Apple Updates Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor for the 2019 Mac Pro
Yesterday morning, along with releasing macOS Catalina, Apple updated Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor to support the upcoming release of the 2019 Mac Pro. The good news is that you don’t need to upgrade to Catalina to use the new software, though you do need Catalina to take advantage of the extended HDR display.
According to Apple, all three of their Pro-Video software saw significant performance improvements and extended support for HDR display. (Logic X was updated last June.) While there are lots of “under the hood” changes, the interface and operation remain the same for all three.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
“System Requirements: macOS 10.14.6 or later, 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended for 4K editing, 3D titles, and 360° video editing), Metal-capable graphics card, 1GB of VRAM recommended for 4K editing, 3D titles, and 360° video editing, 3.8GB of available disk space.
“Some features require Internet access; fees may apply. Blu-ray recorder required for burning Blu-ray discs. Video output to VR headset requires Mac computer with discrete graphics running macOS Mojave. 27-inch iMac with Radeon Pro 580 graphics or better recommended. (Taken from Apple’s Release Notes)
FINAL CUT PRO X – Version 10.4.7
Here’s what’s new:
- New Metal-based processing engine improves playback and accelerates graphics tasks including rendering, compositing, real-time effects, exporting, and more
- Enhances graphics performance with support for multiple GPUs including Radeon Pro Vega II and Radeon Pro Vega II Duo on Mac Pro
- Optimizes CPU performance with support for up to 28 CPU cores on Mac Pro
- Accelerates ProRes and ProRes RAW playback when using the Afterburner card on Mac Pro
- View, edit, grade, and deliver stunning High Dynamic Range video on Pro Display XDR
- Connect Pro Display XDR with a single Thunderbolt cable to use as a display or reference monitor
- Simultaneously use up to three Pro Display XDR units connected to Mac Pro — two for the Final Cut Pro interface and one for dedicated monitoring
- Grade High Dynamic Range video with enhanced color mask and range isolation tools
- View High Dynamic Range video tone-mapped to compatible Standard Dynamic Range displays when using Final Cut Pro on macOS Catalina
- Select which internal or external GPU is used to accelerate graphics processing
Final Cut Pro 10.4.7 also includes the following:
- Waveform monitor lets you view luminance levels in High Dynamic Range (HDR) PQ media as you edit.
- HSL (hue, saturation, and luma) controls in the Color inspector let you select a range of color with greater precision.
- HDR clips with LUTs applied now appear correctly when you use the Send to Compressor command.
- Improves stability when applying noise reduction to a Rec. 2020 REDCODE RAW clip.
- Lets you define keyboard shortcuts for the Add Color Mask, Add Shape Mask, and Toggle View Mask commands.
- Improves reliability and performance when using the Flow transition.
- Fixes an issue in which relinked media would sometimes result in empty thumbnails.
- Timecode window remains visible when other applications are active.
- Playhead now snaps to keyframes placed on audio components.
- Skimming an audio component now plays back audio as expected.
- Surround panning keyframes now work as expected when reopening a library.
- Adds support for Canon XF-HEVC.
- Adds HEIF support in Image Sequence exports.
- Adds support for fragmented MP4 format in HTTP live streaming.
MOTION – Version 5.4.4
Here’s what’s new:
- New Metal-based processing engine improves playback and accelerates graphics tasks including rendering, compositing, real-time effects, exporting, and more
- Enhances graphics performance with support for multiple GPUs including Radeon Pro Vega II and Radeon Pro Vega II Duo on Mac Pro
- Optimizes CPU performance with support for up to 28 CPU cores on Mac Pro
- Accelerates ProRes and ProRes RAW playback when using the Afterburner card on Mac Pro
- View, composite, grade and deliver stunning HDR video on Pro Display XDR
- View High Dynamic Range video tone-mapped to compatible Standard Dynamic Range displays when using Final Cut Pro on macOS Catalina
- Improved load balancing of graphics processing across multiple GPUs.
COMPRESSOR – Version 4.4.5
Here’s what’s new:
- New Metal-based processing engine improves playback and accelerates graphics tasks including rendering, compositing, real-time effects, exporting, and more
- Enhances graphics performance with support for multiple GPUs including Radeon Pro Vega II and Radeon Pro Vega II Duo on Mac Pro
- Optimizes CPU performance with support for up to 28 CPU cores on Mac Pro
- Accelerates ProRes and ProRes RAW playback when using the Afterburner card on Mac Pro
- View, composite, grade and deliver stunning HDR video on Pro Display XDR
- View High Dynamic Range video tone-mapped to compatible Standard Dynamic Range displays when using Final Cut Pro on macOS Catalina
- Improved load balancing of graphics processing across multiple GPUs.
Compressor was lagging its competition for the last several updates in both image quality and performance. Here’s an article that compares the performance of the new version to the old.
I’ll have more on these new features in coming weeks.
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3 Responses to Apple Updates Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor for the 2019 Mac Pro
Hi Larry, one thing I’ve noticed with the new FCP release is a problem with the graphics. When using the 360 Generators, the full color option has an issue when adding a transition. After the transition, the generator disappears. This is a problem when using various colors. The work around was to use the “White” generator which offers several “white” options, but the 360 “blue” gives the option to use a variety of colors. But if it disappears, it’s no use. I’ve noted this with Apple, but perhaps you have more clout.-Carleton
Hi Larry,
Hope you are well.
Just for information. Usually I don’t do this unless updates have been checked, but the last update automatically updated for FCPX when I left my computer on overnight. The new update has caused me a number of problems.
I am unable to share a complete timeline/project out of FCPX nor compressor.
In Compressor I get ‘ Failed: Video rendering error: 10008 (ProMSRendererTool error 10008: renderVideoFrame failed)’
FCPX just hangs during sharing.
It is similar to the problems you noted in your last mail out.
I have tried everything- identified three places where the sharing stops. Re-transcoded those clips, deleted the originals, new project, new library, new admin user, trash preferences, every single thing I can think of. Nothing resolves it-I still get problems at exactly three spots in the project.
I have to now share the project in three sections, then using Davinci, reform the entire timeline.
Weirdly, I can still edit on the original project with no problems at all. It’s just getting the media out.
It’s a shame, as I have been working on a feature documentary for 4 years and this is the last week or so on it. I’m guessing if I had started my project on Metal then I would not have had any issues. I’m just clutching at straws here.
Anyway, my ramble was just too add to any other note you may be getting from people about the latest update.
Regards,
Dilesh
Dilesh:
I’m really sorry you are in this fix. It wasn’t your fault, but it points out the peril of updating in the middle of a project.
My best advice is to contact Apple Support. They need to elevate this to the developers for a fix.
Larrt