Final Cut Express 4 - Technical Specifications

A Mac computer with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, or Intel Xeon processor

For AVCHD: A Mac computer with an Intel processor

500MB of disk space to install Final Cut Express and LiveType

Additional 500MB to install LiveType content

1GB of RAM or more

An AGP or PCI Express graphics card compatible with Quartz Extreme; or an Intel GMA integrated graphics processor in a MacBook or Mac mini computer

Some FxPlug filters are not compatible with integrated Intel graphics processors.

A display with 1024-by-768 resolution or higher

A DVD drive for installation

Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later

QuickTime 7.2 or later

Final Cut Express 4 and LiveType 2.1 are Universal applications; they run on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Mac computers.

Plug-and-play support for most DV25-format camcorders and decks: MiniDV and DVCAM (NTSC or PAL)

Plug-and-play support for most HDV-format camcorders and decks: 720p, 1080i

Plug-and-play support for most AVCHD-format camcorders and decks: 720p, 1080i*

FireWire device control of most FireWire-equipped MiniDV camcorders from such leading manufacturers as Sony, Canon, Panasonic, and JVC

Capture window for naming, adding comments to, and organizing clips as they are captured

Log and Transfer window for naming, adding comments to, organizing, and transferring AVCHD clips

Incremental clip naming during capture when a recording break is discovered

Still image importing for PSD, BMP, JPEG, PICT, PNG, SGI, TARGA, and TIFF formats

iMovie ’08 file import with cuts and dissolve transitions

Bins for project file and sequence organization

Clip organization in the Browser using extensive search and sort capabilities

Clip labels for organizing and sorting clips

Master and affiliate clip relationship for automatic update of certain properties of a clip, such as clip name or reel name, within the current project

Up to 32 levels of undo

Mix DV (NTSC and PAL) and HD formats in the same Timeline

Nondestructive editing references original video to prevent alteration of source footage

Editing palette for most-used functions, enabling one-click, pro-style edits

Drag-and-drop editing

Editing in the Timeline

Three-point editing model

99 video tracks with support for nesting sequences

Support for multiple sequences and projects for creating alternative edits or breaking projects into smaller pieces

Insert and overwrite with or without transitions

Replace, fit to fill, and superimpose edits

Blade and Blade All tools for adding edit points to sequences

Extend and split edits for additional editing options

Sync detection and correction to compensate for audio and video tracks that slip out of sync

Active track targeting for specifying individual or multiple tracks to apply edits or protect from editing

Auto Select controls of specific tracks in the Timeline for track content selection via In and Out points in the Timeline or Canvas

Keyframe graphs

Track locking

Timecode or frames in the Timeline

Clip, sequence, scoring, chapter, and compression markers

Clip and sequence marker export to LiveType for titling

Chapter marker export to iDVD

Custom, independent track heights

Autosave Vault for saving projects at specified intervals to prevent accidental loss

Ripple, roll, slip, and slide

Asymmetric, multitrack trimming

Dynamic JKL trimming

Trim Edit window

Timeline trimming

Keyboard and numeric trimming

Print to Video command for recording a sequence or clip back to DV or HDV device

Footage looping for multiple outputs on the same tape

Sequence, scoring, chapter, and compression markers

Marker export to DVD Studio Pro for chapter and compression settings

Project export using any QuickTime file format, including MPEG-4, for distribution via email or the web

Digital Cinema Desktop for full-screen, real-time preview playback

Full Unicode support

Dynamic window resizing

Mode-free interface for workflow efficiency

Simultaneous opening of multiple sequences and projects

99 audio and 99 video tracks with support for nesting tracks together

System and user preferences

Easy Setups for quick configuration

Customizable real-time effects settings

Customizable render settings

Customizable window arrangements

Customizable user interface buttons

Customizable Browser layouts

Customizable track layouts

Custom, independent track heights in the Timeline

Extensive search and sort capabilities in the Browser

Clip labels

Custom comment fields

Master and affiliate clips

Move, copy, and transcode capability at sequence or project level

Autosave Vault

More than 200 transitions, filters, and effects

Unlimited effects favorites

Over 50 new FxPlug filters and effects from Final Cut Pro

Support for third-party FxPlug filters and effects

Copy and paste capability for motion and effect attributes

Bezier curves for motion paths

Keyframe control of all effects and filters for precise results

Precision numeric controls for effects and animation

RT Extreme for scalable, software-based, multistream real-time effects

Safe and Unlimited RT Extreme modes for customizing performance versus quality tradeoffs

RT Extreme quality settings: low, medium, high. Low setting for maximum simultaneous real-time streams and effects; high setting for full-resolution output for finishing directly to DV or HDV device

Dynamic RT for automatic adjustment of image quality and frame rate on the fly, optimizing playback, and scaling performance as processor power increases

Opacity overlays in the Timeline for adjustable, keyframable opacity

Direct-to-Timeline drag-and-drop integration of Motion projects

Auto Render option

Broadcast-safe filter

2D and 3D titles with Boris Calligraphy

Composite and transfer modes

Standard and scrolling text generators for creating titles that crawl, scroll, or appear in the lower third of the screen

Option to combine titles with other filters, effects, and compositing for unlimited creative expression

Boris Calligraphy plug-ins for 2D and 3D titles

Non-Latin alphabet characters and symbols with full Unicode support

Animated title and motion graphics creation

Unicode system font support

500MB of royalty-free animated content, including over 50 background textures and objects

Sophisticated project templates

More than 200 customizable text effects

Keyframe animation

Real-time wireframe preview

Canvas RAM preview

Import capability for a wide variety of formats

Independent and scalable resolution

Dynamic individual character control

Animation for rolls and crawls

Type on a curve capability

FontMaker utility for creating custom LiveFonts

Drag-and-drop integration to Final Cut Express 4 Timeline with auto-updating

Nesting for virtually unlimited compositing layers for complex video effects

Adobe Photoshop file import, complete with layers for effects and motion graphics

Bezier curves with movable motion paths for animation application and control

Ease in/Ease out motion paths for smooth compositing animations

Time effects, including slow motion with frame blending, for smooth, time-altered playback

Accurate subpixel interpolation rendering for smooth, high-quality effects creation

Composite modes including multiply and lighten

Flicker filter for incorporation of still frames from video

Secondary (two-way) color corrector

Image control filters

Broadcast-safe filter

Correction for flesh tones and other key elements

Color mixing for visual style

Footage matching from different sources for consistency

Error correction in color balance and exposure

Up to 99 total audio tracks per sequence

More than 25 audio filters, including three-band and parameter equalizer, compressor/limiter, 60/120Hz hum remover, and noise gate for soundtrack quality control

New Soft Normalize and Gain filter

Real-time fader automation

Real-time audio filters and effects

Real-time audio filter adjustments during playback

Subframe audio keyframing to 1/100th of a frame

Sampling at 8kHz to 48kHz and 8 to 24 bits

Audio level meters

Mac OS X Audio Units plug-in support

Pan controls

Mute and solo controls

Audio waveform display in the Timeline

Logarithmic audio fades

Scrubbing with or without pitch shifting

Voice Over tool for adding narration directly to the Timeline

Audio level overlays viewable in the Timeline

No re-rendering required when muted tracks are reactivated