… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1172: Apple Updates Final Cut Pro X, et al.

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

New versions are mostly bug fixes, with support for Big Sur and Apple silicon.

On Thursday, Nov. 12, Apple updated their suite of video applications to support improved performance and efficiency on Mac computers with Apple silicon, as well as support for Big Sur.

At the same time, all three applications sport new icons, illustrated in the screen shot.

NOTE: The new versions of Final Cut, Motion & Compressor can be installed on systems running either Big Sur or Catalina. GarageBand was also updated, but requires Big Sur for installation.

FINAL CUT PRO X (v.10.5)

In addition to support for Apple silicon, the latest version of Final Cut Pro 10.5 also enables users to:

• Accelerate machine learning analysis for Smart Conform using the Apple Neural Engine on Mac computers with Apple silicon
• Create a copy of your library and automatically transcode media to ProRes Proxy or H.264 at various resolutions to reduce file sizes and speed up editing.

This update to Final Cut Pro X also includes:

• Export HLG high-dynamic-range projects with Dolby Vision 8.4 metadata for optimized playback on Apple devices.
• Fixes an issue in which LUTs were not available in optimized or proxy clips.
• Improves appearance of HDR thumbnails in the browser and timeline.
• Improves reliability when previewing built-in sound effects in the browser.
• Fixes an issue in which audio waveforms would not update in the inspector after adding a filter or making a volume change.
• Fixes an issue in which chapter markers were not available when sharing.
• Improves reliability when creating proxy media from non-square pixel interlaced clips.
• Improves stability when applying stabilization and color balance during import.
• Fixes an issue in which audio sync could drift when retiming clips.
• Improves reliability with Social Media content positioning when using Smart Conform to switch between vertical and horizontal frame sizes.
• Improves reliability when using onscreen Crop controls in the viewer.
• Fixes an issue in which copying stills between libraries would result in duplicate files.
• Includes built-in support for Avid DNxHR® and Avid DNxHD® decoding and playback.

NOTE: Here’s a link to the Final Cut Pro X Release Notes from Apple.

MOTION (v.5.5)

In addition to support for Apple silicon, the Motion 5.5 update includes:

• Export HLG high-dynamic-range projects with Dolby Vision 8.4 metadata for optimized playback on Apple devices.
• Improves stability when clicking in an empty canvas on on a Mac Pro with two AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo GPUs and a Blackmagic eGPU Pro.
• Improves stability when manipulating groups of keyframes selected across multiple parameters.
• Improves stability using the Stroke filter when selecting a stroke type in the HUD.
• Fixes an issue in which the Poke filter center is offset from the onscreen control.
• Improves stability when deleting layers after removing a marker.
• Includes built-in support for Avid DNxHR® and Avid DNxHD® decoding and playback.

NOTE: Here’s a link to the Motion Release Notes from Apple.

COMPRESSOR (v. 4.5)

In addition to support for Apple silicon, the Compressor 4.5 update includes:

• Export HLG high-dynamic-range projects with Dolby Vision 8.4 metadata for optimized playback on Apple devices.
• Fixes an issue where audio sync could drift when changing the frame rate of a clip.
• Fixes an issue where creating a BluRay disc from a DV-PAL source would fail.
• Includes built-in support for Avid DNxHR® and Avid DNxHD® decoding and playback.

NOTE: Here is a link to the Compressor Release Notes from Apple.