Hands-On With the New Final Cut Pro X 10.4 Update

[MacRumors]

Alongside the launch of the iMac Pro last Thursday, Apple introduced a new version of Final Cut Pro X, the company's video editing software aimed at professionals.

We went hands-on with the new Final Cut Pro X 10.4 update in our latest video to highlight the new features you can expect to see.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

Final Cut Pro X 10.4 introduces 360º VR video editing with the ability to connect a headset, support for HDR, and new color tools like new color wheels with integrated sliders for adjusting parameters like hue, saturation, and brightness, color curves for ultra-fine adjustments, an eyedropper for sampling parts of an image for adjustment, manual white balance tools, new keyboard shortcuts for color adjustments, and more.

As promised earlier this year, the update includes support for HEVC and HEIF, the new video and photo formats introduced in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra.

It also adds direct import of iMovie for iOS timelines, and, for new iMac Pro owners, there's optimized performance on the new pro-level machine with support for up to 36 cores with hyperthreading.

Final Cut Pro X can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $299.99. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Hands-On With the New Final Cut Pro X 10.4 Update

 

[Asarien]

I'll take every FCP X update we can get. Despite its limitations compared to Premiere, it's just so much easier and pleasant working in FCP for solo projects.

 

[Goodebar]

I have FCP but the App Store is not showing me any available update for FCP

 

[creepyTowel]

Installed 10.4 but had to roll back to 10.3.4 in Time Machine because 10.4 messed up several projects I was working on -- clips wouldn't render in the background, subtitles out of sync, previously placed items moved around in the timeline. Fortunately 10.4 has the presence of mind to back up your current projects before "upgrading" them, so I could still work from the backups.

 

[jayducharme]

I'm glad Apple finally released this update; I had just sent in feedback about my frustration of shooting 4k video with my iPhone 8, only to discover that FCPX couldn't open the video files (though iMovie could). The color grading improvements have been a long time coming, but are much welcome. And I've been contemplating working with 360 video, so this update makes it easier for me to begin experimenting. All in all, I'm happy.

 

[JoeInMilwaukee]

Every time I see "Final Cut Pro X 10.4" my mind thinks "Mac OS X 10.4."

 

[Futhark]

Went to download the Final Cut Pro X 30 day trial and it gives you version 10.3.4 even though it stated 10.4

 

[Mr Dobey]

The 10.4 update is running smoother than glass on the new MacBook Pro 15". Though when I export a PQ HDR file the Transfer Characteristic does not show up as 'PQ' in MediaInfo v17.10 like other PQ ST 2084 files from Resolve or Premiere. Not sure if the file is at fault or MediaInfo itself needs an update to view how Final Cut Pro X is tagging a file as HDR.

Though CinemaDNG RAW is still not supported as one easy to use video file like Resolve

 

[PsykX]

I opened FCPX two weeks ago for the first time since 3 years. I preferred the old look so much more - less agressive on the eyes, and buttons were placed in more intuitive places.

Updated last week, the only feature I love is the new color correction tool, however the other features were needed to evolve in the latest technologies.

But still, I think FCPX is the best video edition tool. I'm not a pro, but I use it like a pro

 

[ErikGrim]

Heard that performance is increased across the board. Especially noticeable on older machines.

 

[jeffhayford]

360, color wheels, native camera LUTs, they're doing a lot of catching up and I'm sure it's fine for the prosumer market but they need to be ahead on these technologies and the desperately need to bring back the pro features or they'll forever be sidelined as the industry moves forward with Premiere, Resolve, and Avid in descending order.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

When was the last time they charged for an update? 4+ years now?

 

[RoobyRoobyRoo]

I'll take every FCP X update we can get. Despite its limitations compared to Premiere, it's just so much easier and pleasant working in FCP for solo projects.

As a Premiere-using editor, I love that FCP X is still getting solid updates, and I hope it continues to get better and better. Competition is a great thing, and there aren't a whole lot of competitors in the professional video editor category of software. I want Apple to give Adobe a run for its money, because that means better software for all of us.

 

[Westside guy]

As a Premiere-using editor, I love that FCP X is still getting solid updates, and I hope it continues to get better and better. Competition is a great thing, and there aren't a whole lot of competitors in the professional video editor category of software. I want Apple to give Adobe a run for its money, because that means better software for all of us.

Remember when we had that competition in the photo arena?

 

[jphall]

When was the last time they charged for an update? 4+ years now?

There has not been a charge for any update since the release of FCPX. This is the 24th update over the 6.5 years since I bought the initial release of FCPX, with no additional charge since that original purchase. That's pretty cool!

 

[nathanielphoto]

But does the app still crash when your laptop is in clamshell mode on high sierra?

 

[BWhaler]

Nice update to an already great app. Well done Apple..

 

[Applebot1]

Do companies use FCP or is it more the freelance people in a commercial point of view?

 

[fitshaced]

No decent noise reduction tool yet?

 

[imran5720]

36 core mac pro coming?

 

[Miguel Cunha]

When was the last time they charged for an update? 4+ years now?

That's what frightens me. If I buy it in the near future, it might be updated to, say, version 11 as paid upgrade.
what do you guys think?

 

[mariusignorello]

Does anyone know if and where I could get the demo project that they have in the store? Wanted to mess around with it a little to see the new features in action.

 

[MartyF81]

But does the app still crash when your laptop is in clamshell mode on high sierra?

It does not!

 

[LiveM]

HEVC is not new. This update is way overdue.

 

[1738]

Remember when we had that competition in the photo arena?

Aperture was never a competitor of Photoshop. Two very different tools.
[doublepost=1513776655][/doublepost]

Do companies use FCP or is it more the freelance people in a commercial point of view?

Freelance. Apple gave up support for Final Cut Server which removed the option of collaborative editing. For many creative teams and film making companies, not having collaborative projectes slowed them down too much. Freelancers weren’t effected as much by this change.

Edit: fixed typo