Apple announces the Final Cut Studio solution

The High Definition production suite signed by Apple and entitled Final Cut Studio, was announced yesterday and among the applications it includes we mention Final Cut Pro 5, a solution awarded for the qualities of the professional video editing.

This solution allows users to edit DV or SD material, but also DVCPRO HD and uncompressed high-definition 10-bit content. Final Cut Pro 5 also makes possible the editing of the proprietary formats HDTV and IMX 50 MBps.

For uncompressed HD content, Apple has included support for real-time effects. The program allows the usage of dynamic RT solutions for real-time performance maximizing and for adjusting video quality and frame rate during playback.

The suite includes tools like Soundtrack Pro, an editing and applying solution for sound and Motion 2, a real time application for the 32 float rendering of graphical components.

DVD Studio Pro 4 is a tool from the Final Cut Studio used to burn high definition DVDs according to the latest HD DVD specifications. Apple has announced that the retail price of this suite will be 1.299 USD and that it will be available starting from May. If users update their current version, the price drops to 699 USD. Apple will also retail separately Final Cut Pro 5, Soundtrack Pro, Motion 2 and DVD Studio Pro 4.

Apple has announced that is possible for other software developers to include their own effects through FxPlug, a plug-in format that takes advantage of the GPU performances and the 32 bit float rendering. The new MIDI support allows the Motion 2 tool to be run just like a musical instrument accompanied by animations generated by a keyboard or a MIDI controller.