Final Cut Pro 3.0

FCP (Final Cut Pro) is from Apple, and runs only on a Mac. Unlike Windows-based applications where all the windows (timeline, browser, tools, etc) open inside a parent Window, here six different windows open up. These are respectively the viewer (plays the source files), the canvas (plays the clips in the time line), the browser (displays the material you have imported to create your movie), the time line and (not in the accompanying screen shot) the toolbar and the audiometer. Since they are independent windows, any of them can be closed or opened separately (when you close the canvas, the timeline also closes). Also, they show up as separate applications in the OS X dock when minimized. 

Another thing different about FCP is that the viewer window is tabbed and along with video has audio, filters and motion tabs. This helps you save a lot of disk space. But if you want it, then you can drag these tabs out after clicking on them, and they will come out as individual windows. So, if you are working on a dual monitor system and you are using a lot of filters, then it makes sense to drag out the filters window separately. Once you are through, you can drag it back and it will dock back into the tabbed interface.

You start off by importing your source material into the browser. You import your material from the file / import menu. Once you mark the in and out points in the viewer, you drag the clip across to the canvas. Here, a semi-transparent menu now opens up to cover half of the video window. Options available include insert, insert with transition, overwrite, overwrite with transition, replace, fit to fill and superimpose. The same items are also available on the lower left of the Canvas window.



If you want to edit audio and video separately, then you first unlink them. You can do this by going to the modify menu and unselecting “Link”. One of the USPs of FCP is its ability to do many Realtime effects. That is, many effects that would otherwise take expensive hardware add-on cards to produce can be done on the Mac by FCP directly, thereby saving costs.

FCP is extensively customizable, and once you get the hang of it, it is very easy to use. If you are making a transition from a PC to the Mac, then it could take a couple of days to get used to it. Output options include print to video, edit to tape, and export to QuickTime, Edit Decision List , FCP movie, etc.

All in all, a versatile and cost-effective package for the editing professional.

Krishna Kumar