Apple today released Final Cut Express 4, a significant upgrade to its powerful video editing software based on Apple's Final Cut Pro 6, with a new low price of $199. Final Cut Express 4 makes it easy to import iMovie '08 projects and enhance them with advanced editing capabilities such as multiple layers of video and graphics, picture in picture effects and animated titles. It includes over 50 new FxPlug filters, including Soft Focus, Vignette and Light Rays, with hundreds more available from a rapidly expanding FxPlug developer community.
Final Cut Express 4 adds support for the latest AVCHD cameras, allows mixing of standard and high definition content on a single timeline, includes the ability to import iMovie '08 projects, and gives users access to hundreds of sophisticated FxPlug cinematic effects and filters. Offering plenty of creative options, Final Cut Express 4 lets you edit footage captured in the most popular formats — including AVCHD. Simply connect your camcorder to your Mac, preview and select the AVCHD clips you’d like to import, and start editing your video. Editing in Final Cut Express 4 provides a world-class experience.
"Almost a million digital filmmakers have made Final Cut their editing application of choice," said Rob Schoeben, Apple's vice president of Applications Product Marketing. "With the introduction of Final Cut Express 4, Apple makes it easy for anyone to join the rapidly growing community of Final Cut editors worldwide."
The new Open Format Timeline in Final Cut Express 4 allows users to mix and match DV, HDV and AVCHD material, all in realtime using the same industry-leading editing and trimming tools found in Final Cut Pro. Supporting both 1080i and 720p HD resolutions, Final Cut Express 4 automatically performs the necessary scaling, cropping and frame rate adjustments. Enjoy complete creative control of effects, transitions, and motion parameters with the fully adjustable keyframe markers in Final Cut Express. Use keyframing to modify an effect, and you can save that modification as a favorite for use in other projects.
When starting projects from scratch, the new simplified setup automatically configures everything based on the first clip dropped on the Timeline. With enhanced audio controls, users can automatically raise any clip to its maximum level without distortion using the new Soft Normalize and Gain controls. Final Cut Express 4 also features LiveType 2, which provides an intuitive environment for creating dynamic and fun animated titles and includes an extensive library of animated fonts, textures, templates and effects.
Based on the editing tools in Final Cut Pro 6, it lets you edit in the Timeline or with the innovative Edit Overlay tool. Choose from a comprehensive set of edit options, including insert, overwrite, fit-to-fill, and more. No need to worry about formats, frame rates, or conversions. Final Cut Express 4 provides an open format Timeline that accommodates DV and HD footage. It even lets you edit clips from multiple formats in real time simultaneously.Final Cut Express 4 is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Owners of previous versions of Final Cut Express can upgrade to Final Cut Express 4 for just $99 (US).
Altec Lansing, a division of Plantronics, Inc., is once again amplifying music and multimedia experiences for Apple customers with the debut of the T612 digital audio system for the iPhone and new iPod family of products. The Altec Lansing T612 furthers the company's legacy of developing digital audio systems that complement the iPod with rich sound, beautiful design and the ability to share music with others.
