Final Cut Express 2 - Technical Specifications

Final Cut Express 2 System Requirements

  • Macintosh computer with a 350MHz PowerPC G4 or G5 processor and AGP graphics card.

  • RT Extreme requires a 500MHz 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.

Input/Capturing Video

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

  • FireWire device control of most FireWire-enabled MiniDV camcorders from leading manufacturers, like Sony, Canon, Panasonic and JVC.

  • Ignores timecode breaks and incrementally names clips automatically when a recording break is discovered.

  • Capture window lets you name, add comments to and organize your clips as you capture them.

  • Imports a range of still image formats: PSD, BMP, JPEG, PICT, PNG, SGI, TARGA, 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 up into smaller pieces.

  • Sequences can be nested and remain fully editable. They can also be reused in multiple timelines.

  • 99 audio and 99 video tracks, with support for nesting sequences together.

  • Extensive search, sort, sift capabilities in Browser.

  • Clip labels help organize and sort clips.

  • Master and affiliate clip relationship automatically updates properties of a clip, such as Clip Name or Reel Name, within the current project.

  • Work with multiple sequences and open multiple projects simultaneously.

  • Up to 32 levels of undo.

Output

  • 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 in iDVD or DVD Studio Pro to create a DVD.

  • Add chapter markers with or without comments and durations to jump to specified content.

  • Clip, sequence, scoring, chapter and compression markers.

  • Marker exports to DVD Studio Pro for chapter and compression settings.

  • Scoring marker export to Soundtrack.

  • Projects can be exported using any QuickTime file format or the web.

Editing Tools

  • Edits to clips reference the original video so the source footage is never altered.

  • Editing palette contains most-used functions, so pro-style edits are just a click away.

  • Edit overlay for drag-and-drop editing.

  • 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 with or without transitions.

  • Blade and Blade All tools for adding edit points to your sequence.

  • Extend and split edits provide additional editing options.

  • Sync detection and correction compensate 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 to 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.

  • Trimming edit functions include slip, slide, ripple and roll tools.

  • Asymmetric, multitrack trimming.

  • Dynamic JKL trimming.

  • Trim window.

  • Timeline trimming.

  • Keyboard and numeric trimming.

  • The Autosave Vault saves your project at intervals so you can return to any point in your edit without losing your work.

Transitions, Filters and Effects

  • Includes over 200 transitions, filters and effects.

  • Unlimited effects favorites.

  • Copy and paste 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.

  • RT Extreme gives users dramatically more real-time effects, transitions and video layers (up to 8 DV streams).

  • Low, medium and high RT Extreme quality settings provide a range of maximum simultaneous real-time streams, effects and resolution options.

  • Safe and unlimited RT Extreme modes let you customize performance versus quality tradeoffs.

  • Opacity overlays in Timeline let you adjust and keyframe opacity.

  • Two-way color corrector.

  • YUV.

  • Image control filters.

  • 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.

Titling

  • 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.

  • Boris Calligraphy plug-ins help you create 2D and 3D titles.

  • Precision controls are available simply by clicking a tab.

  • Use the titling tools to create a range of title styles to fit your project.

  • Full Unicode support.

Audio

  • Include up to 99 total audio tracks with up to 8 tracks of audio playback in real time.

  • More than 25 audio filters, including three-band and parameter equalizer, compressor/limiter, 60/120-Hz hum remover and noise gate give you control over the quality of your soundtrack.

  • Other built-in audio filters include reverb and echo.

  • Audio Unit support, including a set of Audio Unit filters you can use to adjust your audio clips. (Audio Unit format is the standard Apple audio plug-in format for Mac OS X applications).

  • Automated audio keyframe recording.

  • 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 in Timeline.

  • Audio level overlays in Timeline.

  • Adjust the volume of any track while listening to playback to make better, more accurate decisions about audio levels.

  • Audio tracks can be isolated with solo and mute controls. No re-rendering is required when muted tracks are reactivated.

  • Audio filters can be adjusted in real time as the track is playing for immediate feedback on any of the filter parameters.

  • Record a voiceover track directly to the timeline.

  • Voiceover can be recorded while video is playing back for perfect timing.

Streamlined Workflow

  • Unique mode-free interface lets you move seamlessly between editing, trimming, compositing, effects and audio functions in the Viewer.

  • Updated UI is more elegant, cleaner and exposes more controls.

  • Mode-free interface for workflow efficiency.

  • System and user preferences.

  • Easy setups for quick configuration.

  • Customizable RT effects settings (Safe and Unlimited High, Medium and Low).

  • Customizable render settings.

  • Dynamic window resizing and customizable window arrangements.

  • Customizable Button Bar lets you create shortcuts to favorite functions, saving time and letting you tailor workspace to fit your habits.

  • Customizable user interface buttons.

  • Customizable Browser layouts.

  • Customizable track layouts and custom, independent track heights.

Compositing

  • 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.

  • Smooth compositing animations with ease in/ease out motion paths.

  • Use time effects, including slow motion with frame blending, to create smooth time-altered playback.

  • With accurate subpixel interpolation rendering, effects placed on a clip are applied 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.