Final Cut Pro updates

Apple has updated Final Cut Pro X (to 10.0.8), Compressor (to 4.0.7), and Motion (to 5.0.7). 

FCP X version 10.0.8 is mainly a maintenance release, but it does add a couple of features.

Users of Arri Alexa cameras can now record Apple ProRes with Log C video levels, then view with standard contrast and colour levels in Final Cut Pro X. This non-destructive display option lets you view footage in the Rec. 709 colour gamut (the standard for broadcast video - pictured above) without having to render or apply an effect, while accessing the full dynamic range of Log C (which has so little contrast it almost looks foggy - as seen below) for colour grading and compositing. When editing is complete, export XML from Final Cut Pro X to send the Log C files for finishing in third-party applications such as DaVinci Resolve or Autodesk Smoke.

As reported earlier, FCP X also now supports Sony's XAVC codec at resolutions up to 4K.

It fixes: performance issues that could occur with certain titles and effects; an issue where some third party effects generated green frames during render; a performance issue which resulted from selecting multiple ranges on a single clip; and an issue where the play Around function did not work properly on certain clips when viewed through external video devices.

Time reversed clips now render in the background, while mono audio files in a surround sound project now export with correct volume levels, and drop zones no longer reset to the first frame of video after application restart.

It adds the ability to: use key commands to adjust Clip Appearance settings in the timeline; and to view reel number metadata located in the timecode track of video files.

Compressor 4.0.7

The new version of Compressor removes the 1GB file size limit for uploads to Vimeo, and fixes stability issues: when playing back certain MPEG-2 files; and in Qmaster when processing multiple jobs.

Motion 5.0.7

The Motion update fixes: an issue where some third-party effects generated green frames during render; a stability issue when splitting layers in the timeline; performance issues with some titles and effects; an issue where launching a plug-in with a check box could require multiple clicks; and a stability issue with CoreMelt plug-ins.

QuickTime 1.0.2

There's also an update to the ProApps Codecs in QuickTime 1.0.2, which is recommended for all users of the current versions of FCP X, Motion and Compressor.

It adds or updates support for various video codecs used by applications which rely on QuickTime, including: Apple Intermediate Codec; Apple ProRes; AVC-Intra; DVCPRO HD; HDV; XDCAM HD /EX / HD422; MPEG IMX; Uncompressed 4:2:2; and XAVC.

By David Fox