic DVD and Blu-Ray export just as with FCS3.

I'm looking forward to trying this out soon! I am/was hoping BD and DVD authoring would be more robust.

heath

Wow!

Those who edit with DSLR and:or AVCHD will rejoice. The thing is FAST! finally.
But don't throw away FCS3 yet. FCPx has lots of potential but tape ingest except for FireWire, XML and OMF are gone. Also no fcp7 project import. Yet.

Color looks like it was rolled into FCpX. But I think Apple might have a new version in the future.

Greg

Yeah, don't toss out FCS 3 yet!

I don't think Soundtrack Pro or Color will be sold separately -- I just watched the video on Apple's site and it's all built-in nicely now.

heath

Greg, have you loaded FCP X and been able to keep FCP 7?

Thanks.

I added links in the original post for the User Guides for FCP X and Motion 5.

FCP 7 is not overwritten, just moved to another folder in the apps folder, FCPX takes over the existing icon in the dock, but you can put the FCP7 icon right next to it if you want!

Greg, have you loaded FCP X and been able to keep FCP 7?

You can keep older versions and run them on the same system, just not at the same time. FCP X will give you a warning.

anyone else not able to get into the app store to buy it? I click the link and it says its opening itunes and then just sits on that screen forever.
never bought anything through the app store so I don't know if its me or the store thats hanging up.

Do you have an iTunes account setup? I haven't tried buying FCP X yet, but I've bought stuff from the Mac App Store.

heath

I have an account, but it won't open itunes. when I do a search on itunes store, it doesn't show up. its weird. most likely all me seeing as other people are purchasing it no problem.

It's not in iTunes, but the Mac App Store. What version of Mac OS X Snow Leopard do you have? You'll need the latest version of S.L. to have a copy of the Mac App Store app.

heath

anyone else not able to get into the app store to buy it? I click the link and it says its opening itunes and then just sits on that screen forever.
never bought anything through the app store so I don't know if its me or the store thats hanging up.

I got the same thing and it finally said my account wasn't available yet ... to try back later. I figure they're getting hit big time right now.

It's not in iTunes, but the Mac App Store. What version of Mac OS X Snow Leopard do you have? You'll need the latest version of S.L. to have a copy of the Mac App Store app.

heath

10.6.4

I run avid as well, so I am not sure if I can upgrade to the latest OS without messing with avid. oh well.

any word on plugins compatability?

As I understand it, NO plug-ins will work with the new version

I sincerely hope you are wrong! But t wouldn't surprise me. Still shocked it's not possible to import FCS projects into FCPX. Brilliant work guys!

I don't think Soundtrack Pro or Color will be sold separatelyYeah, I think Apple is going to eventually merge Soundtrack Pro fully into the Logic Pro interface (http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/soundtrackpro/) and then add basic features to Garageband. Makes a lot of sense, but I wish they'd drop the price on Logic Pro.

Still it looks like there's some pretty good audio features that have been included in FCP X, including several Logic Pro effects. And Garageband does have basic video soundtrack capabilities.

Hey all,

Since they ditched Color and Sountrack, I very curious to see how much of that functionality has been integrated in to FCP X.

For color correction it looks from the manual like you CAN do:
- Secondaries
- Masks
- multiple color effects.

I wonder how the quality compares to Color. I wonder how the metering compares as well.

For the sound it looks like you can NOT do:
- submixes and busses
- effects on an entire track (instead of a clip)

Losing those two will make me very sad.


Can anyone who's downloaded it take a look and give a yay/nay on any of these?

Thanks!

any word on plugins compatability?

FxPlug plugins are not natively supported in FCP X. However, they can be supported through FxPlug 2 in Motion 5. The added benefit is that you can create a placeholder template in Motion 5 using FxPlug plugins and then access it directly in your effects palette in FCP X.

This is a little work-around I'm playing with now.

Wife is DLing it now and is going to re-edit a section of her last project with it to test it. She will take the raw footage and edit it, CC it and do the sound. So... We'll see. What she is struggling with is understanding how to get the same license onto multiple machines (5 total). She has been on the phone with the mothership this AM but she says they are clueless and the app store is giving error and all kinds of crap.

You just have to login with your Apple ID on each computer you want to download and install the software on. This works the same for all Apple software. If you login with a different Apple ID, you can't download the software. Not sure if you can't install once you have downloaded.

App Store blocks purchases if you have an early MacPro GPU. I have MacPro 3.1 (early 2008) with Radeon 2600 so I can't purchase.

I'm hoping someone with 5770 installed on MacPro early 2008 or older can confirm a purchase even though that combination is not "officially" supported. Many have reported the combination runs just fine but that doesn't mean it'll pass Apple's detection demons.

Interesting:

Final Cut Pro X - add-ons, graphics card requirements and supported cameras! (http://www.motionvfx.com/mblog/final_cut_pro_x_-_add-ons_graphics_card_requirements_and_supported_cameras!,p617.html)

Once you purchase, the software update downloads sound loops, audio presets, Motion 5 templates, Motion library content, QuickTime codecs and more.

heath

I just read this great and informative article on Digital Rebellion by Jon Chapell:
Final Cut Pro X - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Digital Rebellion Blog (http://www.digitalrebellion.com/blog/posts/final_cut_pro_x_the_good_the_bad_and_the_ugly.html#)

This is exactly how I feel about this release right now. The 1.0 should've been 0.5. Many features are missing, the 32-bit Compressor 4 (nothing new) is a disgrace (Sent to Compressor 3 not working) and Apple ended support for Final Cut Studio as of today. This leaves many of us out in the cold. I do believe that many features will be added the coming months/years, but that doesn't help me or others now. Plug-in developers have also been left out in the cold... which I also think is a big mistake on Apple's side. If you read comments on Twitter and blogs, the overall sentiment is that Apple abandoned it's professional users. Let's hope they fix this mistake soon... they have enough cash in the bank to act fast. And I understand know what Larry Jordan ment with "Not ready for professional use".

I will keep playing around with the software the coming weeks, but I'm very happy that I already started learning Premiere with the release of CS5 as I'm not sure where Apple is going with it's professional software division. Users of Logic Pro should be very wary right now.

I do see potential though... as the foundation of the new application is very solid. But Apple really should listen to all the feedback... otherwise I don't see a bright Apple-FCP future for most professionals.

Great news to be waking up to.

Does anybody know yet whether you have to buy a separate copy for each computer, i.e. a laptop and desktop? FCS used to let you install the same copy on both for the one cost.

I'm also buying a new Mac next month. If I download FCP X to my existing Mac today, does anyone know if it's "transferable" (can be fully taken off the old computer and then installed on the new one)?

Not sure about that, but I'm curious. I don't think FCS "allowed" us to just install it on two computers. When I was working at one company, if two of us fired up an FCS app, and we were both online, it would tell us to save our project and then it would automatically quit. So we had to operate without being online.

Heath

So far so good. FCP X exists with FCP 7. I am editing a DSLR project right now. Lots of new stuff to get used to, but the performance is FASTER than my CS5 in terms of trimming, adding effects (what there are) and color correcting...

-GReg

So plug-ins do work?
FxFactory 2.6 (http://www.noiseindustries.com/support/fxfactory260/)

It does state:
"Only a limited set of plug-ins and features are currently available in Final Cut Pro X."

Still better than nothing!

Some advice on installing, especially if you're keeping FCS 3/2009:

Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, Compressor 4: Installation best practices (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4722)

heath

Jeez! This just keeps getting better and better! :(
I'm going to wait til all this crap gets sorted out...too many important projects for big clients to screw up my system.

Oh...thanks to all who have found the important "gotcha's". This is what makes this forum great!

No mention about DVD Studio Pro, now how are we going to author to DVD.

Been reading a lot. Sounds like a dog. It's a shame, because I'd love to embrace a new editing paradigm... but not at the cost of giving up my ability to do a real sound mix, and not if I have to partition my hard drive to use an inferior product. Ugh.

So plug-ins do work?
FxFactory 2.6 (http://www.noiseindustries.com/support/fxfactory260/)

It does state:
"Only a limited set of plug-ins and features are currently available in Final Cut Pro X."

Still better than nothing!

FxPlug plugins are not natively supported in FCP X, but they are natively supported in Motion 5.
The workaround is to create Motion Templates that can tunnel the effect through to FCP X. This is what has been done for most of the effects found in FxFactory Pro and this is what I, and probably all 3rd party FxPlug developers, are in the process of doing starting today.
I already have a somewhat complete version of Stereo3D Toolbox LE working in FCP X. I'm posting updates about this in the 3D forum.

The downside is that the cool dynamic UI stuff that you are used to is not supported through the Motion Templates so no grouped parameters or UI feedback.

I don't think FCS "allowed" us to just install it on two computers.

... if two of us fired up an FCS app, and we were both online, it would tell us to save our project and then it would automatically quit.

Hi Heath.

A few years ago I rang Apple and their rep said that you could (on a laptop and desktop both owned by you, but not on two desktops or on two laptops) and pointed out where it allows it in the license agreement. But you are only allowed to use it on one (either laptop or desktop) at a time, never on both at once. If you try to use both while on a network, it won't even let you start the other one up.

I'll ring Apple this morning and find out the story on my FCP X installation queries and post the results (provided they can give me an answer!).

Gotcha; I'll say this, we also had different log-ins on one Mac, and if you have it open in one log-in, and you switch users and fire up FCP 5 (at the time), it would do the same thing.

heath

So two dumb questions:

Will this work on Leopard (NOT snow Leopard, still on Leopard), or do I have to upgrade to SL, necessitating adding another $99 to the cost?

Also, will it work on an '08 Imac (2.4 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 3GB 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM)?

No to Leopard. You need OS10.6.7 just to get the Apple App Store and OS10.6.8 is recommended for FCPX, Motion 5 or Compressor 4.

Your iMac should work fine if it has at least 256MB of VRAM. 512MB is better. The App Store won't let you download it if it doesn't meet the minimum requirements.

Snow Leopard is still $29 on Amazon.com, etc.

Heath

Can you jump from Leopard to Lion (hah!)?

Sorry, not familiar with all the deeper system stuff. . .where do I find the VRAM info? Do not see it under system profiler.

Great news!

I just got off the phone with the Apple Rep and he referred me to the license agreement for FCP X in the App Store:

Section "2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions

... you are granted a limited non-transferable license to install and use the Apple Software only on Apple-branded computers that you own or control ...

... you may not distribute or make the Apple software available over a network where it could be used by multiple devices at the same time."

So basically he said (and as backed up in the license agreement) that the computers you own under the same Apple ID can automatically download the same software as you purchased on the initial computer!
So long as they have the same Apple ID and are only used by you.

Added to this, I just found out that Ripple Training have released their new FCP X training (which is "Apple Certified") for only $40, so I'm a very happy camper this morning!

Can you jump from Leopard to Lion (hah!)?

Sorry, not familiar with all the deeper system stuff. . .where do I find the VRAM info? Do not see it under system profiler.

Actually, there is speculation you may NEED Snow Leopard to upgrade to Lion via a clean install:

Mac OS X Lion clean install may need Snow Leopard disc | Electronista (http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/06/21/lion.may.not.have.ready.made.direct.install/)

That info should be under Graphics/Displays, I believe, in the System Profiler.

heath

Ah. So I have 256 vram then.

Sounds like $129 or so then for both SL and Lion?