Yesterday, Apple released their Creator Studio bundle – ten media creation and productivity apps – available with either a monthly and annual subscription.
While this is a great way for new users to experiment with some excellent creativity software, I’m not planning to subscribe and I want to explain why.
To start, I already own the key components in this bundle: Final Cut, Motion, Compressor, Pixelmator, Keynote, Pages and Numbers. I have no talent in creating or performing music, which means that Logic and MainStage are not useful to me.
The artificial intelligence features in Keynote, Pages and Numbers include: Image Generation, Super Resolution and Auto Crop in Keynote, Pages, and Numbers; Generate Presentation, Generate Presenter Notes, and Slide Clean Up in Keynote; and Magic Fill in Numbers. However, those are also available in other tools that I own and, frankly, cropping images in Numbers is not something I’ve ever even thought about doing.
Another big negative is that it is yet-another-subscription. I understand why developers like them, but I am truly tired of renting software. Renting software also means that if you ever expect to revisit that project, you’ll need to maintain your subscription in perpetuity.
But the bigger issue is deciding whether this bundle actually has value.
Apple says that, for now, stand-alone apps and subscription apps will have the same feature set, the differences will be in additional templates, stock media, tutorials and that sort of “nice-but-not-necessary” fluff. (While the AI features in Keynote, Pages and Numbers may be more attractive to some, these apps are more business- than media-focused.)
It has been obvious for a while that Apple lost interest in actively developing Final Cut once Apple silicon was released. In the past, Apple used Final Cut to prove just how fast their latest chips were. From about 1999 till 2019 FCP was the leading edge in video editing software. But, Apple silicon is SO fast that the incremental differences between M1 and M5 chips for video editing are negligible. Any M-series computer can edit any current video format. New chips are faster, but even the oldest M1 is blindingly fast for video. Since FCP wasn’t needed to sell new computers, it seemed that Apple lost interest.
Consequently, the number of new features Apple released dropped dramatically. The features themselves were lovely, but half-baked. (Captions with no transcripts, great audio filters but poor audio mixing.) Yes, Apple continues to support its apps, fix bugs and add new features periodically, but their efforts pale compared to Premiere or, especially, Resolve.
For me, the bigger question about the value of this bundle is whether this indicates a renewed commitment to developing these apps on Apple’s part, or whether this is just another way to squeeze a few extra dollars out of media creator’s pockets. For example, new features, alone, are not a good indicator of software quality, but they are an excellent indicator of engineering resources and commitment. When DaVinci Resolve 20 was released it contained over 200 new features (link). When Apple Final Cut Pro 12 was released, it contained 5 (link).
For now, I’m taking a wait-and-see attitude. Given the slow pace of past development Apple needs to do more than simply bundle existing apps with fancy icons but modest new features. It needs to buckle down and show they are willing to put serious effort behind their fancy talk.
Otherwise, there’s no long-term value in this bundle.
17 Responses to Why I’m Not Subscribing to Apple’s Creator Studio … Yet
I remember asking you about this very thing back in 2015 in the UK when you did the Video Course at Ravensbourne in the UK. Seems like an eternity ago now, but slowly creeping towards a subscription service for FCP and the other essentials, which at that time just was not on the radar…
Sad times we’re in… 🙁
I agree, Logic gets new features that I use along side FCP but FCP is as you say no use to Apple for the reasons you highlight. Apple needs to remember that the FCP community need Apple to focus on its FCP installed base, why?
Blackmagic’s DR is the out-and-out winner as an NLE right now and also works on Windows. While I may not be typical, the only reason I bought a Mac initially was that FCP only ran on a Mac so I jumped in. Given what I know now I would go the DR route and stick with a Windows machine. I, too, am sick of renting software – if this appears more generally across Apple’s SW I will go elsewhere. I can’t see Blackmagic opting for a rental model any time soon and besides they offer a perfectly useful version of DR for free. Apple needs to be very careful- Shaun
Shaun:
I have never been attracted to Windows, for security and privacy reasons alone, plus the speed of the current Mac was always fast enough for the editing I’m doing – and the M-series Macs are stunningly fast.
But you are correct. Resolve’s feature set is running circles around Final Cut.
Larry
>> It has been obvious for a while that Apple lost interest in actively developing Final Cut once Apple silicon was released. >>
100%, it’s like having an abusive partner. You hang in there hoping everything will work out in the end but get gaslighted. JMO
I purchased Apple’s creative software because I remembered from an earlier time that FCP was a standard. Now I am looking at DR and seeing how serious they are about providing what creators want without the recurring fees of a subscription.
I think it ludicrous for Apple to want to go to a subscription model of a product that apparently they can’t or won’t make leading edge. I don’t plan on starting any subscription (renting) of software.
Larry:
For many years – 1999 – 2016 – FCP was seriously cutting edge. Then, something happened inside Apple and that intensity waned. FCP is still extremely fast, extremely powerful, and totally competent for many editing tasks. But it isn’t state of the art.
Apple has a chance to rekindle that passion – but they will need to show evidence of that before I consider this subscription valuable.
Larry
Somewhat like you, I already own the apps I’m interested in. Logic is the only one I could possibly purchase since I am a musician, but GarageBand satisfies my needs right now. Plus I rarely open that up anyway.
The premium offerings in the apps don’t really have any value for me. I’m a hobbyist technically. So I use FCP a few times a year. I don’t use the iWork apps for any kind of business work. That’s all done at my day job with MS stuff. And I also have the stand alone Office just in case I need it.
So, yeah, a subscription for these makes no sense for me either. It’s really for the hard core that needs everything. Or a student since it’s ridiculously cheap.
One thing though. If for some reason I did create something that used premium content and I needed to go back and edit it, all I would need to do is reactivate the subscription for that month and then cancel it. So it doesn’t really have to be an “in perpetuity” kind of thing.
I never re-edit my FCP projects. Once I’m done I eventually delete the files in the Library. I don’t use FCP like most people who have a separate Library for each project, I keep multiple Events/Projects in one Library and then delete once I’m done with the set. This is because I may copy and paste attributes and other things between those events or projects. I have some universal Events/Projects (Assets, Video, Audio, Pics, etc.) that always remain. Essentially my Events act like a folder and then it either contains the Project, or multiple in some cases, or it contains the files I’m going to use across multiple projects. So it’s really a dynamic Library. This probably has made anyone who read that cringe, but it works for me.
Anyway, I do keep my originals for a while as a just in case, but eventually I delete those as well. I could see maybe going back into an iWork file to use it for another document of some sort. So yeah, I could dip my toe into it (after the free 30-days) from time to time if there was some killer premium feature or content I needed. Otherwise, just keep updating the core features.
100% right on.
What people fear is feature creep isolated in the Creator Studio only. Or
any premium or useful features in Final Cut Pro “CS” only.
Honestly, had Apple been way more aggressive in development, I don’t think users would have
complained at a modest upgrade fee of, say, $89 or something had a Final Cut Pro _____ come with
a larger list of high-end features.
What about technical support for CS software, better than stand-alone ?
The best software rental program is BlackMagic Resolve Studio. If you’re working on an important project and you’re part of a cloud collaboration group, but don’t own the software, you can get a temporary license just for the duration of that specific project around $30 a month.
I don’t think the Apple idea is fully mature yet ……….. “thinking.”
I agree with the idea of not subscribing, don’t like the concept of subscription, and I already own the majority of the apps.
That said, I have a feeling this could be a good thing for FCP. Having subscribers might push Apple to pay more attention to FCP and develop more targeted, frequent updates.
I remember way back when, Apple specifically bundled its media creation programs, minus the subscription part.
To this day I miss LiveType (I wrote an article for you about it I liked it so much!).
I also remember how, once bundled, Apple cruised for a bit, handling bug fixes but not really innovating, then decided to end the product and its professional certification program (I try not to be bitter…) in favor of what would become FCPX.
Are we repeating history?
MK:
I don’t know if history is repeating – Apple never offered FCP via subscription before – if you ignore the subscription version of FCP on the iPad.
And, yeah, LiveType was amazing, but Motion is LiveType on steroids. Given the choice, I prefer Motion.
Larry
Apple, unlike Adobe, still lets you buy the software outright piece by piece, and get the overwhelming majority of the same features The subscription model is not for most of your readers. It is for more casual users and students. BTW the student discount for either the purchased bundle or subscription is very attractive. I teach with DR at my university. Still, I use FCP for many of my own projects. FCP’s user interface is more concise. FCP is faster for me. It is missing good audio tools like Fairlight, and roundtripping to Logic could be better. This is really a shame, as Logic is a very powerful DAW. DR has more features, but more features does not necessarily make for a better editing experience. It just leads to a busier interface with cognitive overload. I appreciate Apple’s focus on taking a complex task (editing video) and making it an intuitive workflow that just does what you want. It is missing some critical features (better audio tools come to mind) which prevents it from being at the front of the pack. Still, Apple Silicon is crazy fast – it is hard to believe that a base Mac Mini is an absolute bargain compared to Intel/AMD hardware at the same price.
Hal:
You are correct, nothing touches FCP for speed. And, if it has the tools you need, there’s every reason to use it. I own the M4 Mac mini – just sitting still it’s blazing fast!
Larry
For my work (making pay programs we house on Vimeo, and selling via our site, and our YouTube channel, which is still unmonetised (but google puts ads in anyway, since two years ago)) only FCP and Compressor are needed. I have a deep philosophical objection to software by subscription. It reminds me about modern BMWs: you think you own the car once you’ve paid for it, but some options (like heated seats) are available only via subscriptions. No thank you.
Over the last few years I have moved away from all Adobe products, and similarly MS products for the same reason; I have found excellent open source alternatives. LibreOffice in particular is outstanding, as is Audacity. I was a commercial photographer for many years, and only shot film, then Raw, but now making images for myself, I shoot JPEGs and no longer need raw processing.
I have been with FCP since FCP 2, so like most here, been part of the band that built FCP’s current presence, but I will not subscribe to the new Creative Studio Bundle.
I think BMD’s Resolve will be on my ‘next to learn’ list, and I’ll be buying Larry’s tutorials to that end!
Nancy Reagan was on the money: “Just say no”.
Kit:
Smile, nice Nancy Reagan quote.
Larry
It occurred to me Larry that Apple knew they were headed here when they acquired Pixelmator. They NEEDED that codebase functionality to add value to this package.
There really are more questions than answers in this one.
One of the neat features of Pixelmator is its ability to export a layered graphic as a Motion project, with your own choice of frame-rate and duration. This opens up the opportunity to design complex shapes, backgrounds etc, and deliver to Motion, animate, then export to FCP.
And yes, you can always export a layered psd file to Motion/FCP, but the Motion project is a nice touch. This feature was there before Apple’s acquisition, but I would hope (wish?) to see a tighter integration with FCP in future.