CUPERTINO, CA — Apple has updated its Final Cut Pro X editing software - 10.4.7 - with a new Metal engine that delivers performance gains across a wide range of Mac systems and takes advantage of the power of the all-new Mac Pro and the high-resolution, high-dynamic-range viewing experience of Apple Pro Display XDR. Apple is also releasing updates to Motion (5.4.4) and Compressor (4.4.5) that feature the same modern Metal engine, with performance optimizations for Mac Pro and support for Pro Display XDR.
With support for multiple GPUs and up to 28 CPU cores, users of Final Cut Pro, Motion and Compressor will see large gains in performance. The new Metal-based engine improves playback and accelerates graphics tasks, including rendering, realtime effects and exporting on Metal-compatible Mac computers. Video editors using the 15-inch MacBook Pro - the most popular system for Final Cut Pro users - will benefit from performance that’s up to 20 percent faster, while editors using iMac Pro will see gains up to 35 percent.
Final Cut Pro (apple.com/final-cut-pro) works with the new Sidecar feature of MacOS Catalina that enables users to extend their Mac workspace by using iPad as a second display to show the browser or viewer. Pros can use Sidecar with a cable or they can connect wirelessly for greater flexibility, whether they are working on the go with a Mac notebook or in the edit suite with a Mac desktop.
By leveraging the power of Mac Pro, and offering support for multiple GPUs and up to 28 CPU cores, rendering is now up to 2.9 times faster and transcoding is up to 3.2 times faster than on the previous-generation 12-core Mac Pro. And Final Cut Pro uses the new Afterburner card for high performance when working with ProRes and ProRes RAW. This allows editors to simultaneously play up to 16 streams of 4K ProRes 422 video or work in 8K resolution with support for up to three streams of 8K ProRes RAW video.
The Pro Display XDR is a 32-inch, Retina 6K display, with P3 wide color and extreme dynamic range. Final Cut Pro users can view, edit, grade and deliver high dynamic range video with 1,000 nits of full screen sustained brightness, 1,600 nits peak brightness and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Pro Display XDR easily connects to the Mac through a single Thunderbolt cable, and pros using Final Cut Pro on Mac Pro can simultaneously use up to three Pro Display XDR units — two for the Final Cut Pro interface and one as a dedicated professional reference monitor.
Additional new features in Final Cut Pro 10.4.7 include the ability to grade high dynamic range video with enhanced color mask and range isolation tools. There is now the ability to view high dynamic range video tone-mapped to compatible standard dynamic range displays when using Final Cut Pro, Motion or Compressor on MacOS Catalina. Users can select which internal or external GPU is used to accelerate graphics processing.
Final Cut Pro 10.4.7 is available as a free update for existing users, and for $299.99 (US) for new users. Motion 5.4.4 and Compressor 4.4.5 are also available as free updates for existing users, and for $49.99. Education customers can purchase the Pro Apps Bundle for Education for $199.99.