It has been 13 years since Apple launched Final Cut Pro X, which means that this version has been around for just over half of the software’s total 25-year history. This is a long time in the world of consumer software, leading some people to wonder if Apple was planning to stop supporting it altogether.
However, after all this time, Apple has finally released Final Cut Pro 11, and they’re making some significant updates. The new version became available for download on Wednesday. If you already have the software, you can get the update to Final Cut Pro 11 for free. New users, on the other hand, will need to pay $300 to download it from the Mac App Store, but they can try it out for 90 days before deciding to buy.
So, what’s new in this long-awaited version 11? The answer lies in two letters: AI, which stands for artificial intelligence. After recently introducing AI features to their iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS systems, Apple is now using AI to enhance Final Cut Pro with new capabilities.
One of the standout features is called Magnetic Mask. This tool allows users to easily remove people and objects from videos without needing a green screen. Apple explains that this advanced automatic analysis gives users more flexibility to change backgrounds and settings in their videos. Editors can also use Magnetic Mask alongside color correction and other video effects, allowing for precise control over how each project looks.
Another important AI feature is called Transcribe to Captions. As the name suggests, this tool automatically adds text to the timeline in Final Cut Pro, making it easier to create captions for videos. This feature is powered by Apple’s own large language model, which is a type of AI that understands and generates text.
In addition to these AI features, the new version of Final Cut Pro focuses on supporting Apple’s mixed-reality headset, which has had a rocky start in the market. After enabling the latest iPhones to capture what’s called Spatial Video, users can now edit this type of footage in Final Cut. This means they can adjust colors, add effects, and even position titles in a three-dimensional space.
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Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, has acknowledged that the Vision Pro headset, priced at $3,500, isn’t reaching the mainstream audience the company had hoped for. However, Apple is reportedly working on a more affordable version. The Vision Pro can capture Spatial Video, and so can the iPhone 15 Pro and all iPhone 16 models. Additionally, Canon has introduced a new camera that can shoot this format as well.
Final Cut Pro 11 also brings some features designed to save time for video editors. One of these is the Magnetic Timeline, which allows users to quickly rearrange video clips while keeping the audio synchronized with the video.
Apple has built Final Cut Pro 11 specifically for its M-series chips, which are the powerful processors used in their latest computers. This means that the software can handle more simultaneous streams of high-quality 4K and 8K video.
Alongside the release of Final Cut Pro 11, Apple is also launching Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.1. This version for iPad features improvements in light and color editing, as well as a better overall workflow experience. Existing users can also download this update for free starting Wednesday.
