Apple has released a new version of its Final Cut Studio software suite that includes an update to Final Cut Pro complete with new ProRes codecs and support for AVC-Intra.

Final Cut Studio features Final Cut Pro, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, Color, and Compressor.

Final Cut Pro version 7 expands Apple’s ProRes codec family to support most workflows and includes Easy Export for one step output to a variety of formats.

The following have been added:

  • ProRes Proxy, for offline and mobile editing at low bandwidth.
  • ProRes LT, for general purpose editing.
  • ProRes 4444 for editing and visual effects at the highest quality possible.

The Easy Export feature allows users to continue working on projects while encoding is done in the background and the sequence is exported to YouTube, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, DVD or Blu-ray.

While iChat Theater support allows real time collaboration by sharing Final Cut timelines or individual source clips with iChat users anywhere in the world, even if they don’t have a copy of Final Cut Pro.

Other new features include new speed tools to change clip speed, alpha transitions to create dramatic effects using moving mattes and native AVC-Intra support for Panasonic camera footage.

The new Final Cut Studio is available for £799 through the Apple store and as upgrade for £249.

Apple has also released a version 1.5 of its Final Cut Server which can now create edit proxies automatically using the new ProRes 422 (Proxy) format.

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