Digital Video - February 2008 - (Page 24) IN REVIEW LEOPARD OS 10.5 & FINAL CUT EXPRESS 4 but in the end, I find Leopard more pleasant than I’d expected. I’ll most likely upgrade my primary machine in a few months and, at that time, I’ll look back at Tiger (OS 10.4) with the same quaintness as I now do with machines still running Panther (OS 10.3). My main reason for doing so will be the improved performance on Intel machines, since Leopard embraces 64-bit computing. AVCHD requires an Intel Mac. AIC is an all-I-frame compressed HD codec optimized for the RT Extreme engine in Final Cut Express. Think of it as the little brother to Apple’s ProRes 4:2:2 professional HD codec. Once your content is ingested as either DV or converted to AIC, you are free to mix and match these in real time on the same timeline. Express takes care of the adjustments, just as in FCP, so DV content will be scaled up on an HD timeline and HD content will be down-converted on a standard-definition timeline. Apple is positioning Final Cut Express in the middle of their video ecosystem. For example, new iMovie project files can be exported as XML files that can be opened in Express. I was also able to open FCE 4 projects inside FCP. Going the other way is a little trickier. You can’t open a FCP project file in Final Cut Express, but you can export an XML file from FCP and with limited success open that up inside Express. Any FCP sequence that matches the Express options will show up inside the FCE 4 project. So, for example, DV sequences moved from Pro to Express just fine, but DV50 sequences wouldn’t show up, because FCE 4 doesn’t include DV50 timeline compatibility. Final Cut Express 4 is a tremendous value for the money. It uses the same FxPlug architecture as Final Cut Pro, so many of the third-party plug-in filters will work in both applications. The standard installation comes with over 200 effects, filters and transitions, including over 50 new FxPlug effects. I like that it includes LiveType 2, but I wish the package also included an audio application. It would be nice to have a useful recording/cleanup/music tool other than Garage Band. Something similar to Adobe’s Soundbooth would be great. Of course, that’s a minor point. Express fits well between iMovie and Final Cut. There is no other $199 application offering this level of performance. Between Leopard and Final Cut Express 4, Apple has ended 2007 with software solutions that are not only powerful, but won’t break the bank. DV www.dv.com Time Machine, next simply reset Time Machine to OFF and lock the Time Machine settings. Spaces is also pretty cool, but it really just organizes applications into segregated working areas to reduce screen clutter when several applications are open at once. For example, Final Cut Express 4 and LiveType 2 can be open in one Space, while Safari and Mail are open in anoth- er. You’d move between Express and Mail by changing from Space 1 to Space 2 or by using the traditional application switcher (command + tab) to select the application. This second method automatically shifts your screen from Space 1 to Space 2. You cannot, however, have two versions of an application open in two different Spaces, nor does a Space automatically launch a set of task-oriented applications for you. I don’t have that irrational exuberance for a new OS that many Mac fans display, FINAL CUT EXPRESS 4 Final Cut Pro users will feel right at home with FCE 4. The tools and menus are the same, except that there are fewer choices in most cases. If you are new to either, then FCE 4 provides a great stepping stone for FCP. The installation DVD includes LiveType 2, but otherwise there are no additional applications for DVD authoring or audio post. Macs typically come with iDVD and Garage Band installed, giving you options for DVD authoring and some additional audio functionality. FCE 4 is designed to work with FireWire or USB capture. This means that it takes in signals from DV and HDV cameras, as well as the new AVCHD consumer high-definition camcorder files. DV is treated natively, but HDV and AVCHD media is converted on ingest to the Apple Intermediate Codec. 720p/30 and 1080i/60 HD files are supported, but SCORE FINAL CUT EXPRESS 4 PROS: Powerful feature set for DV and HDV editing. CONS: Lacks dedicated audio postproduction application. BOTTOM LINE: Ideal for new editors, education, corporate video and indies. MSRP: $199 CONTACT: www.apple.com 24 dv february 2008 http://www.apple.com http://www.dv.com
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