Apple today announced the release of major updates for its Final Cut Pro video editing software designed for Macs and iPads. Today marks the first update to Final Cut Pro on the Mac to deserve a full version bump in 13 years, as Final Cut Pro has been “version 10” since 2011.
First teased alongside the new M4 Macs back in October, the new version is now available and brings with it a number of “intelligent” improvements that take advantage of the M-series chips powering both the Mac and iPad lineups.
Final Cut Pro 11 for Mac
Apple has also released updates to Final Cut Camera, and Logic Pro. Offering new tools like Magnetic Mask and Transcribe to Captions, Final Cut Pro 11 for Mac also supports the import, edit, and delivery of spatial video projects directly to the Apple Vision Pro.
Magnetic Mask is a new AI-powered tool that allows editors to isolate people and objects in a video clip without a green screen or rotoscoping. Magnetic Mask can be used to customize backgrounds and environments, and can be combined with color correction and video effects for more control over a project.
Transcribe to Cations is another new AI-powered tool, that automatically generate closed captions in the timeline using an Apple-trained large language model that analyzes spoken audio in a video.
Final Cut Pro 11 now boasts support for editing spatial video. Users can now import footage from the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 16 models, or Canon’s R7 camera with RF-S7.8mm F4 STM Dual Lens. They can then make color corrections, add effects, and enhance video with titles and other features. The depth position of titles and captured footage can be adjusted using Final Cut Pro, and there are now different viewing modes for previewing left and right eye angles on the Mac.
A Mac can also be paired with a Vision Pro headset to use the Mac Virtual Display to edit spatial video in Final Cut Pro. The spatial videos can then be exported to a user’s Photos library for viewing on the Vision Pro. They can also be shared with others by uploading them to Vimeo’s visionOS app.
Other new Final Cut Pro features include:
- Reduce clutter in the browser by automatically hiding original clips when creating synced clips or multicam clips.
- Use Vertical Zoom to Fit to scale clip heights to fit in the timeline.
- Speed up your creative flow with new Picture in Picture and Callout effects.
- Create amazing visual reveals with new Modular transitions.
- Increase efficiency with new keyboard shortcuts for common tasks in the browser and timeline.
- Install third-party Media Extensions to support playback and editing of more video formats.
Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.1
Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.1 adds support for Enhance Light and Color to improve color, color balance, contrast, and brightness in video or still images in one step. It is optimized for SDR, HDR, RAW, and Log-encoded media. Haptic feedback for Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard allows users to feel a light pulse as they trim clips, move media, navigate the timeline, and resize viewer clips to snapping points.
Apple has also added four new inks for the Live Drawing feature on iPad for adding animations to videos. Watercolor, crayon, fountain pen, and monoline pen options are now available.
The update brings a new vertical pinch gesture that can expand or minimize clip height in the timeline, the ability to dynamically adjust the size and position of the viewer in Picture in Picture mode, and timeline support for recordings at 90 fps, 100 fps, and 120 fps on iPhone 16 Pro.
The content library features additional modular transitions, color-grading presets, and dynamic soundtracks.
Final Cut Camera 1.1
Apple has also updated Final Cut Camera to version 1.1, adding support for capturing Log-encoded HEVC video in either standalone or Live Multicam sessions, pairing the dynamic range of Log with reduced file sizes. Users can also enable a preview lookup table (LUT) while recording in Log.
iPhone 16 Pro users can now record 4K 120fps footage for smoother cinematic slow motion and import it into Final Cut Pro for iPad to edit. An advanced level with roll and tilt indicators and a crosshairs indicator for top-down shots also make a debut.
Pricing and Availability
- Final Cut Pro 11 is available today as a free update for existing users and for $299.99 (U.S.) for new users on the Mac App Store. New users can download a free 90-day trial of Final Cut Pro.
- Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.1 is available today as a free update for existing users, and available on the App Store for $4.99 (U.S.) per month or $49 (U.S.) per year, with a one-month free trial for new users.
- Final Cut Camera 1.1 is available today as a free standalone app on the App Store.
