The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

Featured Article: Editorial - Mac's Market Share and the Cascade Failure of Windows

Apple Introduces Final Cut Express 2

by , 3:45 PM EST, January 6th, 2004

Apple today introduced the second major version of Final Cut Express, a "prosumer" video editing application based on it's bigger brother, Final Cut Pro. The new version delivers RT Extreme features for real-time compositing, an updated interface, real-time color correction and more. From the press release:

Apple® today introduced Final Cut® Express 2, the next major release of its digital video editing software. Based on Apple’s award-winning Final Cut Pro® 4 professional video editing software, Final Cut Express 2 delivers powerful new features in an affordable, easy-to-use package for video editors who want a mid-level application that delivers professional results. Fine-tuned for Mac OS® X version 10.3 “Panther”, Final Cut Express 2 features RT Extreme for real-time compositing and effects, an enhanced user interface, real-time color correction tools and enhanced audio editing capabilities.

[...]

Final Cut Express 2 includes some of the most popular features of Final Cut Pro 4 within a simplified user interface. It’s the ideal product for creative professionals who want a high-quality video editing solution but are not full time videographers; corporate and wedding videographers who handle multiple projects simultaneously but do not need to work with formats beyond DV; teachers and students who are using video more regularly as an educational tool; and video hobbyists who want to have fun while building the skills and techniques to create Hollywood-style videos.

With its integrated editing, compositing and effects tools, Final Cut Express 2 allows users to easily take a project from start to finish with professional results. Now featuring RT Extreme, Final Cut Express 2 provides instant editing gratification with real-time effects, transitions and video layers or the ability to composite up to five simultaneous DV streams. The enhanced user interface is more elegant with customizable buttons, dynamic window resizing, user-defined window layouts and a new timeline with adjustable track heights. The real-time color correction tools allow users to interactively adjust and correct color balance between shots and create unique color effects.

Featuring enhanced audio tools, Final Cut Express 2 provides multitrack audio support; real-time volume and audio filter adjustment; solo and mute controls in the timeline for auditioning individual tracks; and scoring markers for use with Soundtrack, Apple’s professional audio-looping software. The improved capture tool saves time by automatically capturing across time-code breaks and incrementally naming clips when recording breaks are discovered.

Final Cut Express 2 projects can be exported for use in Soundtrack, iDVD™ and DVD Studio Pro® 2, saved back to tape or exported to any QuickTime® format, including the industry standard MPEG-4. Final Cut Express 2 offers a smooth migration path to high-end video production because everything learned in Final Cut Express 2 is directly transferable to Final Cut Pro 4.

Final Cut Express 2 is available immediately for a retail price of $299 or an upgrade price of $99. It will run on both Jaguar and Panther. More information can be found on Apple's Final Cut Express web site.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Comment on this Article

Log in | Register | Having Problems? Reset TMO Cookies & Try Again
Username:   Password:   Log me on automatically each visit   

You are not logged in, and this post will appear as "Guest." Log in with your username and password from the TMO forums. If you do not have a username, you can register here.
Please note that guests are limited to including a maximum of two URLs per post.


Post A Comment
  Subject


  Your Comments



Please enter the word exactly as you see it in the image above. Registered users aren't prompted for this. Having trouble reading the image get a new one.


Recent Headlines - Updated Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

Tue., 6:55 PM
User Friendly Blog by Ted Landau - Why User Interface Design Matters
4:30 PM
Apple Trackpad Secrets and Technical History
4:05 PM
iPodObserver - Apple: What to Bring When Buying iPhone 3G
3:35 PM
Microsoft: We Have a Noisy Competitor
2:50 PM
Columnist: Safari Security Fails to Learn from Past
2:20 PM
iPodObserver - Services to Unlock Mobile Phones Gaining Momentum
1:00 PM
Daylite 3.7.4 Adds iWork 08, Dialectic Integration
12:20 PM
FoneLink 2.1 Adds Support for More Cell Phones
11:25 AM
Freeway 5.1.3 Adds Chinese Support
11:10 AM
iPodObserver - Rumor: Canadian Apple Stores Won't Sell iPhone 3G
10:35 AM
Microsoft Aligns with Icahn for Yahoo Takeover
10:00 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Is Internet Killing the Video Star?
8:20 AM
iPodObserver - MobileMe Launches on July 10
7:55 AM
iPodObserver - Apple: iPhone 3G Launches at 8AM Friday
6:00 AM
iPO Review - BudFits
 

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • Special Report: WWDC 2008
  • Special Report: iPhone
  • __________
  • Help TMO Grow
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!
  • New Media Expo 2008

Apple Stock Quote

  • AAPL: $179.55. Change Today: +4.39.
  • (Prices delayed up to 20 minutes.)
  • Discuss in our Apple Finance Board

Hot Topics

Apple iTunes

Top Deals From DealsOnTheWeb