Final Cut

The main editing software for films that is used now a days is formatted for Apple PCs and is called Final Cut. This software has a few different versions to it for those who are into editing movies recreationally and for those who do it professionally.



The recreational version is called Final Cut Express. It was created in 2003 to make it more available to the public since it is much cheaper then the professional version. It runs around $140 and while it uses the same interface as the Pros its is missing some of the advanced options for manipulating the piece of video media you are editing, such as some transitions from scene to scene and the amount of video footage you can upload at one time.


The professional version is called Final Cut Pro. Clever huh? It can run anywhere from $300 to $1,200 depending on the studio pack you get. Each one comes with different software to perfect your video once you have edited it together. The basic and cheapest comes with Motion 4 for motion graphics and animation, Soundtrack Pro 3 for audio post-production, Color 1.5 for color grading and finishing, Compressor 3.5 and DVD Studio Pro 4 so that you can produce a professional quality DVD when you are done. You also have the option of getting just Final Cut Pro in HD format for $700. It all depends on what your goals are and what you are willing to spend.

Final Cut Pro provides non-linear editing of any Quicktime compatible video format. Its interface has four different sections of the screen: the Browser, where all your video media files are listed that you have uploaded from your camera; the Viewer, where individual video media files can be previewed and trimmed to exactly where you want them; the Timeline, where the video media can be cut together into a sequence that will be your final video; and the Canvas, where the edited production in the timeline can be viewed. It supports an unlimited number of video tracks which you can edit together; up to 99 audio tracks which can be overlapped with the video; multi-camera editing for combining video from multiple camera sources; as well as standard ripple, roll, slip, slide, scrub, razor blade and time remapping edit functions so that you can get each frame exactly where you want it. It comes with a range of video transitions and a variety of video and audio filters so that you can creatively move from scene to scene. It also has a manual 3-way color correction filter so that all of your lighting and color of the subject you are working with can be just the way you want it despite outside elements.

All in all, despite its price, Final Cut is a must have software if you are thinking of going into any sort of film making. It is the software used by the pros to make the blockbusters you see today. It's a great advantage that this software is available to the public so openly and it really isn't that hard to learn to navigate. It comes with a tutorial video, while the guy who narrates it is rather boring, that is very helpful. You can can either use your mouse to use all of its features, or the short cut keystrokes which makes it easier and faster to get everything done.