Apple Unveils New Final Cut Pro Versions for iPad and Mac

Today, Apple announced the release of Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 and Final Cut Pro 10.8 for Mac, following their initial reveal at the company’s May iPad event. These updates introduce significant enhancements designed to leverage the latest hardware and software advancements, promising improved performance and expanded capabilities for video editing professionals.

Final Cut Pro for iPad 2

The new Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 is optimized for the latest iPad Pro models equipped with the M4 chip. This powerful new processor enables up to 2x faster rendering and supports up to 4x more streams of ProRes RAW compared to its predecessor, the M1 chip.

A standout feature in this update is “Live Multicam,” which allows users to wirelessly connect and preview up to four cameras simultaneously. This functionality is powered by the new Final Cut Camera app, which facilitates seamless integration of video feeds from multiple iPhones or iPads. Users gain a director’s view with manual control over settings like exposure, focus, white balance, ISO, and shutter speed, enhancing the versatility and precision of on-the-go video production. Final Cut Camera also serves as a standalone recording app, offering a comprehensive set of manual controls for capturing high-quality footage.

Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 now supports external projects, a highly requested feature that enables users to create and manage projects without consuming internal storage space. Additionally, the app includes new customization options such as 12 color-grading presets, eight basic text titles, 20 soundtracks, and dynamic backgrounds. The updated app also supports the Apple Pencil Pro, introducing advanced controls like barrel roll and squeeze to improve tool accessibility and precision.

Final Cut Pro 10.8 for Mac

Final Cut Pro 10.8 for Mac introduces several AI-driven enhancements aimed at streamlining the editing process. The new “Enhance Light and Color” feature automatically adjusts video for optimal color correction, while “Smooth Slo-Mo” intelligently blends video frames to create smoother motion effects. These tools utilize the Neural Engine in Apple silicon to deliver high-quality results efficiently.

Additional organizational improvements in Final Cut Pro 10.8 enhance post-production workflows. Users can now assign custom names to color corrections and video effects in the inspector, search and navigate clips with missing media or effects in the timeline index, and perform text-based timeline searches using metadata like reel, scene, and camera angle.

Availability and Pricing

Both Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 and Final Cut Pro 10.8 for Mac are available as free updates for existing users. New users can purchase Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 from the App Store for $4.99 per month or $49 per year. Final Cut Pro 10.8 for Mac is available on the Mac App Store for $299.99. Alongside these releases, Apple has also updated its Compressor and Motion applications, further enhancing its suite of professional video production tools.