What Is The Future Of Final Cut Pro?

[@matthewTobrien]

"Always cloudy the future is..." Well, I'm gonna try my best to offer up what I think we'll see from Final Cut Pro in the near future. What are your predictions for good ol' FCP? 🔪🥦🧲🎞

[@robertenator]

I've been waiting for the future of Final Cut Pro for about 10 years. Besides getting a flat UI update and some AI features to market the M1 chips, the software hasn't exactly changed very much since its inception. Other software like Premiere or Davinci Resolve are updated three times a month. Video editing in FCP is streamlined and optimized especially with ProRes RAW footage, as long as you can grapple with the quirks of the magnetic timeline, but their entire pro stack of video apps including Motion, Compressor and even Logic Pro X and Mainstage are in pure stagnation. It seems most of the Mac software team spend their time on MacOS rather than the individual programs. macOS is updated way too often IMO and is becoming too similar to iOS. When you factor in the accelerating convergence to iOS and lack of frequent updates for its individual programs, Apple just doesn't seem to be keeping a spot at the table for pro users. Every now and then Apple will come out and say "we are going to be Pro user oriented from now on!" - with the original FCPX updates, the 2019 Mac Pro, or the Mac Studio. It is never a commitment they seem to stick to.

[@matthewTobrien]

Exactly, Todd. They give us all this hope with FCP, the 2019 Mac Pro...and then things flatline. And we're all just standing there going..."Dupe detection? That's it?" It's frustrating for sure. Especially when we know so well what they're capable of.

[@DCuerpoJr]

I'd love to see FCP integration with Macs, iPads and iPhones. But I'm not holding my breath for this to ever happen. I'd like to have the ability to: • Have FCP on an iPad and iPhone. It'd be cool to have an iCloud synced FCP library where I can edit a project on my Mac, then pick up where I left off on an iPad/iPhone. Or even have Compressor on an iPad so I can offload the exporting to an iPad while I continue working on another FCP project on my Mac. • iCloud sync FCP libraries. Makes sense to keep the original files locally stored on a server or direct-attached-storage, but would be cool to create small proxy files available on iCloud so that I can be able to work on an FCP project over a high-speed internet connection. • Utilize the neural engines for machine learning. It would be awesome for FCP to be able to learn how I edit multicam footage (e.g. recording a concert), then be able to create auto compiled multicam clips with cuts based on how I have created projects in the past. Theoretically, it seems possible, but then again I'm not a software/AI engineer.

[@RoadtrippinwithTakacs]

Nice insights. 👍I still use it sometimes, but Davinci Resolve definitely is a superior program. One thing though, you are wrong about kids not editing on Davinci Resolve. My two sons have been editing on it since they were 10 and 8 years old. It's really not that complicated. 😉

[@FxFactory]

We love Final Cut Pro, and hope some feature rich updates come sooner than later.

[@matthewTobrien]

Agreed! Bring them on!

[@mrz4297]

wow! i use your plugin!

[@safetyhomeloans950]

Fxfactory 🎉. Interesting to know, or get the input from developers, such as FX factory, as to what features, and or updates, they would like to see as developers

[@Sam_Kln]

@FxFactory .. And we love your plugins for Final Cut Pro 😁🙌🏻🥰

[@rollingchilling]

fcp 11 soon!!!

[@winstoncely694]

This is one of the best opinion pieces I’ve heard on the place of FCP. The way you frame it is why I use it to teach editing to high school students.

[@matthewTobrien]

Exactly! High school students. The next generation of storytellers, content creators, and filmmakers. Love that you're using FCP!

[@Kou.knows1]

All I have ever used is FCP. Since 2014, it has allowed me to edit for brands like New Balance and Disney. I have DR & PP just because and have tried both out, and yes some features are great within those NLE’s, but I just find FCP to be a very creative NLE. I definitely would love more integration with Logic, as Logic for me is how it all began as a music producer, audio editor, post audio mix engineer for film. So as you can tell I have a love for everything native apple creative and it has served me vey well in my professional endeavors. So I hope Apple makes some great updates as I am one who intends to use FCP on even bigger projects! And as always Matthew great insight and take on this beloved NLE for me and many others. I’ve learned so much from you, as my education on FCP over the years has 100% come from KZbin and resources. School of hard knocks baby!

[@matthewTobrien]

Incredible! And yes... YOU are exactly who I'm talking about. Exactly who Apple wants to empower to do incredible things using a Mac and FCP. I mean, it ASTONISHES me that I've edited video content on a 24" iMac (Intel Core-2 Duo!) for some of the biggest concerts out there. Some were edited on a 15" MacBook Pro, others a Quad-Core Mac Pro. Unreal what you can do with these amazing tools and how empowered we all feel using them.

[@mashirokobato5509]

Logic completely jokes.. blown away by 3rd party DAW such as Reapers and Cubase..

[@Kou.knows1]

@@matthewTobrien Yeah amazing stuff bro! Would love to see some of your creations offline!

[@PatrickRambles]

Thumbnail 10/10👏

[@matthewTobrien]

Dude. Thank you! I just crazily lit and shot it an hour and a half ago! 🤪 Ready for a livestream now… 😂

[@PatrickRambles]

@@matthewTobrien sometimes it's the fast ones that just work!

[@matthewTobrien]

So true.

[@JoshRazauskas]

The way that I put this the other day when someone was asking me about Final Cut Pro is simply advanced. Meaning everything you were talking about about. It’s really easy to learn, but it’s advanced enough where you shouldn’t feel like you’re using a free video editor either. Great video man!

[@adamrook2760]

MAN!! You read my mind. Straight out of the gate with your first two feature requests. I've been begging Apple for those two features for sooooo long. I so wish they would give us more control. The problems you addressed about sound mixing, keyframe editing and other things. I would just love for mask animation to track it's points or to set the default keyframes to Linear. For the first time in nearly 20 years I'm considering a jump to Davinci. It saddens me

[@matthewTobrien]

I think all FCP editors are unified in wanting sound mixing, keyframe editing improved. And a huge list of easy/simple adjustments and updates that would make every day things quite a bit easier.

[@BenjaminGib]

Great video, Matt. I will add or point out that “Hollywood” is not the respected standard of excellence it used to be; not even close. Maybe I’m old but modern movies don’t excite me anymore. I find myself always looking and enjoying older content with true cinematographers and artists, and uplifting, inspiring stories.

[@matthewTobrien]

Subscription to the Criterion Collection streaming service is a must (although I've heard the quality of their streams is quite poor).

[@BenjaminGib]

@@matthewTobrien oh good to know. Bad on the streaming quality though.

[@BenjaminGib]

@@matthewTobrien Definitely checking it out.

[@inflytegoo]

Apple needs you as a guest speaker at their next launch!! Well done my friend and in my opinion they need to consult you on an individual level to help drive their product.

[@matthewTobrien]

I would love that! I know they do make connections with FCP editors outside of 1 Infinite Loop, but I'm guessing I'm going to need to grow my audience a bit more before they shoot me an email. We'll see. Haha. Thanks for watching, Gabe!

[@stevesidea]

I'm not a super technical editor in FCPX but the one thing I think is sorely missing is transcription/captions. The way Premiere does this is reason enough for me to switch. I do a lot of simple edits of talking heads and captions are a must now for social media. Adding this feature seems pretty important and I hope they do it soon.

[@mrdavejavor]

Can’t wait for this feature 🙏🏽

[@JakeRussellRealtor]

Wow, next level video here Matthew, thanks for your energy and experience sharing this with us! Inspiring work!

[@matthewTobrien]

I greatly appreciate that, Jake. Thanks so much for watching and being a part of the channel!

[@Harleycactor]

Big time FCP user here. I think some people fail to see or understand how good the user interface is, how fast the render times are, and what pro tools there are for it already or how to use them. I do agree some more pro work can go into it. But I do VFX, tracking, and sound design right inside the editor and never leave it. It’s amazing. If they keep adding on the echo system as you said then this could very well be the best NLE out there, in my opinion. I will say watching your video gave me so much more hope for it to.

[@matthewTobrien]

I'm full of hope for FCP so glad I could extend some of it to other lovers of FCP! 🔪🥦🧲🎞️

[@storybabble]

Well done. Thanks. I’ve been an fcp user since version 1. It cost $1,250 as I recall I was happy to have it. I relate to your story. Thanks.

[@matthewTobrien]

I remember buying the Final Cut Studio upgrade back in 2009 (I think it was '09) and it was like $400. FCP was NOT cheap, that's for sure!

[@carloscubillo7898]

Thanx for sharing your knowledge and your vision in this. We (experienced editors that know all the editing softwares) are a little bit confused about FCP

[@matthewTobrien]

Sure! It's a bit of an outlier, and it's certainly a paradigm shift from traditional track-based NLEs. This is an older video, but it's one I share with anyone who ask me for resources as they look to learn FCP: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6vGn4t8nbl2Z80

[@GODANMEDIA]

Awesome review of what may be! Ty for sharing some light.

[@matthewTobrien]

You're welcome! Thanks for checking out my video!

[@tbcmediaca]

Your insight into these deep questions is awesome Matt! Great work on dissecting the possibilities of technological progress, innovation and motivations of the companies that we rely on to keep making magic!

[@matthewTobrien]

Thank you! So appreciate you watching and dropping a comment!

[@jeffarballo1881]

Great take on FCP. I've done every documentary and commercial with FCP and the last documetnatry we did we used FCP and then took the documentary up to Hollywood to have a post house color correct and add sound effects and titles, They had to jump through so many hoops to get it done but did it. The process was so frustration on so many levels, even though FCP is fast, I want to pull my hair out so many times when I'm looking for a second editor and all the TV editors are on Avid or Premier Pro and just jumping through hoops to get things done. Im still learning Resolve and will probably jump to it on my next projects unless I see FCP really add in a few features to make it easier to collaborate. We have three projects in the works one using FCP and the other two we haven't started post yet. I'm praying FCP makes a big move in 2023 because I'm tired of trying to defend why I use it when my projects are going on TV.

[@matthewTobrien]

Yeah, turnover can be a bit of a bear, that's for sure. I've been there on a lot of short content having to export an XML for Resolve and get everything conformed. Even with short content there are always little issues and obstacles to overcome. I've had good luck with getting an AAF out to sound mixers and not running into too many problems but again that's all been content 30 mins or less. But yes, I hear you on updates being needed to help FCP doc editors work with other post professionals. I just LOVE FCP for doc editing.

[@scrambletheseawolves7744]

@@matthewTobrien Agree, I love it as well for documentaries, it's fast and easy to find things when you need them. Who knows what the future brings for FCP, I just hope they take it up to the next level.

[@Nattodayy]

I totally agree with your opinion about FCP. It’s brilliance is in its simplicity, and wielding the FCPs strengths, along with the strength of the other NLEs is better than relying solely on any one app. I would also like to say that Motion 5 adds a lot of functionality to FCP. For example, I published OpenEXR controls from M5 to FCP to get exposure controls on ProRes Raw clips. Nonetheless, great video man.

[@matthewTobrien]

That's really cool! (what you did to get exposure controls on ProRes RAW). Appreciate you watching and commenting, Daniel.

[@dylanjohndickerson]

Just finished up your livestream and had to swing on over to this video. Awesome thumbnail by the way, Matthew! We can only hope that Apple pushes Final Cut at the forefront of their plans and goals, but I'm not holding my breath. Fingers crossed though 🤞🏼 Great overview as always, brotha!

[@matthewTobrien]

That livestream got nutty. Something's weird with it because it shows that it's 2+ hrs long, and I can't update the thumbnail. Yikes. And yes, I think hope is really all we have at this point with Final Cut.

[@ScottSalvi]

Great video again Matt! Thank you! I really wish they would listen to our suggestions more often! I am the apathetic as well...but I do love FCP!

[@matthewTobrien]

You and me both! I think they do listen...it just takes FOREVER for these updates and enhancements to roll out.

[@CraigBergonzoni]

Great video. Well thought out and expressed. I totally understood in 2011 that the future was for the social media creator and still understand that this is the bread and butter for the FCP market. I still hope for a few simple updates and features that I’ve been wanting since 2011.

[@paulhicks3595]

An excellent summation. Thanks.

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks, Paul!

[@RafalGendarz]

Log wheels are also not there, only in cf2

[@matthewTobrien]

Good point, Rafal!

[@varerkars]

FCP is one the main reason I’m glued to the Mac OS. It got me deep into the eco system I hope they show it some More love with tangible updates. Some AI features for 3D tracking and rotoscoping would be amazing

[@jp-is1is]

man if they incorporated that it'll be amazing

[@1234clarknj]

Matt, well put together. Thank you for the video and depth of thought.

[@matthewTobrien]

You're welcome! Thanks so much for watching and commenting.

[@GJoseeph]

Thanks for your teachings, Mr Matt

[@matthewTobrien]

Ohhhh my pleasure, José!

[@FreeWillPhotos]

I really long for the day that Final Cut and Logic can be interfaced or we at least get a DAW module in Final Cut. Audio is the only thing that I get hung up on with FCP right now.

[@matthewTobrien]

You and so, so, so many more editors. Hoping they overhaul audio/sound mixing soon!

[@RafaelLudwig]

Fantastic Video Matthew! Nicely done!

[@matthewTobrien]

Thank you, Raf!

[@camaslindbeck1985]

Matthew, I think that the issue is not one of not having gratitude, but it’s hard to ignore other companies and software makers having better products when we know that the best and biggest tech company in the world is clearly capable of surpassing them all.

[@matthewTobrien]

Fair point, Camas.

[@rodrigozamo]

As a musician, I feel the same way about Logic/ MainStage. Sure, they have added a lot of new features for even mixing Atmos, samplers and whatnot for electronic music/hip hop producers. But for us guitars players, the amp sims are 12 years old at this time and that tech has made MASSIVE leaps in the past 3-5 years. Same with mixing plugins. They are lacki against what other makers are doing right now

[@matthewTobrien]

Yikes. I wonder if Logic is even more deprived than FCP… 🤔

[@rodrigozamo]

@@matthewTobrien It's interesting. There have been some major updates that have added a lot of functionality over the years. BUT, oriented for electronic/ hip hop bedroom producers mostly. They have added great tools for those profiles. But they have missed the mark on updating the core tools for a standard mixing engineer, for a guitar player. Someone that wants to focus a bit less on the creative aspect and more on the technical aspect. In that area, it is falling behind with the times and the built in tools are great and very useful but could be updated slightly to bring them up to modern standards. And by default, this also directly impacts FCX, since the audio tools you find in there, are straight out of Logic. So if they get updated in Logic, by default, they are also transferred to MainStage and FCX.

[@BrvoGrlY]

Been waiting for this one!! Awesome video as usual

[@matthewTobrien]

Thank you!!!

[@MarkDHall]

Thanks for this video, Matthew. I LOVE Final Cut Pro but have been in a "funk" over it after creating my last video. I was trying to do some zoom transformations, but it just wasn't coming out nicely, so I ended up doing part of it in another program to get it the way I wanted and then reimported that part back into FCP. At work, we use Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. They're very powerful, but I switched from those for my personal editing to Final Cut Pro because of how fast and efficient it is at cutting and how smoothly it runs without crashing. Overall, I love FCP 95% of the time, but that 5% of not loving it makes me want to ditch it for another editor sometimes. But then I watch a video from you or one of the other FCP KZbinrs, and I feel that we're all in the same boat. We love the program most of the time, but there's a few things that we'd like updated, and it would become the best program out there. And then I feel better.

[@matthewTobrien]

Haha. Me too. It’s tough sometimes. But the bulk of my time is spent in the timeline and I can’t imagine editing without the power of the Magnetic Timeline. I gotta have it!

[@real_joey]

This is well made Matthew. I really enjoyed watching this :)

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks, Joey! I spent all week making it - thanks so much for watching. How are you feeling about the future of Final Cut Pro when it comes to your work and channel?

[@AlessioFurlan]

Excellent analysis! Good boy!

[@matthewTobrien]

Thank you!

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

I think you've hit the nail on the head. The only thing I might add is that Apple's perception of FCP being a "pro" app simply means it's a tool that video professionals can use. As you said, that doesn't mean it's the right tool for Hollywood. It means it provides all the functionality that most people who make money doing video -- be it at in in-house corporate agency, a mom and pop retail shop making videos for their website, wedding videographers, local video professionals doing commercials for local TV, etc. There's a wide array of "professional" video people who aren't working within the Hollywood infrastructure, and FCP works fine for most of them. In this way, Apple has aimed FCP at a much, much larger segement of the video-making community. PLUS, as you say, it's an ideal tool for those of us who make KZbin videos -- even rather complex ones like the ones I do. I am intrigued, I must say, by one of the speculative statement you made that some have put forth saying that Apple might acquire Black Magic and combine FCP with DaVinci Resolve to make the NLE to end all NLEs. Now THAT is a very interesting idea that I had not previously heard. If the day ever came that Apple wanted to take on climbing that Hollywood mountain, that would be a good way to take it on.

[@matthewTobrien]

Yeah, I've heard a lot of people talking about Apple buying Blackmagic and making Final Cut Resolve. Haha - I don't think it'll ever happen, but I can see why many people wish they would. And to your first point, I agree. Apple knows that the meaning of "pro" completely changed when filmmaking became democratized with digital video (especially the Canon 5D MkII) and digital editing. So many people make money creating videos...and to me that's all you need to call yourself a "pro".

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

@@matthewTobrien -- Well, that kind of bold move wouldn't exactly be unprecedented for Apple, you know.

[@matthewTobrien]

Ohhhh it sure wouldn't. They're chock full of 'em.

[@Alprattjr]

Thank you for this intelligent commentary on the current and hopefully future state of Final Cut Pro!

[@matthewTobrien]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@paulgero]

This is so well stated and reasoned. Thank you.

[@matthewTobrien]

Thank you, Paul!

[@RCodyWanner]

this is so freaking well done

[@matthewTobrien]

Most nervous I’ve ever been releasing a video. Thank you for watching!🤘🙌

[@chipcurry]

I agree with most every comment - your video was superb. I’ve been using Final Cut since almost the beginning. It’s missing a lot of stuff, but I seem to manage with it, it’s fast, I know it. I know I could get better color grades with resolve, but I just need to crank out the stories and this is enough. I am sure this will get through to Apple. They’re watching. It will not be missed. Listen Apple… grow it.

[@aaronkaiser]

Logic Pro has a basic and advanced interface. Why not something like that with FCP? Beginners can use the basic and once they need the advanced features, they can switch into advanced mode.

[@matthewTobrien]

That’s why I put those shots in from my buddy Nick’s FCP DAW concept video…

[@aaronkaiser]

@@matthewTobrien I’m not going to lie, those shots were actually my favorite and made my mouth salivate as to what could be.

[@richiejobs]

Are you going to keep using it (bet on Apple) or switch? Id appreciate a video talking about the core genius behind magnetic timeline, maybe I don’t get it cause its default in iMovie?

[@matthewTobrien]

Gonna stick with FCP. iPad app restore confidence that Apple is going to continue to keep FCP current, and I think the next few years are going to show some exciting new features that help get them caught up to the innovation we’re seeing with Premiere and especially Resolve.

[@richiejobs]

@@matthewTobrien I agree! I think the workflow importing data, and the interaction with other devices in the ecosystem is valuable together with the magnetic timeline… Could you point me to another video that explains the magnetic concept a little more thoroughly? Since I’ve never used all the professional video editors, maybe I don’t appreciate it (?)

[@thetangierc]

How about batch syncing and ambisonic audio support?

[@matthewTobrien]

Batch syncing with timecode would be amazing. That's another example of a feature request that seems to go nowhere. In the meantime, I'm messing around with Tentacle Sync Studio and importing an XML into FCP. Ugh.

[@thetangierc]

@@matthewTobrien Same. I've been using Tentacle Sync Studio, Sync-N-Link X, and Video Toolshed's LTC Convert for years to do batch syncing.

[@tjdalyvideo]

Smart, thank you. Very interesting to think about how FCP correlates to consistent long term vision of Apple (I got started on FCP 5, 6, 7 then moved to Adobe). When you mentioned acquisition rumors I was daydreaming about the BlackMagic booth at NAB suddenly being full of Apple cameras and an Apple Raw codec… to go along nicely with the Resolve iPad converted to a new “Final Cut Pro”. Hmmm that’s a solid fit 😊

[@matthewTobrien]

Haha - yeah, we all can dream, right? I got started with FCP 6 and obviously stuck with FCP. Had my career gone into TV/Film I'd be among the signors of the open letter begging Apple to level up FCP. When Steve Jobs came back to Apple, he really simplified things, and I worry that Apple needs to make sure they don't make too much hardware/products and become mediocre at all of them instead of amazing at just a few of them. With an AR/VR Headset coming, possibly a car...it worries me.

[@tjdalyvideo]

@@matthewTobrien agreed, the open question "does Apple have a core interest in professional video market" has been ongoing. I hope so!

[@TasteofTaboo]

this is horrifying. Apple has never shown any long-time interest in pros. in this case, apple is a bit like google. Everything will die. Every promising really cool tech they have sabotage and or stopped developement. Motion was such a cool, nice, fast promising software .... Aputure was really on the front line… openCL they promised and then… and vulkan … and now metal is a big shit show no one really wants to develop for.

[@ereceeme]

apples history of buying companies is bleak. they buy and canabalize what they want and throw the rest away. Fortunately bmd is a private company which makes it almost imposible to buy unless tempted with an absurd amount of cash. I was a fcb studio refugee that wound up in resolve after a stint with adobe. resolve an fcp work rather well together im told, though no prores raw. resolve is a great finishing tool for fcb that can be free.

[@WarrenPeaceOG]

This undermines my confidence: the design philosophy of FCP is based on leveraging metadata to work faster and smarter organising and finding media. Text-to-video leverages the most important metadata there is: text describing voices. Text-to-video brings non-linear editing for audio to non-linear editing of video: biggest efficiency saving imaginable. And a huge landmark in NLE development. In the last 4 years, we crossed a critical threshold in machine transcription, shifting from 90% correct to 99.9% correct. There is a huge need from everyone, pros to KZbinrs. But despite having an advantage with their own speech recognition and processing, Apple seems especially slow to innovate. Following a handful of 3rd party developers who've been working in the space for years, Adobe beat Apple to the punch in recent weeks, adding text-to-video to Premiere

[@matthewTobrien]

Exactly. It's as if they're dedicated all of that work to Siri and the hardware that uses it. It seems like a no-brainer to take that technology and leverage the power of these new neural engines to transcribe audio for transcripts, sub-titles, and captions. And this is why so many of us get frustrated - in on area Apple is pioneering new tech, on the other they're taking existing tech and making it work sooooo much better than the pioneers who developed it, and then on the other hand (three hands???) they're just doing nothing. And that's what it feels like with Final Cut. Again, I'm sooooo grateful I can export a 15 min KZbin video in 15 to 30 minutes vs the 3 HOURS it was taking me with the Mac Pro. I'm in AWE of the progress we've seen with Apple silicon ... and it makes me want so much more from Final Cut Pro.

[@Hatchi-hu3jn]

this is really spot on!

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks!

[@AlloffroadAu]

sadly true I'm not far from switching to Resolve

[@matthewTobrien]

I mean, you could always learn Resolve and then come back to FCP when Apple blows us away with version 11, right? RIGHT??? 😂

[@richardrude2819]

Just found your channel. Great video. I would like to add that a problem with apple is that they are so fickle. As a consumer you just cannot know whether apple will discontinue any product at any point. And that makes it a bit of a gamble to invest into learning an app that could be gone at a moment's notice. That said, I hope they will continue developing fcpx as you are absolutely right: it is fantastic for that customer empowerment. I bought the creative app bundle for something like 200€ back when I was a student which for fcpx, motion 5, logic and compressor is a great deal

[@bro_dBow]

You are awesome, your words to Tim Cook's ear. Resolve bought my Apple and merging Resolve with FCP would be a giant step!

[@matthewTobrien]

That would be CRAZY. Thanks so much for watching!

[@motionbymike]

This is fantastic, well done Matt!!

[@matthewTobrien]

Thank you, Mike! I did a last minute re-edit, and I can see there are a few phantom frames in that section. Grrrr. Luckily nobody's excoriated me about it yet!

[@MyLilFunkyPodcast]

This is stellar journalism Sir! Bravo....!!! This could have been on Dateline.

[@matthewTobrien]

One big opinion piece - thank you!

[@robertenator]

Just a heads-up the link your provided for the open letter links to a podcast

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks, Todd! I updated the link. 👍

[@ericchang7759]

Agree with major step change. I’d say they also need a pioneering developer in house again that can revive innovation and leverage the power of M chips, and integrate a revived Logic.

[@matthewTobrien]

100% agree.

[@zanettifranke2252]

As much as I love it and I think it’s the fastest video editing tool and by that I mean the actual trimming and cutting… I am always closer to face the reality that for a growing career in feature films, there is not really a Choice besides getting back to avid for me. After a certain moment in the edit process the actual speed of editing becomes less important somehow and it’s about finding script lines or markers from 2 months before… which is both really easy with avid. Of course what would I give for a magnetic timeline in avid. Maybe a kidney

[@matthewTobrien]

You're absolutely right. I just don't foresee post in film/tv moving away from the Avid any time soon. Even if FCP could do everything Avid can do (even better than Avid can), I don't think the industry would migrate to FCP unless it was such a massive time and costs savings. Not only that, there are so few editors who know FCP that you'd have too little supply for the demand. At least for a time. But the Magnetic Timeline is just too good. I can't imagine editing with tracks again.

[@seecraig]

I'm not sure to what extent it's features that differentiate the NLEs so much as workflows. A lot of KZbinrs are pronouncing their switch to Resolve despite its steep learning curve. Of course, one doesn't know if that represents a rank-and-file user trend. Also, many of those switchers are leaving Premiere Pro. But some FCP users are switching as well. Resolve does have an easy-to-use Cut page in addition to the Edit page now. I think FCP may have been hurt by the lack of BRAW support for very popular BMPCC cameras (now fixed by a third-party plugin). The lack of easy collaborative workflow as it seems even KZbinrs are looking for that now. I think what's happening is features that were once the domain of Hollywood or Broadcast are now expected even by social media users.

[@matthewTobrien]

AGREED. And I think a lot of content creators who have come over from photography and really love color correction and grading are frustrated by FCP's limited tool set whereas Resolve is a dream come true for colorists. Fortunately for me I hate color correction/grading! I do love to work with colorists, though. I just don't want to push the buttons and figure out how to make it look good.

[@MindFloodMedia]

Omg, editing a compound clip, leaving the timeline and having to click back into the project is so frustrating!

[@matthewTobrien]

Agreed!

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Excellent analysis. I guess I'm one of those amateur editors that hopes for some improvements though wouldn't want Apple to make Final Cut so complex I'd have to move back to iMovie!😀 Cos that's where I began my video journey about 15 years ago. I love Final Cut though I've been tempted to try Davinci since I got a Nikon Z9 a year back. Davinci supports the 8K Tico RAW files the Z9 produces. FCP doesn't. I'm guessing the ongoing suit between Nikon and RED might have something to do with that. The point I'm trying to make is that even though I'd really like to use my camera to its full potential (when I need RAW), I'm not ready to switch to Resolve. Yet.

[@matthewTobrien]

Resolve is pretty daunting. I consider myself fairly technically minded, but even for me it's a bit overwhelming at times. It certainly makes it a powerful app - I once made a DCP for a short film that was premiering here in Omaha in about an hour and a half on a laptop in a coffee shop (it was an emergency). It's an amazing app, but I just can't move away from the Magnetic Timeline. Sure the Cut page tries to touch on what the MT can do, but it's not the same as FCP. Luckily for my KZbin content and the occasion client video or passion documentary project, FCP is all I need to do my thing. Sorry about your Nikon being left out of the fun. Definitely think the lawsuit is part of the reason why.

[@BretFX]

Another nice vid Matthew. Wouldn't a Logic page and a Motion page be interesting? And since you released this rumors of the Pro team exodus have started popping up.

[@matthewTobrien]

A Logic and Motion page would be VERY interesting. And yeah, I did notice more posts/rumors about the Pro Team exodus after I posted this...

[@RivuSouravBanerjeeVideoEditor]

in between i thought of switching to fcpx frm premier .. i did, done many videos but i’m fustrated to see so many features which is very important is mistfrm fcpx, the audio, colour grading tools and many more r lacking. i switched back to premiere and will only use fcpx in projects where the clients want fcpx. u said it right .. apple is in between a new user and a pro .. needs much more upgrades. doesn’t even hv a audio track mixer

[@zakkincaid]

My biggest solution to all of this-> bring on the pro features, but add an advanced settings toggle. They have had this in Logic Pro for years. Simple when you 1st open it, and if you want to go down the rabbit hole with advanced features you can.

[@filmabkoln1995]

A very interesting analysis, and (for me as a professional) unfortunately probably very close to the truth. I am regularly annoyed when the next Davinci update brings a bunch of new functions, a relatively small company from Australia is outrunning a global corporation. On the other hand, it makes sense to follow your simplicity principle. They just want the software to stay as minimal as possible. But if the focus on solo and hobby content creator remains, then apple should at least buy motionvfx and integrate it :)

[@matthewTobrien]

Wouldn't that be crazy if they bought MotionVFX? It seems that they don't acquire ANY companies for the purpose of advancing Final Cut Pro and the other pro apps...

[@Palthura]

I want Final Cut AR with physical buttons integrated. Imagine looking around with panels everywhere that you can control with actual knobs and buttons on a deck or something. Probably would never happen but it’s a fun idea.

[@matthewTobrien]

I would love to at least try it out!

[@betaneptune]

You mean like volume and tuning controls on stereos? Awesome! I'd love it. You could turn a knob while playing the video to control fade-ins and the like. Thirty thumbs up!

[@mike_qbik]

Looking forward on your take on the new iPad FCP & Logic releases / announcement. Goes well with this video.

[@matthewTobrien]

I did a 2 hr livestream about it yesterday! kzbin.info-cTRpmpTHes?feature=share Filming and editing a more focused video about it today.

[@freshfalcon3996]

Great vid. Thank you!

[@ademmercan1214]

I want to start video editing, but I was undecided between Davinci and Final Cut, I learned that Final Cut requires a lot of plugins, but it works more stable, Davinci does not need too many plugins and has more features, which program should be learned objectively for someone who is just starting video editing. would you recommend? I don't want to waste time learning the wrong programo, I will be happy if you answer, thank you.

[@matthewTobrien]

Well, what are your goals for your filmmaking? Are you wanting to work as an editor on TV/Film and need to use a tool that is more compatible with those workflows? Or are you going to be making videos like I do for your own social media/KZbin? Also, are you someone who nerds out on audio mixing and color correction/grading? I'm not, so I love Final Cut Pro because it lets me edit at the speed of thought. DaVinci Resolve is incredibly powerful but it's honestly overkill for my KZbin video creation.

[@ademmercan1214]

@@matthewTobrien Thank you very much for your reply! I want to edit videos on my own youtube channel, prepare videos for clients as a freelance and edit music clips, after learning final cut pro and purchasing plugins, Davinci has more advanced features, I don't want to regret that I wish I had learned Davinci (with Final Cut, there are no effects and features without the plugin. sounds like it can't be done) thanks again and I love your videos.🙏

[@darrencampbell638]

I'd happily pay £14.99 a month type thing for Apple Pro Video + Photo + Motion type software that sped up my work flow / used more AI and used a lot of the potential features you suggested.. They must see a market there. Hopefully they see the future is in software subs. Be sad if they abandon it. Great video.

[@matthewTobrien]

I would as well. Without hesitation. I'm sure they're exploring the viability of a subscription with more capable apps and features.

[@NorCal-refrigeration]

Awesome video. 🤘⚡️🤘✨✨✨✨

[@matthewTobrien]

Thank you!!!

[@daveSoupy]

Man that consumer product market seems to be that much better than the professional market they rebuilt their brand and reputation on. I get it that they should go after what makes them the most money but I keep finding their software wanting. This is a great example.

[@matthewTobrien]

I hear that. They have definitely shifted from a company for creative professionals and moved into a product and services company primarily. Tim has really let his operations/supply chain genius dominate, but so many of us miss the angle Steve Jobs had with Apple and its innovation.

[@Miguel.Garcia]

I think Apple should buy Blackmagic Design entirely. They have sensors and software that Apple can incorporate into their current product lines. They could merge Davinci Resolve into Final Cut, and reveal a huge redesign from the bottom up, in essence consolidating both user bases.

[@Teluric2]

Who said they re eager to sell blackmagic when is so profitable?

[@Miguel.Garcia]

@@Teluric2 Everything is for sale at the right price.

[@theeditorrestrial]

cant wait to see what the new mac pro brings..especially in PRICE. Will finalize whether I get the Mac Studio or not. I do love how efficient FCP can be BUT I found myself leaning over to Resolve..out of Premiere.

[@matthewTobrien]

I think that’s a natural transition and it doesn’t hurt that Resolve is free.

[@i.b.lancer]

Absolutely want to see Logic working alongside Final Cut. Or at the very least better audio editing capabilities within Final Cut.

[@matthewTobrien]

Agreed! The clips I have in the video of enhanced audio mixing tools is from a video my buddy Nick made because he's so frustrated with the lack of mixing tools. A lot of people would love to see some of his ideas integrated into FCP. Me included!

[@zaziou711]

Can't see the problem, I export all my sound editing in XML to Logic Pro in a few seconds and I mix everything in Logic. I can even compose directly on the video on a way more efficient way than if a limited mixer was integrated inside Logic. Then I export back in XML to Final cut. Then it's still possible to work on any track individually if there's any issue or change. I can't imagine an editing program to be a mixing tool, if you want to make it seriously. So I don't feel the need for an update about that personally.

[@i.b.lancer]

@@zaziou711 My recording studio is upstair and the video editing desk is downstairs in the video studio. I can see giving the XML thing a try and maybe losing a few pounds.

[@zaziou711]

@@i.b.lancer 😂

[@olrogerio]

I agree with every word!

[@dez5]

Great Video to understanding the direction of Apple Company.👽👽👽

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks Desmond! Appreciate you watching!

[@Jeff-m5x3j]

I want FCP on my iPad Pro because I hate throwing away all the time and effort invested in it if I were to give in and switch to DaVinci.

[@matthewTobrien]

A lot of FCP editors want to see an iPad app. I think it'll come eventually and Apple giving a lot of screen time to Resolve doing it certainly paves the way for Apple to follow but to do it in a really special "Apple way".

[@BeaglefreilaufKalkar]

If apple stops with FInal Cut, I really see no reason to stay with Apple. Regarding the possibilities offered by the iPhone, final cut ets, I think if you have to work with limitations (like not being able to edit on VHS) it forces you to get creative. If you don't have necessity because you have all the possibilities and features, I don't know if you learn the same creativity. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with the possibilities and features, but I don't think their absence has hindered creativity. Look at the pen in 2001, now we would go to great lengths to mount it in the image with CGI, render the pen etc. What did Kubrik do, just put a pen on a sheet of glass. Could you do a video on Apps that extend, compliment or improve, work with FCP? Or did you already do one?

[@matthewTobrien]

That's a great suggestion! I'd love to highlight some of the apps I've used with FCP and some I haven't (but really want to). Gonna think on how to do that!

[@BeaglefreilaufKalkar]

@@matthewTobrien Thanks Learned a lot from your videos.

[@JoeCastellon]

I have fallen in love with DaVinci Resolve and it is what I now use on my Mac Studio. However, I still use FCP for the titles because Fusion performance is laughable (more frustrating than anything tbh). My dream is to have Resolve having the same performance as FCP.

[@matthewTobrien]

We all can dream... Glad Resolve is allowing you to do your thing. Just be sure to keep an eye on FCP just in case...

[@JoeCastellon]

@@matthewTobrien thanks. It's still part of my workflow. I export the timeline to FCP and do the titles in FCP as there it is buttery smooth. I then export the titles only, as a transparent video and put it on top of my timeline in Resolve, then finish there. It's the best of both worlds in a way.

[@matthewTobrien]

Nice! I wonder why Titles aren't smooth in Resolve...

[@mashirokobato5509]

The real problem is not DR problem.. it's the weak and laughable GPU from M1 Ultra Soc meanwhile fusion running flawlessly in Nvidia/intel machine W/O issues

[@mashirokobato5509]

@@JoeCastellon asking for $4 grand for weak GPU OMG.. intel/Nvidia still better offer solution than obsolete hardware in the long run .. the performance per watt and efficiency is useless when time is money

[@marioskarageorgiou6758]

I had goosebumps when you mentioned that Apple can buy BMD and make the most amazing NLE... I was asking myself so many times all these years why a company like Apple No1 Brand in Forbes all over the world, can not buy a small company like BMD and do the same thing!! Everything you said was exactly what I had in my mind all these years... but to tell you the truth I have already bored to wait and I'm already thinking to make the move to Resolve! I don't want to but I use Resolve for color grading because it's pure Magic... aside of that IMO FCPX is a much more reliable straightforward NLE that makes my life easier and is tremendous fast! Final Cut Pro 11 must come sooner than later is Apple wants to stay in the game!

[@KitLaughlin]

Matthew-remember Aperture? Speaking here as a pro. FCPX user (since FCP 2), and a sad Aperture ex-user. FCPX could easily go the way of Aperture.

[@matthewTobrien]

It could ... but now that FCP for iPad exists I don't think that will happen.

[@KitLaughlin]

@@matthewTobrien Hope so, too. Cheers.

[@BenjaminGib]

I remember when the iPhone came out and you couldn’t even watch or edit it’s footage in FCP7, 😁 and took 4 more years to be able to do it when FCPX came out. 😅

[@matthewTobrien]

Oh how I wish I was making content for the Interwebs back then. Too busy writing spec screenplays...

[@tothewilderness2383]

I have commented on other video and I will say again. Apple have FCP, iMovie, Garage Band, Logic and Motion. If Apple can integrate FCP+Garage Band+Motion (maybe lesser feature like fusion in Resolve) then it would be great, just like Black Magic did with Resolve. Let Logic and Motion be a standalone apps with more feature. Audio section of FCP is very frustrating. Premiere and After effect have dynamic link, though not perfect, is still pretty good. So is integration of Photoshop and Illustrator with After Effect. To me the way Black Magic did with Resolve is the perfect way- Resolve+Fusion+Fairlight. The only few things holding me back from switching to Resolve is rendering speed of FCP (Resolve has gotten so much faster though), quick video scrubbing in FCP timeline, magnetic timeline which saves time and Titles Plugins which I have invested in for FCP.

[@matthewTobrien]

I don't know that I could ever happily edit in a track-based NLE having worked with the Magnetic Timeline. It - for me - is the single greatest achievement in video editing software in the 10+ years I've been using NLEs to make videos/films.

[@tothewilderness2383]

@@matthewTobrienTrue. Many people trash magnetic timeline but for me it's a huge time saver.

[@KeywordManagement]

Great content.

[@matthewTobrien]

Thank you!

[@bloodswarms]

I use Davinci Resolve and love it. Ditched Premiere years ago and never considered Final Cut Pro. Recently, the updates have been mind-blowing, as far as I'm concerned. I didn't even realize that people still used FCP.

[@blackicestudios]

My biggest gripe is the CC tools or lack thereof. I want to be able to use it for finishing without having to go to resolve. Big think for me is output hardware. I much prefer AJA gear to BMD, way more reliable and hella more accurate and feature rich. But you can’t use AJA with resolve 🤷🏽‍♂️. This was a great video tho … great post.

[@ResizeFilms]

Logic Pro is much more advanced and professionally oriented as a DAW for music production than Final Cut Pro as a NLE for video editing. The true is that, while it’s very efficient in terms of playback, render and export time, FCP is missing a lot of professional features that should have been added natively by now, namely for color grading. Still missing the simple ability to blur a color mask to avoid artifacts is hard to understand on a professional NLE. Isolating skin tones accurately is painfully hard without introducing artifacts on FCP due to that. This alone makes it difficult to color grade a project properly, which is for me the weakest point of FCP. It’s great for editing, I love the magnetic timeline, but for color grading it is limited and oftentimes frustrating. Hopefully significant upgrades will come soon for color grading and be on par with Resolve. Cheers - Filipe

[@timdanyo898]

Collaborative cloud integration is the way of the future and also in closed multi computer networking studio environments. Also infusing iPhones, iPads, laptops and desktops with FCPX usability is a no brainer that leverages Apple’s hardware and software one company approach.

[@matthewTobrien]

I have a lot of hope that Apple will do something pretty remarkable using iCloud and FCP. 🤞

[@stevensonrf]

After watching your excellent video, Matthew, I’ve started thinking could Apple just abandon Final Cut Pro like it did with Aperture and Shake?

[@matthewTobrien]

I mean it’s possible, but I highly doubt it.

[@CraigNiesenPhotography]

Well said

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks, Craig!

[@makwanabhupat2213]

help me ,Why fcpx Not Object Tracking perfact?

[@CineGeekPR]

I have been editing less than a year with Final Cut, but lately I have seen more people moving to DaVinci. Should I move or stay with Final Cut?

[@sanaksanandan]

Here we go again. Hope and frustration. FCP annual event.

[@matthewTobrien]

Yuuuuuuuup.

[@Word_Nerd]

Thank you for another great video! I personally I don't think FCP survives unless it gets rid of the magnetic time line (or makes it a preference that can be turned off) and becomes more like traditional packages while keeping and advancing the non gimmicky advantages it has. Too FCP can be more complex than it needs to be. My hope is that Apple is using a three level versioning nomenclature which suggests to me that everything up to 11 will be incremental, but 11 will be different.

[@matthewTobrien]

Appreciate the insight! But I love the Magnetic Timeline! It has to be my favorite feature of FCP. I'd die if they took it away, and I don't think they'd ever give the option to disable it and make FCP more like a traditional track-based editor. And yes, it's my hope too that FCP 11 will be a HUGE step forward. We shall see...

[@Word_Nerd]

@@matthewTobrien the thing about the magnetic time line is that as much as you love it, many don't. You've kind of made that case yourself in your own videos where you've highlighted marquis creators as 'doing it wrong'. So if those marquis users avoid the magnetic time line in some clunky fashion, why not just give users a more elegant way to avoid it? Mathew can have his magnetic time line and those who prefer something else can have that. I think in that scenario FCP moves closer to pro users while keeping its existing base. Anyway, thank you Matthew for the great vids, thoughtful discussion and showing us how to do it better! Definitely excited about 11!

[@matthewTobrien]

Well, I think that compromises the vision and stance Apple has on their own innovation. There's a sort of "famous" moment between Randy Ubillos (architect of FCP) and Steve Jobs back from back before FCPX came out where Steve Jobs pointedly asked him, "Do you believe in it?" And Randy told him "yes." And Steve needed Randy to take a stance on what he had helped create. Steve is a visionary and I think Randy was too for rethinking how video editing software can work. Apple *wants* to take stances like this and they have shown that in the past. First thing I think of is removing the 3.5mm headphone jack. Heck, taking the SuperDrive out of the Mac. The floppy disc drive. Moving to MagSafe. It can be frustrating to think that "Apple knows what's best" for you, but I think they're not the same company if they don't do that and, to me, that's evident in how they took a huge risk with FCPX when it debuted. Randy's belief in what FCPX was, what is is, what it does also led to the immediate axing of all support for FCP7. It was cut off like a light switch being flicked off. Supported one day - dead the next. I get how this is upsetting, but I think we're all worse off when Apple doesn't take a stance, when Apple doesn't believe in what they're doing. That is all part of their core values. All or nothing. And I think Apple has made the Magnetic Timeline something that can be "turned off" - in a sense. Just use the grave key to Override Connections, and most operations that frustrate people who aren't, ahem, _resolved_ to learning the Magnetic Timeline can be executed easily.

[@DavidPetersonAU]

@@Word_Nerd I don't think that ditching the magnetic timeline would bring in more users to be honest. If they care about that UI, there is Resolve/Premiere/Avid/etc to fill that gap. It's the differences that define FCP now. For me, it's just frustrating to see how if "X was 10% better it would be amazing" never actually gets there.

[@TheMetalMag]

thank you for this video, I must say using Apple since 1995 and used FCP 3 to 5 I kinda give up on it and saw the pros going to Adobe cos they have every software linked and most Premiere copied FCP! Like most Adobe product. SIne 5 years people have been using Resolve so it's like FCP is not that much used even companies asked you to use Premiere... I don't like FCP X . Apple like Quark haven't been much into updating the software which made loose clients. Since it's with new comps with Logic, it helps Mac user choosing those software so It would be a mistake to forget those but Apple did it with Apple works to give Microsoft the hand on macs with the suite word etc.. they were the first to have fast connection such as Firewire and now like PC have usbc... So I won't bet on Apple not ditching the software one day.

[@matthewTobrien]

Agreed! I think FCP is here to stay - I mean, how could they get rid of it when MASSIVE influencers like Marques Brownlee use it every day??? 😋

[@sdsfilmsaz]

Very interesting take on the state of FCP. I agree, unless Apple does some amazing updates that blow people away, they will never regain the status that they once had. DaVinci Resolve is what FCPX could have been. And if Apple wants to allow their target market of everyone to edit, then they should just make iMovie a better product. When Blackmagic offers a free version of Davinci that is on par or in many instances better that FCP, why would someone pay $300?

[@BenjaminGib]

Maybe I should look into Davinci. Can you make motion graphics templates in Davinci like you can with Motion for Final Cut Pro?

[@MrCameraJunkie]

Amazing breakdown bro. Thanks for sharing👊🏽 🔪🥦

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks, Luis! Appreciate you! 🔪🥦🧲🎞️

[@sloppynyuszi]

I would personally like Apple to give Motion some genuine attention and give us a real alternative to after effects. Every professional software has a solid one payment alternative except for after effects. There are work arounds, but nothing comes close. I think motion could be it.

[@Hatchi-hu3jn]

Really hoping a massive update is on the works. At this point CapCut is killing it and can do more easy useful tasks than FCP. It’s insane.

[@matthewTobrien]

Same here - FCP is lagging behind, and I'm hoping once they've fully transitioned to Apple silicon and finished all the major initial updates to FCP for iPad we'll see Apple get FCP up to speed with its competitors.

[@martinowong]

I would pay Final Cut Pro full price again to have bezier keyframes integrated in fcp

[@matthewTobrien]

MUST have Bézier curves soon…

[@elgerrald]

I fell you bro!!

[@matthewTobrien]

Thanks, Gerard!

[@branpod]

Man I love FCP, but I honestly had to switch to Resolve as a lot of tasks in FCP just required weird workarounds or plugins to complete. Still miss the magnetic timeline, but Apple has really dropped the ball in terms of support. I remember a ton of critism back in 2020 about falling behind, and I am dissapointed to see it really hasn't changed much since then

[@matthewTobrien]

Do you work with multicams in Resolve often? My next video is about trying to edit in Resolve and the multicam workflow was killing me.

[@branpod]

@@matthewTobrien no, admittedly multi-cam is something I’ve never had to deal with. Though I do remember FCP having a relatively elegant workflow in that regard

[@matthewTobrien]

They sure do! Gotta get more familiar with Resolve's to adequately judge it.

[@4_the_health_of_it]

Apple needs to look at what Descript is doing and maybe see how they use editing video much like one would edit a Keynote presentation. Final Cut Pro is archaic in it use of editing.

[@matthewTobrien]

Yes yes yes 💯

[@sizzlemann]

Don't feel bad. Logic Pro is even worse when it comes to overhaul needs! Just getting it to work properly is a challenge these days.

[@matthewTobrien]

I think Motion has it the worst out of all the Pro Apps. Haha. But yeah, Logic needs some love for sure!

[@gonebymidnight2881]

TBH I love logic I think it’s a killer app and I don’t think there’s nothing stopping you from creating top stuff with it. I have hundreds of plugins for fcp and logic tho and that of course helps hehe

[@gonebymidnight2881]

@@matthewTobrien agree, motion is an obsolete toy. It is complex to do anything decent in Motion and when you figure it out you realise that it is a worthless app. no svg import, no expressions, poor integration with fcp super slow performance when enabling motion blur, UI and workflow are utter crap. 3d object integration is a joke and it cannot import materials o textures . 3d space in motion is a gimmick really