Apple today unveiled Final Cut Studio 2, a significant upgrade to the industry’s leading video production suite that delivers new creative tools designed expressly for editors. Final Cut Studio 2 includes Final Cut Pro 6, Motion 3, Soundtrack Pro 2, Compressor 3, and DVD Studio Pro 4.2. Final Cut Studio 2 also introduces Color, a professional color grading and finishing application for ensuring consistent color and creating signature looks.
The Open Format Timeline will allow users to mix formats, mix resolutions and even mix frame-rates. The application will also include SmoothCam, which will remove unwanted camera motion. Editable Motion Templates within Final Cut Pro will also be included in this version.
Final Cut Pro 6 introduces Apple’s ProRes 422 format for uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes. ProRes 422 is a new full raster, 10-bit 4:2:2 post production format that produces HD quality at SD file sizes, making it ideal for working efficiently across a SAN or on a MacBook Pro in the field, according to Apple.
Motion 3 includes many new features including the ability for all real-time tools to be extended to 3D. Motion also has multi cam and light sources, and vector-based paint with pen pressure and speed sensitivity. Motion 3 will also have Match Moving, a new simple workflow that automatically follows the path of any animated object (even if it was not created in Motion). Match Moving will suggests points and create motion paths for video.
Soundtrack Pro features 3-up video HUD for placing clips and advanced Take Management for dialog replacement. Soundtrack Pro will also have Surround Mixing, which allows for 5.1 and stereo in a single project. A new Conform feature allows users to sync changes between video and sound — differences are highlighted in the graphical view. Users can audition and then accept or override the changes.
Compressor 3 gives editors a complete set of tools for generating video for use on the iPod, the web, wireless devices and DVD. In addition to simplifying the cluster setup, Apple has added MPEG-2 broadcast program streams and presets for the iPod and Apple TV. Compressor 3 can take advantage of as many cores as you have access to — the user just needs to pick the number of instances. You can keep track of performance using the included core gauge. According to Apple, Compressor 3 is able to “publish to any device on the planet.”
Final Cut Studio 2 be available next month for $1,299 or $499 for an upgrade. Upgrading from any version of Final Cut Pro to the Studio will cost $699.