[NOTE: This commentary was written before WWDC 2023. Maybe something will happen there that changes my opinion.
Update: It didn’t.]
“Underwhelming” was the word Joe A. used to describe the 10.6.6 update to Final Cut Pro on the Mac. I think that’s precisely the right word.
After all of Apple’s talk about listening to users and their pride in the future roadmap of Final Cut, the best they could do was Color Conform?
Personally, I don’t think Apple knows what to do with Final Cut. Nor does it know what to do with the high-end video market or the video creatives that work there.
In the past, Apple used Final Cut Pro to drive high-end hardware sales. But, with the release of Apple silicon systems – and their embedded Media Engine – even entry-level systems handle video editing with ease. The problem is that Apple does not have a history of developing high-end software unless it also supports sales of high-end hardware.
To Apple’s credit, engineering has continued to support the software. Bugs get fixed. New operating systems get supported. The occasional new feature gets released.
But implementing long-standing user requests or fixing age-old bugs? Not so much. When you compare the feature evolution of Final Cut to either Adobe Premiere Pro or Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut is left behind in the dust.
Now, it may be that Apple has great plans for the future, but, since Apple doesn’t publicly discuss its roadmap, all we can judge of the future is what’s happened in the past. And, for the last three years, that isn’t a lot.
I think part of the problem is that Apple views the market differently from the traditional user of Final Cut. Apple looks at the market, I think, and says: “Where can our hardware and software benefit the most people today?” Clearly, in media, that’s the world of social media, influencers, mobile devices and simple, yet capable, tools.
Long-time users of Final Cut, though, work in more traditional, more demanding, media tasks like feature films, broadcast television, documentaries, streaming – industries with tighter standards, higher budgets and larger teams than social media.
NOTE: It surprises me that, with the growth of stellar productions on Apple TV, Apple hasn’t added more professional features to FCP to support those high-end productions. The power of saying “This popular show was edited in Final Cut.” would be significant. Equally, it is significant that Apple says nothing about this.
It’s easy for “old-timers” to dismiss the rise of social media as amateurs and neophytes. I am guilty of this in the past. But, the audiences in social media are vast and, often, larger than traditional media. Their work is skilled, entertaining, and just as deadline driven as any network broadcast. They have different needs, require easier to use software because their teams may not be as well-trained, but they, too, like telling stories.
Being different doesn’t make them less.
Apple, I think, realizes that this new social media cohort needs different tools. The iPad version of FCP is an example of that. And that’s OK. It’s just that, at the same time, it feels like Apple is abandoning an older tool that was very successful for a long time. It feels like there is no one with the power to effect change inside Apple that really believes in Final Cut Pro for the Mac.
UPDATE: To me, this is the most important point. There is no driving force at Apple that wants to make Final Cut better on the Mac. Apple trots out FCP when it wants to brag about how many 8K streams of video a new piece of hardware supports. But, otherwise, FCP feels adrift. Adding features to the Mac version that support the more limited form of FCP on the iPad is not the same as improving the Mac version.
So, what’s the future of Final Cut? I have no inside knowledge. I’ve talked to no one inside Apple. I just look at what’s been said and done in the past. FCP isn’t going to die. Apple will continue to support and extend it. Bug fixes and new features will continue to be released, albeit more slowly.
UPDATE: A reader pointed this out: When Apple introduced the new M2 Mac Studio, they showed a photo of Saturday Night Live editing on a Mac Studio. What software were they using? Premiere Pro.
Should you give up on Final Cut? That depends. It’s still the fastest editing platform available on the Mac. It’s fully supported by Apple. And, for what it does, it works great. But, compared to the competition, what it does is not that impressive anymore.
Apple says they listen to the user community. But, when we look back over the last three years, Apple may be listening, but they aren’t doing anything with what they’re being told. Three or four major features over three years is not a sign of committment.
Given the vast potential of what Final Cut could do, Apple’s disinterest speaks loudly by saying nothing.
36 Responses to What’s the Future of Apple Final Cut Pro?
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What’s the Future of Apple Final Cut Pro? | 'GLJ Media Group' Daily Blog says:
June 7, 2023 at 5:02 am
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harriman nelson says:
June 7, 2023 at 10:24 am
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James Kohler says:
June 12, 2023 at 3:48 am
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Norm Bowdler says:
June 12, 2023 at 7:00 am
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Larry Jordan says:
June 12, 2023 at 8:20 am
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John Fishback says:
June 12, 2023 at 10:24 am
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Richard Wright says:
June 19, 2023 at 9:41 am
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Larry says:
June 19, 2023 at 10:15 am
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Larry Jordan asks What the Future of Apple Final Cut Pro? – Jonah Lee Walker, Editor, Colorist and Motion Graphics says:
June 29, 2023 at 8:00 am
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BenB says:
June 29, 2023 at 10:01 am
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Larry Jordan says:
June 29, 2023 at 10:19 am
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Craig Seeman says:
June 29, 2023 at 11:58 am
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Larry says:
June 29, 2023 at 12:28 pm
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Burke Moeller says:
June 29, 2023 at 6:33 pm
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Larry says:
June 29, 2023 at 7:11 pm
← Older Comments Newer Comments →[…] by Larry Jordan […]
As I look through my apps, honestly, the only Apple apps I use (apart from the built-in ones like Mail & TextEdit) are FCPX and to a lesser extent, Compressor & Motion.
In my work I’ve had to use DOS, Windows, Unix & Mac going back to 1989. I’ve always preferred the macOS experience over the others.
I used to edit physical film & videotape, so I’m used to having to learn new ways of doing things, but I’d prefer to stick with FCPX–I like that magnetic timeline! 🙂
I’ve been using FCP since version 3 (not a studio 3, version 3) and I am worried about Final Cuts future. I’m learning Resolve just in case Apple lets FCP wander. I still love Final Cut and hope Apple continues to develop it but I worry.
I know we spoke about this some years ago Larry when you were in London at the Media exhibition, what worries me and still does is FCP going cloud and/or subscription? as of right now nothing surprises me with all of what is going on in this industry… who’d have thought apple doing a headset :-/
Norm:
I don’t see any value to Apple in moving FCP to the Cloud. (As soon as you can access FCP from a Browser, the need to buy Macs disappears.) As for subscriptions, while they are testing this with FCP for the iPad, I don’t see that as the future of Final Cut for the Mac.
Larry
Been with FCP since pre-Studio releases. Started with FCPX with v10.0.6. I love the speed and organizational strength of FCP, but I’m discouraged as I see significant progress with Resolve, and not much from FCP. Resolve is the editor I’d switch to if I totally lose faith in FCP. I have a lot invested in FCP third-party plugins and apps, most of which won’t translate to Resolve, which I’d hate to give up. I’m looking for a sign Apple.
Started with iMovie! The problem seems that many folks I talk to in my word ask why I do not use Resolve, given that I shoot Blackmagic and Resolve come with it. “They say” it R is much better for color correction – but – FCP does what I need, and I play the age card of being too old to learn a new flow and software. But Apple needs to pay attention.
Richard:
The key is that it meets your needs. That’s the most important.
And, yes, Apple needs to focus more resources on Final Cut.
Larry
[…] What’s the Future of Apple Final Cut Pro? […]
I just retied from being a TV show producer. I forced FCP to work in my station, and busted my butt to get it to be the default NLE there. But then we ended up spending more on third party plugins and companion apps to make it work for us, than we did for FCPX itself. When I left the station, it was sold, the new owners and crew run Resolve, and in almost three years have not spent a dime on anything third party. Not to mention the need to integrate with networked collaboration and storage. FCPX fall so short there. But Apple had Final Cut Server, and dropped it like a hot rock. I tend to think Apple has given up on FCP being an industry leading NLE. Legacy FCP/Shake/Final Cut Server won technology award all over the place. But since all that was cut off suddenly, Adobe and BMD and Avid are getting all of those awards. Apple doesn’t care. The even let Aperture go, because they don’t want to be in the high end market. I think that is glaringly obvious. So they’ll continue FCPX for the YouTubers, and the rest of us can move on to Premiere Pro and Resolve, and Apple won’t bat an eye, they simply do not care any longer. What really gets my goat today is, only about a year ago they gave this big public promise to start listening, looking into the needs of the upper end market with film and network television, and NOTHING happened. I feel like Apple lied to us. Great observations, Larry. Thanks for posting this.
Ben:
Coming from you these are especially harsh words. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
These are troubled times for FCP. But Apple still has time to live up to its promise – provided they actually want to.
Larry
I don’t think FCP has much to offer social media editors these days either.
While I can understand Apple not pursuing the small “Hollywood” market or the bigger broadcast (and online streaming) market, they’ve also dropped the corporate, business, and even social media advertising market. Even CapCut and ClipChamp offer more to those doing brand marketing and advertising on Instagram and TikTok than FCP does. In short, Apple has no target market at all for FCP. Sad because I really love the magnetic timeline but the cost of adding features through plugins has become very expensive especially considering the competing NLEs include them free.
Craig:
Thanks for your thoughts.
Larry
I still use FCP in my workflow but my main NLE is Premiere now. I think Apple knows they lost a ton of credibility with the pro market with FCP’s disastrous rollout of X, and they have been looking for a market since. There are some use cases where it is the best tool , but since so few production houses use it I can’t recommend FCP to a beginner. Better to learn another NLE that can actually get you paying work.
Burke:
I suspect you are correct. FCP is not a paying skill set currently. However, for solo editors working on their own projects it is still very useful.
Larry