Final Cut Pro on iPad Review - Forget everything you know about editing

Science & Technology

Introduction

Hey, it's Justine, and today we're checking out Final Cut Pro for the iPad. I've been using it for about a week, and I have some thoughts to share.

If you're a traditional editor coming from Final Cut on desktop or even Premiere and you've never used any type of touch-based editing, I suggest forgetting everything you know. Come into this with a completely new mind because jumping into this thinking you'd edit like on the desktop can be frustrating. Things are done differently here, but it's way more efficient for touch and can sometimes be faster.

After overcoming the initial hurdles and shedding old habits, I really started loving it. There are a few things I wish were different, like having external drive support. While you can plug in a drive and save all your files into your library, you can't edit directly off the drive. Another wish is the ability to send projects to a Mac and bring them back for continued edits. Currently, once you send a project to the Mac, you can't bring the library back and continue editing.

Now let's get into the nitty-gritty: creating a new project. You can name your project (e.g., "scuba just" for scuba videos), set the frame rate, and import footage from various sources such as photos, files, or even the iPad camera. Importing is as simple as dragging and dropping.

After setting up the project, you can start editing. You have options to insert, overwrite, or append clips. Editing clips is straightforward, thanks to the touch interface. You can drag clips to trim them and use the jog wheel for faster navigation through your timeline.

An exciting feature is the inspector, which houses volume, animate, multi-cam, and trimming options within thumb's reach. This shift in design really changed my perspective on touch-based editing.

For instance, dealing with unwanted spaces between clips is simple. A select button lets you zoom in and delete unwanted segments. For additional ease, having a keyboard allows me to use familiar shortcut keys, making the editing process more efficient.

The iPad version also includes built-in soundtracks, titles, effects, and transitions. You can add music, objects, and perform color corrections. One impressive feature is how the software dynamically adjusts music length to fit your video's duration.

Additionally, there's a MultiCam feature that synchronizes clips using audio, making it easy to switch between angles during editing.

Further, features like background removal and live drawing offer new creative possibilities. The software even allows you to film directly from the iPad, making post-trip edits incredibly smooth.

Overall, Final Cut Pro for iPad brings a fresh take on editing. Although there are some limitations, the convenience of touch-based editing has a lot of potential. I'm excited about the future updates and enhancements that might address some current limitations.

Keywords

  • Final Cut Pro
  • iPad
  • Touch-based editing
  • External drive support
  • MultiCam
  • Background removal
  • Jog wheel
  • Inspector

FAQ

Q1: Can you edit directly from an external drive on the iPad version of Final Cut Pro? A1: No, currently you can plug in a drive and save all your files into your library, but you can't edit directly off the external drive.

Q2: Is it possible to transfer projects between the iPad and a Mac for continued editing? A2: No, once you send a project to a Mac, you can't bring the library back to the iPad for continued editing.

Q3: Does the iPad version support MultiCam editing? A3: Yes, Final Cut Pro on the iPad includes a MultiCam feature that synchronizes clips using audio, allowing for easy angle switching.

Q4: Are all the keyboard shortcuts from Final Cut Pro carried over to the iPad version? A4: Most of the shortcut keys from Final Cut Pro are functional on the iPad version, making the transition smoother for those accustomed to the desktop version.

Q5: How do you navigate large timelines efficiently on the iPad? A5: The jog wheel is a feature that allows for fast and smooth navigation through lengthy timelines.

Q6: Does the iPad version have built-in music and soundtracks? A6: Yes, built-in dynamic soundtracks are available, which can automatically adjust their length to match the duration of your video.