APPLE Final Cut Studio 2 (Mac)

Dec 1, 2007 12:00 PM, By Dennis Miller

A multitrack video and audio editor and a lot more.

BONUS MATERIAL
Learn more about the main video software in the Final Cut Studio 2 bundle

Take That!

The Multitake Editor is a handy new tool for managing recording sessions that require multiple takes. Set the Cycle Region to cover the duration of your recording (or use the entire track), arm the track, click on Record, and off you go. The program will record until the end of the specified duration and then automatically rewind and continue to record. When you've completed as many takes as you need, click on Stop, and you'll see each individual take appear as a separate clip on its own track in a new window below the main Timeline, along with another track that represents the composite of all the individual takes.

To create a finished composite take, use the Razor tool to split each take into as many segments as you want, then highlight each segment of each take that you plan to keep. The composite take automatically updates as you make selections, so you can preview your progress at any point. You can easily solo a complete take or just a segment, scrub individual takes, add fades at cut points, or move the clips forward or backward. Overall, the Multitake Editor makes creating seamless composites easy and keeps the Timeline screen from getting needlessly cluttered.

Point of View

SP 2 supports only a single video track, and the track can contain only a single video file that is always positioned at the very beginning of a project. As expected, though, it does have very capable features for syncing audio cues with video scenes.

Using the new Multipoint Video HUD, for instance, you can get a clear idea of what's happening in the video at the point where an audio clip starts and ends. Enable the Multipoint Video HUD and click on an audio clip, and the HUD will display the exact video frames at the start and end of the clip and at the location of the playhead (see Fig. 3). Then drag the right end of the audio clip to extend its length, and the right panel of the HUD will update to display the frame at the new clip end point. The same feature is available if you're moving or time-stretching a clip. (It would be nice if the video image also updated as you drew volume curves on a clip, for example, showing exactly where a fade-out started or a fade-in ended.)

Not surprisingly, you can display video on an external RGB monitor if you have the proper hardware, and you can remove or edit and replace the audio from a QuickTime movie. Soundtrack Pro also now has the ability to nudge an audio clip in increments of frames, which should make video editors happy.

Buying a bundle like Final Cut Studio 2 just for the audio capabilities is not something I would suggest. In fact, if you want only the multitrack editing features of SP 2, then the new Logic Studio combo is a better bet. But if you've decided to take the plunge into video, this well-conceived audio and video workstation is definitely worth a look. The tight integration of the programs in the bundle, and the enormous combined resources they offer, can take you from the back lot to the main stage.

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Associate Editor Dennis Miller is a composer and animator. Check out his work at www.dennismiller.neu.edu.

PRODUCT SUMMARY

APPLE
Final Cut Studio 2

multitrack video and audio editor
$1,299 (MSRP)

upgrade from Final Cut Studio, $499

upgrade from Final Cut Pro, $699

FEATURES	4
EASE OF USE	4
DOCUMENTATION	4
VALUE	4

RATING PRODUCTS FROM 1 TO 5

PROS: Vast range of audio and video software.

Good integration among programs in bundle.

Good video-scoring tools.

CONS: Soundtrack Pro File Editor and multitrack Timeline need better integration.

MANUFACTURER

Apple
www.apple.com

BONUS MATERIAL
Learn more about the main video software in the Final Cut Studio 2 bundle