On Wednesday, Apple released powerful updates to its Final Cut Pro video editing software for Macs and iPads. The software had been stuck on version 10 for over 13 years since 2011, but Apple has announced Final Cut Pro 11 with powerful AI-powered updates and in-demand new features. The new update brings new features such as Magnetic Mask, the highly requested Transcribe to Captions feature, the ability to edit spatial videos, and many more workflow improvements. For the iPad, version 2.1 brings support for Enhanced Light and Colour, new Live Drawing inks, haptic feedback and many more.
On the Mac, Final Cut Pro 11 brings AI-powered features suited for Apple’s M-series chips. The two new AI-powered features are Magnetic Mask and Transcribe to Captions. Magnetic Mask lets editors isolate people and objects easily in real time without the need for an additional green screen or more time-consuming workarounds. This powerful tool can be used with colour correction and video effects giving editors more creative options to express themselves.
One of the highly requested features is the ability to transcribe audio from videos to captions, and Apple has finally delivered. Thanks to AI and Apple’s trained large language model, closed captions for videos can now be automatically generated into the timeline in a few minutes with the Transcribe to Captions feature. Other AI-powered features according to Apple are:
- Smart Conform – to easily make social media-friendly versions of projects in square or vertical formats.
- Enhance Light and Colour – to automatically improve the colour, colour balance, contrast, and brightness of video or still images.
- Smooth Slo-Mo – to generate and blend togetherness frames of video – including footage captured on iPhone 16 Pro in 4k120 fps for the highest-quality movement.
- Voice Isolation – to enhance speech and optimise sound levels while reducing background noise and audio captured in field.
Another major feature available on Final Cut Pro 11 is the ability to edit spatial videos. Spatial video clips captured with the Vision Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and the new Canon RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens with Canon R7 can now edited with effects on Final Cut Pro 11.
Apple has also released a new standalone Final Cut Camera 1.1 app available for free on the App Store. Apple says the app brings “intuitive pro controls for aspiring and professional directors.” Not only that, but it also “offers users the ability to capture Log-encoded HEVC video in standalone or Live Multicam sessions, so users can take advantage of the amazing dynamic range of Log while benefitting from reduced file sizes and even more recording time. Final Cut Camera also allows users to enable a LUT preview while recording in Log, showcasing the vibrancy of the original scene in SDR or HDR with the Apple Log LUT.”
Final Cut Pro 11 is available as a free update to existing Final Cut Pro owners at no extra cost. New users can pay a one-time fee of $299.99 to download on the Mac App Store or take advantage of the free 90-day trial. Final Cut Pro 2.1 for iPad is free for existing users as a new update. New users have a one-month free trial, which costs $4.99 monthly or $49 annually to subscribe to the software.
Image: Apple
