Edit like a pro. Key Features Capture video. Connect a FireWire-equipped DV camcorder to your Mac and capture video directly to the Browser window. Then organize and manage your clips with ease. Customize the interface. Change window and track layouts, add interface buttons, and reorganize Browser columns to make your editing flow more easily. Make professional edits. Use editing techniques like slip, slide, ripple, roll, and split to make edits without altering your source video. Improved trimming tools and a new Trim Edit window make your edits smoother. Use real-time transitions, filters, and effects. Achieve professional results with more than 200 transitions, filters, and effects, including color correction, many of which can be previewed in real time with RT Extreme. Add titles and compositing. Polish your work with 2D and 3D titles such as rolls, crawls, and lower thirds. Use the integrated compositing engine to build expressive motion graphics. Mix audio. Create great audio with the included audio filters, the three-band equalizer, level meters, pan controls, subframe editing, and multichannel output. You can mix up to 99 audio tracks (eight in real time) and use the Voice Over tool to record narration directly to the Timeline. Publish to DVD, tape, or web. Bring your completed movie, complete with chapter markers, into idvd or DVD Studio Pro to create DVDs. Record your project back to tape with the Print to Video function. Or export your video to standard QuickTime formats like MPEG-4 for distribution over the web. The powerful, affordable DV editor is a robust and cost-effective editing solution for digital video enthusiasts. Based on Apple s award-winning Final Cut Pro 4 professional video editing software, delivers incredible real-time performance and advanced editing features tailored to meet the needs of home, education, and creative business videographers. For flexible, full-featured DV editing, is the perfect combination of power, ease of use, and affordability. Approachable was designed to provide a simple, straightforward workflow. Just plug your FireWire-equipped DV camcorder or deck into your Macintosh and use the Capture window to capture your footage. The Browser and hierarchical clip bins help you organize, search, and sort your clips. The Final Cut Express interface provides multiple ways of performing actions so you can work the way you like. Start a project by dragging clips into the Timeline or the Canvas window, then arrange and edit them together with a number of intuitive tools. The editing method is up to you. Versatile provides advanced editing, titling, compositing, audio, color correction, and real-time effects, so you can create high-quality DV projects all within a single application. You can move seamlessly between editing, trimming, compositing and effects, and audio functions. Adding professional-quality finishing touches is possible through fine control over more than 200 transitions, filters, and effects. Use the enhanced audio tools, filters, and effects to make your video sound as great as it looks. You can also open multiple projects containing multiple nested sequences, enabling you to handle long projects with ease. Seamless upgrade path can import imovie clips, and as your abilities and needs grow you can upgrade to Final Cut Pro. This allows you to take advantage of the professional broadcast and film editing features of Final Cut Pro without losing the work you ve already completed in Final Cut Express. Edit like a pro is an affordable, versatile, feature-rich nonlinear digital video editor for the serious video enthusiast, multimedia producer, event videographer, web designer, student, or educator. Whether you need to create professional-looking digital video projects that will capture memories, teach, or entertain, Final Cut Express gives you the tools to edit like a pro. Specification Sheet
2 Key New Features Updated user interface. The updated interface in provides a cleaner, more elegant experience that exposes more controls while creating a smoother workflow. You can now select the intersection of two or more windows and resize all of them simultaneously. Video and audio tracks in the Timeline are height adjustable and can be scaled independently. You can also place shortcut buttons to most-used or favorite functions along the top of the main windows, saving you time and allowing you to tailor your workspace. New capture features. ignores timecode breaks, a common issue during capture. Now you can save time by capturing in one, automated session. In addition, Final Cut Express names clips incrementally when a recording break is discovered. RT Extreme. RT Extreme gives you dramatically more real-time effects, transitions, and video layers. With low, medium, and high settings, RT Extreme provides maximum simultaneous real-time streams and effects, or full-resolution playback for fine-tuning your final project. The Safe and Unlimited modes are customizable, allowing you to choose whether to prioritize performance or quality. Unlimited real-time playback lets you play more effects, but increases the likelihood that your sequence will drop frames during playback. This mode is useful for getting a real-time preview of complex effects compositions. Safe real-time playback ensures playback without dropping frames. Enhanced audio tools. allows you to adjust audio levels and filters in real time as you play the clip or project, so you can get immediate feedback on the changes you are making. With the record keyframes feature, you can automatically add keyframes to your audio track as you make edits, and then adjust them afterwards. In the Timeline, solo and mute controls allow you to isolate individual audio tracks. Improved audio render management means that you will need to render your audio less frequently, even after reactivating muted tracks. And now supports Audio Units, the standard Apple plug-in format for Mac OS X applications. Getting Started with Final Cut Express now includes a printed Getting Started with manual. A great resource for people new to video editing, the book walks through the basics of working with Final Cut Express from plugging in a camcorder to outputting to a DVD, the web, or videotape. In addition, a detailed Help section is available via the Help menu in.
3 Interface 1 7 2 6 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 Personalized interface. Adjust interface buttons, window and track layouts, and Browser columns to customize your workspace. Markers. Add markers to annotate your sequence or create DVD chapters. Powerful editing tools. Assemble your sequence using the insert, overlay, replace, and fit-to-fill functions. The editing palette contains basic and advanced editing functions like the razor blade tool, slip, slide, ripple, roll, extend, and split. Browser. Organize all your assets and open multiple projects at the same time. Create as many sequences as you want and even share them between projects. 5 6 7 Timeline. Build your sequence with up to 99 audio and 99 video tracks. Unlimited compositing layers with motion paths. Superimpose video clips or graphics files, like multilayered Adobe Photoshop (.psd) files, over video to create rich visual images and animations. Layers can include motion paths, time effects, frame blending, and more. Color corrector. Adjust your clips to account for differences between cameras or lighting situations, and enhance the look of your video for greater impact.
4 Features Benefits FireWire Input/Capturing video Capture video from your DV camcorder quickly and easily. Handle long projects with ease. Editing tools Make professional edits. Plug-and-play support for most DV25-format camcorders and decks: MiniDV and DVCAM (NTSC or PAL). FireWire device control of most FireWire-equipped DV camcorders from leading manufacturers like Sony, Canon, Panasonic, and JVC. Capture window that lets you name, add comments to, and organize your clips as you capture them. Ignores timecode breaks and names clips incrementally when a recording break is discovered. Imports a range of still image formats: PSD, BMP, JPEG, PICT, PNG, SGI, TARGA, and TIFF. Asset management is made easier with bins that allow you to organize your files and sequences in a project. Support for multiple sequences in projects allows you to create alternative edits or break projects into smaller pieces. Sequences can be nested and remain fully editable. They can also be reused in multiple timelines. Sequences can include up to 99 audio and 99 video tracks. Clips can be organized in the Browser using the extensive search, sort, and sift capabilities. Clip labels help organize and sort clips. Master and affiliate clip relationship automatically updates certain properties of a clip, such as clip name or reel name, within the current project. Multiple sequences and projects can be open simultaneously. Changes can be undone up to 32 levels. Edits to clips reference the original video so the source footage is never altered. The editing palette contains the most-used functions, so professional-style edits are just one click away. Edit overlay allows drag-and-drop editing in the Canvas. Multiple editing actions, including insert, overwrite, replace, fit to fill, and superimpose, give you control over how clips are added to the Timeline. Insert and overwrite edit with or without transitions and extend and split edits provide additional editing options. Blade and Blade All tools allow you to add edit points to your sequence. Sync detection and correction compensates for audio and video tracks that slip out of sync. Active track targeting lets you specify individual or multiple tracks to apply edits to or protect from being edited. Enabling the Auto Select controls of specific tracks in the Timeline allows the contents of those tracks to be selected via In and Out points in the Timeline or Canvas.
5 Features Benefits Editing tools (continued) Trim edits for precise cuts. Save your work. Trimming edit functions including slip, slide, ripple, and roll tools Asymmetric, multitrack trimming Dynamic JKL trimming Trim Edit window Timeline trimming Keyboard and numeric trimming The Autosave Vault saves your project at specified intervals so you can return to any point in your edit without losing your work. Transitions, filters, and effects Polish your edits and stylize your work. See immediately how effects and transitions look after you apply them. Use color-correction tools to adjust the color balance, black levels, mids, and white levels of individual clips. Over 200 transitions, filters, and effects Unlimited effects favorites Copy and paste of motion and effect attributes Unlimited layers with support for nesting Bezier curves with movable motion paths Keyframe capabilities for precise animation Precision numeric controls for effects and animation, available simply by clicking a tab in the Viewer window RT Extreme provides scalable, software-based, multistream real-time effects. Low, medium, and high RT Extreme quality settings provide a range of options for simultaneous realtime streams, effects, and resolutions. Safe and Unlimited RT Extreme modes let you customize performance versus quality tradeoffs. Opacity overlays in the Timeline let you adjust and keyframe opacity levels. Correct or enhance the colors of the video using the two-way color corrector. Use image control filters to manipulate the levels of black, white, and color. Make sure flesh tones and other key elements are accurate. Mix colors to achieve a visual style. Match footage from different sources for consistency. Correct errors in color balance and exposure. Compositing Get professional-looking results when creating composited images. Use nesting to build virtually unlimited compositing layers for complex video effects. Import Adobe Photoshop files complete with layers to create effects and motion graphics. Use Bezier curves with movable motion paths, graphs, and numerical controls to apply and control animations. Apply ease in/ease out motion paths to smooth compositing animations. Use time effects, including slow motion with frame blending, to create smooth, time-altered playback.
6 Features Compositing (continued) Add high-end production values to your projects. Titling Create the essential text elements for any video. Audio Build great sound. Benefits Rendering with accurate subpixel interpolation applies effects smoothly to produce a high-quality result. Apply effects to time ranges, not just clips, for full control over the look of a sequence. Use transfer modes such as multiply and lighten. Use the flicker filter to incorporate still frames from video. Use standard and scrolling text generators to create titles that crawl, scroll, or appear in the lower third of the screen. Combine titles with other filters, effects, and compositing for unlimited creative expression. Use Boris Calligraphy plug-ins to create 2D and 3D titles. Access precision controls simply by clicking a tab. Use the titling tools to create a range of title styles to fit your project. Include non-latin alphabet characters and symbols with full Unicode support. Sequences can include up to 99 total audio tracks with up to eight tracks of audio playback in real time. More than 25 audio filters, including three-band and parameter equalizer, compressor/limiter, 60/120Hz hum remover, and noise gate give you control over the quality of your soundtrack. Other built-in audio filters include reverb, EQ, and echo. The included Audio Units filters let you adjust your audio clips. The Audio Units format is the standard Apple audio plug-in format for Mac OS X applications. Audio filters can be adjusted in real time as the track is playing out, so you can get immediate feedback on any of the controls for a filter. Audio keyframe recording can be automated. Subframe audio editing to 1/100th of a frame gives you precise control over audio edits. Audio level meters allow you to achieve the dynamic range you want. Audio pan controls let you control stereo channel playback. Sampling at 8 to 48 khz and 8 to 16 bits enables you to match the recorded source material sample rate and control audio quality. Waveform display can be viewed in the Timeline. Audio level overlays can be viewed in the Timeline.
7 Features Audio (continued) Make your videos sound as good as they look. Add a voiceover. Output Print your project back to tape. Create a DVD. Export your video for the web. Streamlined workflow Move easily between functions. Work more effectively. Customize the interface. Benefits Adjust the volume of any given track while listening to playback to make better, more accurate decisions about levels. Isolate audio tracks with solo and mute controls. No re-rendering is required when muted tracks are reactivated. Export scoring markers to Soundtrack. Record a voiceover track directly to the Timeline. Record voiceover while video is playing back for perfect timing. Print to Video command lets you send a sequence or clip to videotape for recording. Projects can be recorded on your DV camcorder. Footage can be looped if you want to output your program multiple times on the same tape. Import your completed project into idvd or DVD Studio Pro to create a DVD. Export chapter markers with or without comments and durations to jump to specified content. Use compression markers to optimize video encoding. Projects can be exported using any QuickTime file format, including MPEG-4, for distribution via email or the web. Unique mode-free interface lets you move seamlessly between editing, trimming, compositing and effects, and audio functions in the Viewer. Updated interface is more elegant, cleaner, and exposes more controls. System and user preferences Easy setups for quick configuration Customizable RT Extreme effects settings (Safe and Unlimited High, Medium, and Low) Customizable render settings Dynamic window resizing Customizable window arrangements Customizable button bars for creating shortcuts to most-used or favorite functions Customizable Browser layouts Customizable track layouts Custom, independent track heights in the Timeline
8 System Requirements Macintosh computer with a 350MHz or faster PowerPC G4 or G5 processor and AGP graphics card RT Extreme requires a 500MHz or faster PowerPC G4 (550MHz for PowerBook G4) or G5 processor or any dual PowerPC G4 or G5 processors Mac OS X v10.2.5 or later QuickTime 6.4 or later 384MB of RAM (512MB required for RT Extreme) 40MB of available disk space required for installation Support In the United States and Canada, new registered users of receive 90 days of free support beginning with the date of purchase. After the initial complimentary period, Priority Access technical support plans are available. For more extensive issues and problems, Apple offers a full range of professional support options, including pay-per-incident and support contracts at a variety of prices. For details about AppleCare Professional Multimedia Support options, visit www.apple.com/support/products. Ordering Information Order number M9369Z/A Upgrade Order number M9372Z/A For More Information For more information about this product or to purchase Apple products, visit the Apple Store online (www.apple.com or 800-MY-APPLE), an Apple Store near you, or an Apple Authorized Reseller. Visit the Macintosh Products Guide at www.apple.com/guide for the latest information on thousands of hardware and software products for your Mac. 2004 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Apple Store, DVD Studio Pro, Final Cut, Final Cut Pro, FireWire, the FireWire symbol, imovie, Mac, Macintosh, Mac OS, PowerBook, and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. idvd is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. AppleCare is a service mark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Adobe is a trademark or registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries. PowerPC is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, used under license therefrom. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. January 2004 L301287A