The suite combines Final Cut Pro with a new soundtrack editor, a motion graphics editor and HD DVD capabilities.Apple has unveiled Final Cut Studio, a video production suite that brings together several applications for editing film and sound in video projects.
The suite includes an upgrade to editing software Final Cut Pro 5, as well as new application Soundtrack Pro, designed for audio editing and sound design.
Also included are Motion 2, a motion graphics application; and DVD Studio Pro 4, authoring software that burns high-definition DVDs to the latest HD DVD specification.
Apple Computer Inc. announced the software bundle at the National Association of Broadcasters convention, held this week in Las Vegas, and emphasized Final Cut Studio's potential contribution to high definition video production.
In unveiling Final Cut Studio, Apple's vice president of applications marketing, Rob Schoeben, noted that the suite allows producers to edit in a broad range of HD formats, as well as add motion graphics, create a soundtrack and then burn the entire project to a high-definition DVD.
"This is the era of HD content," said Jupiter Research senior analyst Michael Gartenberg. "The release of this suite is definitely an advance, in that it keeps Apple production products at the forefront of technology."
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At the heart of the suite is the update to Final Cut Pro, which is already somewhat widely used in the industry, Gartenberg said.
Apple has revamped the application with a new IMX codex to allow for editing of broadcast content from Sony's XDCAM.
Also refreshed is Dynamic RT, a system that adjusts image quality and frame rate during playback.
The new application, Soundtrack Pro, features a waveform editor with flexible layers for users to reorder, bypass or change any edit, effect or process, according to Apple.
With the suite, Apple will be competing with others in the professional video editing market, such as Avid Technology.
But Gartenberg said he believes that Apple has a bit of an edge, since it has created a line of products that could take a user from beginner to professional status.
"Apple has been very wise about giving customers a way to work their way up," he said. "Wherever you fit in the creative stream, Apple is likely to have a product for you."
Final Cut Studio will sell for $1,299 new, with an upgrade from any version of Final Cut Pro at $699.
Other parts of the suite are available as standalone applications, and also have upgrade pricing available.
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