Apple Ships Final Cut Pro Video Authoring Software
Revolutionary Editing, Compositing and Special Effects Package Priced at U.S. $999
NAB, LAS VEGAS-April 19, 1999-Apple Computer Inc. today announced and began commercial shipment of Final Cut Pro, a revolutionary new software application that combines professional-quality video editing, compositing, and special effects in one package for a price of U.S. $999. Using Final Cut Pro, a digital video (DV) camera, and Apple's new Power Macintosh G3 computer with its built-in FireWire, video creators now have a complete, professional-quality, plug-and-play video editing system that costs less than U.S. $5,000-around a tenth the cost of competing systems.
"Desktop Video is Apple's next big market push and Final Cut Pro will lead the charge at the high end," said Steve Jobs, Apple's interim CEO. "With our FireWire-savvy computers, we plan to bring easy to use desktop video creation to millions of new customers including television producers, ad agencies, graphics firms, web site designers, teachers, students and consumers."
Simply plug a digital camera into the FireWire port of a Power Macintosh G3 and Final Cut Pro is ready to go. The camera's digital video and audio data is transferred to the computer's hard disk, where it can be edited and displayed on the computer, all with digital clarity.
Final Cut Pro is based on Apple's QuickTime multimedia software and takes advantage of QuickTime's video effects, transitions and streaming. Final Cut Pro also supports all QuickTime video and audio formats and qualified third-party QuickTime-compatible cards, such as Pinnacle Systems' TARGA series.
Key features of Final Cut Pro include:
* Sophisticated timesaving editing tools, such as three-point editing, match frame and multitrack trimming, with advanced compositing and effects; * Direct, proxy-free compositing, allowing producers to see exactly how their video will appear in the finished product; * Ability to position and manipulate video elements in the viewing screen instead of a dialog box; * Attractive, efficient and intuitive drag-and-drop interface; * Simultaneous playback of video to a computer screen and either a TV, VCR or camera; * Ability to view large video windows with smooth, stutter-free playback for precise editing and audio/video synchronization; * True plug and play video/audio input and output through support of FireWire, the new standard for transferring digital video from digital camcorders to personal computers; * Ability to create and animate unlimited layers of video using text, graphics, Adobe Photoshop files (with layers maintained), and additional video elements; * Support for Bezier curves and graphs with keyframes to help users apply and control time-based effects; * Advanced searching and sorting of media assets, high-speed previews and fast rendering, allowing users to concentrate on creativity; * Capability of printing to tape without a "make movie" command, eliminating the time-consuming process of rendering each frame; * Built-in text generators allowing users to create titles with automatic kerning and leading; * Support for qualified third party After Effects plug-ins, enabling video creators to add even more special effects to Final Cut Pro; * FXBuilder-providing the ability to customize and build powerful video effects such as filters, text generators or transitions with minimal effort.
Availability, Pricing and System Requirements Final Cut Pro is available today in the U.S. and Canada for an estimated retail price of U.S $999 and can be purchased via The Apple Store(www.apple.com) or through Apple Authorized Resellers. Worldwide availability of Final Cut Pro is expected to follow later this summer. A variety of enhanced support options are open to Final Cut Pro customers with more details available on the Final Cut Pro web site (www.apple.com/finalcutpro).
Minimum system requirements for Final Cut Pro are a Power Macintosh G3/266 MHz computer (minimum of Power Macintosh G3/300 computer required for DV) with 128MB RAM, Mac OS 8.5, a 6 gigabyte hard drive, (optional) and a qualified DV camera or certified third-party QuickTime-compatible video card.
Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original mission-to bring the best personal computing products and support to students, educators, designers, scientists, engineers, businesspersons and consumers in over 140 countries around the world.
Bob Nunn - President, Operator Headgap Systems President, AppleCore of Memphis, Inc. E-mail: headgap@headgap.com
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