Apple unveiled Final Cut Pro for iPad 2, introducing significant updates that harness the power of the new iPad Pro to elevate creative possibilities. This version transforms the iPad into a multicam production studio through the introduction of Live Multicam. This feature allows users to connect, control, and preview up to four cameras simultaneously, streamlining the video production process.
Accompanying this update is the debut of Final Cut Camera, a brand-new video capture app available for both iPhone and iPad. This app enables creators to wirelessly connect and manage video angles with professional-grade controls, and can also function as a standalone video capture tool on these devices.
Further enhancing flexibility, Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 supports editing directly from external drives via the iPad Pro’s high-speed Thunderbolt connection. The new M4 chip in iPad Pro greatly accelerates the editing process, allowing users to color grade, apply multiple effects, and render graphically demanding timelines with unprecedented speed.
The update includes an expanded range of customizable content for editing and project creation, and integrates advanced functionalities of the newly introduced Apple Pencil Pro, such as barrel roll and squeeze for Live Drawing.
“Users have been loving the portability and flexibility of editing with Final Cut Pro for iPad. It was designed from the ground up to take advantage of everything iPad has to offer, and that continues with the latest advances like Apple Pencil Pro and the M4 chip. Now, Final Cut Pro for iPad is getting even more powerful, transforming production workflows for creators by putting iPad at the center and allowing them to edit and share more quickly than ever, whether they’re at the studio or on the go. Final Cut Pro for Mac also continues to deliver efficiency gains for editors with new features that are smarter and faster.”
Brent Chiu-Watson, Apple’s senior director of Apps Worldwide Product Marketing
Features of Final Cut Pro for iPad 2
Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 elevates iPad into a potent production studio, maximizing the capabilities of the M4 chip in the new iPad Pro. With processing power that doubles the final rendering speed and supports up to four times more streams of ProRes RAW than its M1 predecessor, this update unlocks new levels of efficiency and quality. The integration with the innovative Apple Pencil Pro further enhances control, making editing more intuitive and precise.
Live Multicam editing
A standout feature in this update is Live Multicam. This allows users to capture and control up to four different camera angles simultaneously. It connects wirelessly through the newly introduced Final Cut Camera app, providing real-time management of each feed. Users can adjust settings such as exposure and focus directly from their iPad, streamlining the production process. The editable preview clips are instantly available in Final Cut Pro for iPad 2, with full-resolution files syncing in the background for seamless editing transitions.
Final Cut Camera
Supporting the multicam functionality, Final Cut Camera enhances the filming capabilities of both iPhone and iPad. This app offers manual control over crucial filming parameters like ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and focus peaking. Equipped with tools such as zebras and audio meters, it ensures high-quality capture and monitoring, making it a versatile tool for professional videography. Final Cut Camera is also available as a standalone app, allowing for high-end video capture on iOS devices.
Enhanced external project support
Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 now facilitates external project support, significantly enhancing storage flexibility. Users can manage projects directly from external storage devices, which conserves iPad storage and streamlines collaboration by allowing projects to be easily handed off to other editors or moved into Final Cut Pro for Mac. This support includes seamless integration of high-resolution files and professional codecs like ProRes and Log.
Expanded customization options
The new version offers an expanded toolkit for customization. Editors can now access 12 new color-grading presets, choose from eight basic text titles, and utilize 20 new soundtracks. Additional dynamic backgrounds are available to create engaging overlays and title sequences. These features, combined with the Apple Pencil Pro’s enhanced functionality like barrel roll and squeeze in Live Drawing, empower users to create unique and refined content.
Final Cut Pro for Mac 10.8
For Mac users, Final Cut Pro 10.8 introduces AI-driven features and tools that leverage the Neural Engine in Apple silicon for improved efficiency. Enhancements include the ability to quickly adjust light and color, smooth slow-motion effects, and more intuitive organizational tools. Color corrections and video effects can now be named for easy identification, and a text-based timeline search feature allows for better management of project elements.
Pricing
Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 will be available as a free update for existing users this spring, and new users can subscribe for $4.99 per month or $49 per year after a one-month free trial. Final Cut Camera will also be available for free. On the Mac platform, Final Cut Pro 10.8 will be available as a free update for existing users or for $299.99 for new users, with a 90-day free trial offered to all new users. This pricing strategy ensures accessibility for a wide range of users, from amateur filmmakers to professional editors.
Apple Event:
- New iPad Pro models boast huge M4 chip
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- Apple M4 chip: Everything you need to know
Featured image credit: Apple
