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Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro

Overview

What is Final Cut Pro?

Apple offers Final Cut Pro, a video editing platform featuring optimized for a high performance machines and supporting a wide range of quality effects.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Final Cut Pro X has been widely used by a diverse range of users for various purposes. Users have found that the software provides a …
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Nice Software to Edit a Podcast

9 out of 10
April 27, 2022
I've run a MMA Podcast for the past 12 years and have been editing the show with Final Cut Pro X and all previous versions. This program …
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Awards

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Pricing

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Final Cut Pro X

$299.99

On Premise
per license

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Details

What is Final Cut Pro?

Final Cut Pro Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise
Operating SystemsMac
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Apple offers Final Cut Pro, a video editing platform featuring optimized for a high performance machines and supporting a wide range of quality effects.

Reviewers rate Support Rating highest, with a score of 8.8.

The most common users of Final Cut Pro are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(116)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Final Cut Pro X has been widely used by a diverse range of users for various purposes. Users have found that the software provides a powerful platform for creating videos exactly how they want them to look, with built-in tools and the ability to install numerous plugins for expanded functionality. A post-production team has utilized Final Cut Pro X to ensure that everyone in the company, including freelancers, is using software that works well in the Apple ecosystem and allows for easy sharing of project files between editors. Reviewers have praised the program for its efficiency and ease of learning, making video creation a smooth process. Moreover, Final Cut Pro X has been a reliable choice for editing videos in different domains such as media communications, marketing, training content development, and more. Users have found that the software allows them to create professional-quality videos for marketing, fundraising, donor engagement, grant applications, and even feature-length films. The software's intuitive interface and helpful features have made it popular among photographers, production studios, marketing departments, small businesses, creative storytellers, religious organizations, and individuals looking to produce high-quality videos for various purposes. Whether it is editing rough cuts or creating alternate cuts, Final Cut Pro X has proven to be a quick and easy-to-use video editing program that caters to the needs of different users.

State-of-the-Art Transition Feature: Many users have praised Final Cut Pro X - FCPX for its state-of-the-art transition feature, which they found easy to use in their projects. The intuitive nature of this feature has allowed reviewers to seamlessly incorporate transitions into their videos, enhancing the overall visual appeal.

Great Light and Color Correction Toolbar: The software's light and color correction toolbar has received positive feedback from multiple users. They appreciate the extensive options available, allowing them to easily enhance the lighting and colors in their videos. This feature has been described as a valuable tool for achieving professional-looking results.

Non-linear Editor with Intuitive Interface: FCPX's non-linear editor has impressed many users with its intuitive interface. Reviewers find it easy to navigate and work with, enabling efficient editing processes. The simplicity of the interface contributes to a smooth workflow and allows both beginners and experienced editors to quickly adapt to the software.

Lagging Performance: Several users have reported that the software lags when working on extensive projects, especially those with 4K footage. This can significantly slow down the editing process and hinder productivity.

Outdated Layout: Users find the layout of the software to be outdated and difficult to comprehend. The outdated design makes it challenging for users to navigate and understand its features, leading to a frustrating user experience.

Uncomfortable Timeline: Many users have expressed dissatisfaction with the timeline in Final Cut Pro X, particularly when dealing with multiple video and audio sources. The timeline is uncomfortable to work with, making it difficult for users to edit their projects efficiently.

Users commonly recommend the following actions for Final Cut Pro X: consider the self-hosted version, compare with Adobe Premiere, and take classes or online tutorials.

  1. Consider the self-hosted version: Users recommend using the self-hosted version of Final Cut Pro X instead of the cloud version. They find it more cost-effective and user-friendly.

  2. Compare with Adobe Premiere: Users suggest comparing Final Cut Pro X with Adobe Premiere, particularly considering Premiere's integration with other Adobe products. They advise those seeking a deeper and more complex editing experience to consider Adobe Premiere instead.

  3. Take classes or online tutorials: Users recommend learning Final Cut Pro X through classes or online tutorials. They highlight the importance of fully utilizing its features, suggesting exploring the Generators Browser and Titles Browser as well.

Overall, users find Final Cut Pro X worth the investment, particularly for basic to complex projects. They also emphasize the importance of having ample hard drive space, using Compressor for easy exporting, and maintaining a strong labeling and indexing system for efficient project organization.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-5 of 5)
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Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Final Cut Pro X at our university for all of our in-house videography post production. There are currently two employees on campus that use this software on a daily basis. The problem that is addressed by Final Cut Pro X is the need to have a reliable video editing tool that can be used in-house for all of our videos that we produce.
  • Efficiently edit together videos without much trouble.
  • Ability to edit out white/background noise within a video. A college campus is a pretty noisy environment.
  • Sometimes the clipping is not spot on.
  • Audio sometimes can bleed into transitions in an awkward way.
Final Cut Pro X is perfectly suited for the needs of our campus and for myself personally. It does the job that it needs to do without a lot of trouble. It is quick and efficient in producing a high quality edited video. We have tried other products but it always ends in the same manner and that is continuing to use Final Cut Pro.
  • Having Final Cut Pro X has allowed us to not spend thousands on outside videographers.
  • It allows us to directly upload to our online platforms with no extra add-ons.
Final Cut Pro X has all the same features that the other two have. The price point for both Final Cut Pro X and Premier Pro are very comparable and DaVinci Resolve is a free software but I found it to not be very user friendly. We have access to both Premier Pro and Final Cut Pro X on a daily basis at our university, but I prefer to use Final Cut Pro X.
Along with having Final Cut Pro X you are supported by Apple because it is a product of Apple. Their customer support is top tier and if we ever have any problems with this software I do not have a doubt in my mind that we would be able to find a resolution quickly and efficiently.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Final Cut Pro X for all our video editing on marketing and internal communications videos. I'm currently the only user within the company but I've become so used to it and reliant on it, it's hard to imagine using anything else. Final Cut Pro X is helping us to market the company and helping us to communicate both in house and out.
  • Duplicates footage and assets for the editing process, maintaining one location for all referenced files.
  • The unique factor about Final Cut Pro X is a snappy timeline for editing. This take a little getting used to at first but I've grown to prefer it over the years.
  • Intuitive user interface.
  • While an upgrade a few years ago brought back the 3-way color wheel for color correction (which it had previously removed for Final Cut Pro X), more robust color-grading would be a plus.
  • Sound editing isn't as robust as the competition (think Adobe Audition).
  • Tends to be a little unstable after an upgrade (at least on my late model 2015 Macbook Pro)
Final Cut Pro X, in my experience, has been fantastic for use at small shops and for the size projects I tend to work on (1-3m in length). It always functions well when exporting longer lectures or employee training videos. I've never had an issue with too many lines of video or audio. It's a well organized, intuitive editor with a feature set of editing tools (effects, generator, etc.). Apple has kept up with all newer forms of cameras, so compatibility is never an issue. While I've also edited short features. I can't speak to Final Cut Pro X's current capability in editing feature-length films compared with other platforms (Premiere, Davinci resolve, Avid, etc.)
  • Keeps the workflow going smoothly on an edit from beginning to end edit.
  • Slight negatives impact on ROI when the program becomes occasionally unstable after an update.
  • Also, with Final Cut Pro X, you don't have to continually pay a monthly fee as you do with Adobe CC products... definitely a win.
I briefly experimented with Adobe Premiere but wasn't crazy about the user interface. I'm so used to Final Cut Pro X and it's become such a mainstay for me that I saw no need to pursue an alternative. Final Cut Pro X certainly delivers worlds above your customary free editing software (imovie, PC free equivalent) and is easy to figure your way around if one is fairly new to the non-linear editing process. It would be nice if it was as easy to move around individual windows in the program like you can with Premiere Pro but the windows within the program are much less adaptable in this way. Also, with Final Cut Pro X you don't have to continually pay a monthly fee as you do with Adobe CC products.
Most of the support I need, I find online. While Apple has a Q/A section on their site, it's not always beneficial in answering the questions that I have. With that said, they regularly update the software, and when updates lead to crashes, they usually have another update not far behind.
Michelle Green Arnson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 5 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Final Cut Pro X to create videos for marketing, fundraising, donor engagement, and grant applications, but the software is used by only one employee (me) for all those different purposes. Final Cut Pro X allows us to create professional-quality videos to showcase our work, convey our impact, and attract new funders.
  • I really like the color correction capabilities within Final Cut Pro X. I think, even if you were new to it, that tool would feel pretty intuitive.
  • Sorting through and filtering different types of clips, photos, etc. is simple and straightforward. I especially love being able to hide things that have already been used in my timeline.
  • For my current purposes, being able to export straight to YouTube is surprisingly helpful. I can set privacy settings from Final Cut Pro X so a video can upload and be available only to the intended viewers, OR to any supporter looking at our YouTube channel.
  • I am NOT a fan of the text tools. I find the options oddly and unnecessarily restrictive, and not every title tool works the same or offers the same setting choices as others. It's sometimes easier to generate titles elsewhere and import them.
  • I don't love the library/project/event structure. It has always felt like a weird mashup of iMovie and prior versions of FCP, and it just feels needlessly complicated. I'd like to have more flexibility in my content management structures.
  • Coming from older Final Cut Pro versions, Final Cut Pro X has a way of making me feel kind of dumb. Keyboard short cuts aren't what my fingers expect them to be, tools aren't where I think they should be, and other similar mismatches. Some of this can be customized, and much of it is just an old dog needing to re-learn tricks.
I would only recommend Final Cut Pro X to a colleague in a similar position if they had previous experience with video editing and/or they REALLY wanted to learn a professional program for kicks. The fact is, most of what I use it for could be done with iMovie or a similar consumer-level program, but I find it beneficial to keep up professional editing skills with this higher-end, more complicated software.
  • We are regularly lauded for our high-quality videos by donors and prospects, which greatly improves our standing in their eyes.
  • Our Final Cut Pro X-created videos have contributed to our receiving large grant awards.
  • Our videos have been shared and promoted by similar organizations, which has improved our standing in our field and adjacent fields.
I have hated iMovie since its inception. This probably says more about me, but I've never been able to figure out how such a simple piece of software can make me feel like such a dope! It's certainly improved over the years, and I have even used it in a pinch when I didn't have my own laptop handy, but it still feels clunky and low-quality when I compare it to Final Cut Pro X.

I used to work in Premiere but I had no interest in (and my organization wouldn't support) moving to a cloud-based editing tool.
Apple offers decent support, but if you're really stuck go to Twitter or various online forums. There are HUGE numbers of very avid Final Cut Pro X editors who will gladly talk through any issues you might have, point you in the right direction on the forums, and even help you troubleshoot. The community is great.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I work on a team of five creative storytellers and we use Final Cut Pro X to edit our stories. It is a phenomenal tool that has such ease of access across each individual. We can all work on each other's projects while another person is out of the office because of how easy it is.
  • Ease of editing and layout.
  • Color Correction is simple.
  • My favorite it editing multicam clips.
  • I wish that the color correction was automatically placed on clips.
  • When I import it automatically adds a LUT that I do not need.
  • I wish it was a little easier to incorporate graphics. Adobe has it good with the suite.
It is quick to pick up and a very powerful tool. I can work on my desktop, in an editing studio, or right on my laptop while on a plane. All I need is my hard drive and I can use Final Cut Pro X anywhere. The versatility is amazing. I do wish there were some more third party applications that would work well with it.
  • It is very cheap. We purchased it once and edit 3 videos a day to share to millions of people.
  • It does cost extra if you want other software to function with it.
  • I like that I can use it across multiple computers.
Final Cut Pro X is much easier to navigate and more user-friendly than Adobe Premiere. It is something a beginner can pick up and have an easy time editing, and then an experienced pro can really dig in and make something amazing out of it. Premiere can be a train wreck from the get-go.
They are always updating and adding more amazing features. While they update, it is very easy to update all the project files as well. I love the continuous improvements they are adding to the software. They are very responsive if there are any questions or any help needed.
Horacio Carcamo | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Final Cut Pro is a video editor software that can edit any type of video, the only other thing you need is your creative instinct. We use it mainly for social media promotions editing, this can include products or service and it really helps because we avoid sending it to a studio or somewhere more expensive.
  • Comes with state of the art transitions which are easy to use and include in your project.
  • It has a great light and color correction toolbar.
  • You can edit up to 4K videos, it all depends on how fast your Mac is.
  • You will have a large number of plugins and add-ons.
  • It lags when a project is very extensive (20 min or more of 4K).
  • Layout is still outdated, it would work well with a new layout that could give a better comprehension of the features.
  • The timeline can be a little uncomfortable if it has different sources (several video and audio entries).
Final Cut Pro is perfect for video editing. I think that is where it stands out. What I wouldn't recommend to use Final Cut Pro for is photo editing, since this software does not come with the adequate features for a photo editor. Overall Final Cut Pro is a great software that gives a lot for the value.
  • Has saved us on professional editing which turns out to be expensive.
  • Further training is needed so it can take time to have the correct personnel managing this software.
  • The features that come along with the software has helped us avoid purchasing equipment to solve issues that can be fixed in the software.
I find that Final Cut Pro has a better way of understanding its feature. It is more user friendly when it comes to insert transitions or any other effect. Also, the price makes a difference compared to the others. The way you edit in Final Cut Pro is different than how you edit on other software, meaning that its easier.
5
2
  • Product video editing.
  • Upgradable resolution for visual merchandising.
  • Audio edit.
  • Transform 1080p into 4K ability.
  • Reach out to more customers by video platform media.
  • Help others to create content.
  • For audio editing.
  • Color balance edition.
  • Diversify in product content creation.
No
  • Price
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
  • Third-party Reviews
I would focus first in the reviews before my purchase. The purchase process for Final Cut Pro was based on recommendation of the sales clerk, which it really was a good recommendation but we didn't have the opportunity to analyze or try out the other video editor software that were out on the market.
  • Implemented in-house
Change management was a big part of the implementation and was well-handled
  • Lack of knowledge of the UX.
  • Cost of getting add-ons (effects, transitions).
  • Time spent in training.
Implementing Final Cut Pro into the organization was a smooth transition from what we didn't had. We felt we went from zero to hero with this software, due to all the great features that we learned. We took some time in training staff on how to use the software but at the end, this was very useful and important.
  • In-person training
  • Self-taught
Easy to learn, no. But I would totally recommend this product for video editing. Even if it takes a lot to learn, this product is worth a lot to have. It eases the video editing role in a graphic or video designer making the person work with efficiency and quality in edits.
Very easy to configure. It does not require technical knowledge or special coding for configuring this product in your system. The configuration is like any other software only that the difference is putting your own settings and how likely you would like the product to be specific to what you want to edit.
Not really, its just configuring like any other software.
No - we have not done any customization to the interface
No - we have not done any custom code
No, other than mention that the configuration for this software is very easy. It does not require high-end knowledge for configuring it.
Customer service is very knowledgeable about what your problem is and they take your time to resolve any issue that you might have. I had an opportunity to call to resolve a problem, and the interaction with the rep was very nice and interesting, definitely went above and beyond.
No
Yes, I called for a key frame issue I was having, and the support team was very kind and took my issue with priority. They tried everything to resolve the issue that I had to share my screen so they could get into my computer, which I don't usually do, but I felt confident giving them that access.
  • The effects and transitions are very easy to use, usually it's drag and drop.
  • The color board feature helps you fix low quality video.
  • The way you add media to a timeline is very convenient as you only drop it into the timeline.
  • Key frames are very hard to understand and use.
  • Audio edit might become a little bit confusing when starting to use it.
  • Features for speeding or slowing media is quite difficulty to apply.
No
Final Cut Pro is a great software package for editing, and obviously, good things require training to understand and comprehend what your are editing. I do not give a 10/10 because it would be easier to have a comprehensive manual inside the software, rather that researching or getting yourself trained.
No
  • Change in the media edit.
  • Different actions in edit, like effects.
  • Layout is not that different, which is good.
  • Smooth performance.
  • Diverse features.
  • Up-to-date plugins and add-ons.
No
No
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