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Apple held a private Final Cut Pro X (FCP X) briefing for enterprise contracts in London on July 6th. One first hand report has been posted to the internet detailing what Apple discussed during the event. Alex4d summarizes tweets by @aPostEngineer which reveals the following points:
1. FCP XML in/out is coming via 3rd party soon…no FCP 6/7 support project support coming ever it seems…
2. Ability to buy FCP7 licenses for enterprise deployments coming in the next few weeks…
3. FCPX EDL import/export coming soon…
4. FCPX AJA plugins coming soon for tape capture and layback…capture straight into FCPX [events].
5. XSAN support for FCPX coming in the next few weeks…
6. FCPX Broadcast video output via #Blackmagic & @AJAVideo coming soon…
7. Additional codec support for FCPX via 3rd Parties coming soon…
8. Customizable sequence TC in FCPX for master exports coming soon…
9. Some FCPX updates will be free some will cost…
Notably, the event reveals that Apple is working on allowing existing Final Cut Pro 7 enterprise deployments to purchase additional licenses. One of major complaints about the FCP X launch had been Apple's discontinuing sales of Final Cut Pro 7 even before video professionals had been able to become comfortable with FCP X.
Final Cut Pro X was released as an App Store title on June 21st for $299. Apple later posted a FAQ to address concerns of video professionals, and has promised a number of new features and fixes in the coming months.
Update: Apple has apparently contacted the tweeter with this clarification:
Apple have contacted me in regards to my tweets…and wanted to make sure the facts are right…
2. Ability to buy ADDITIONAL FCP7 licenses for EXISTING volume licensed deployments is something Apple are only looking into at this stage.
4. FCPX AJA plugins coming soon for tape capture and layback…capture straight into FCPX events. Will not be a plugin but an AJA application.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)So now that Apple will let current users buy additional seats (well, soon they will), can everyone shut up whining so much now? Use the system that works for you.
FCP7, as it currently stands, was developed over 10+ years. FCPX has just come out. Development time makes a big difference.
It won't let small shops who don't qualify for enterprise licences buy additional seats.
Phazer
Some will cost?
That is pretty much the final straw for our facility...
We will play out FCP7 for a few more months, but certainly will not be spending any more money with Apple for their ill-considered, poorly designed hobby software ever again. The dream of those of us who supported FCP for years, putting up with the Avid users mocking the upstart software is over, and it hurts even more that the Avid crowd was eventually justified.
Big software upgrades always cost. Remember that Final Cut Pro X is a hell of a lot cheaper than Studio used to be. Apple just recognises that not everyone needs some things, so why not get a great basic functionality and let third parties handle those things?
All of these NLE software options are just tools for doing the job. Choose the one that suits you based on that and be done with it.
It will not cost you anything extra if you don't buy FCP X before these updates are included. Everybody buying FCP X now (or anytime in the last two weeks since the the first detailed reviews were in) knows they buy a preview of what FCP will become in the future, not a fully-featured new version.
Oh, 'everybody knows' that, eh?That's like being sold a car without a working transmission and then being told afterward that it is simply a 'preview' of what is to come.
I'm an unabashed Apple fan, but these kinds of nonsensical apologies are simply sad.
Yes, it upsets me because they sold a piece of software that is basically useless for film professionals and are planning on charging additional fees for functionality. It borders on criminal.
Again, you don't know that they will charge for the updates they are talking about on the short term. Multicam for example will be a free upgrade: http://www.fcp.co/forum/4-final-cut-pro-x-fcpx/346-my-take-on-the-apple-fcpx-briefing-in-london-6711#346