Final Cut Express 4 - Technical Specifications

Final Cut Express 4 - Part Numbers

Retail

MB278Z/A

Upgrade from Final Cut Pro

MA339Z/A

Academic

MB279Z/A

Minimum Hardware Requirements to Install All Final Cut Express Applications

  • 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

Minimum Software Requirements

  • Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later

  • QuickTime 7.2 or later

Universal Applications

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

Input and Capture

  • 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

Editing and Timeline

  • 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

Trimming

  • Ripple, roll, slip, and slide

  • Asymmetric, multitrack trimming

  • Dynamic JKL trimming

  • Trim Edit window

  • Timeline trimming

  • Keyboard and numeric trimming

Output

  • 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

Streamlined Workflow

  • 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

Media Management

  • 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

Transitions, Filters, and Effects

  • 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

Titling

  • 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

LiveType 2.1

  • 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

Compositing

  • 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

Color Correction

  • 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

Audio

  • 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