Don’t let the numbering idiot you. Simply as is the case with Apple’s Mac working system, seemingly minor numerical will increase in model numbers truly denote main adjustments and enhancements, and Closing Lower Professional X (FCPX) 10.four actually delivers on this entrance.

The large banner replace is assist for 360-degree video editing. Apple is taking part in catch-up with Adobe on this one, and it’s clear there may be rising curiosity in such footage, even supposing the standard continues to be not fairly there but – nevertheless it’s nice that FCPX editors can lastly work with such clips natively.

They will see and manipulate the shot straight from throughout the interface, and in addition hook up a digital actuality headset to the Mac to expertise the footage because it’s being edited. You’ll be able to apply particular 360-degree titles and particular results straight from FCPX, however in the event you’re into creating your individual, you’ll be happy to be taught that Movement, FCPX’s visible results companion app, has additionally been up to date to completely assist this format.

Shade us excited

Nevertheless, we’re extra enthusiastic about all the brand new colour correction instruments at our disposal on this contemporary incarnation of Apple’s video enhancing software program. Model 10.three was no slouch when it got here to grading and colour correction, however there are a lot of new welcome additions in 10.four, from redesigned colour wheels to guide white stability (why did it take this lengthy to implement this primary perform, particularly because it was already in iMovie for Mac?) and the addition of colour curves which you’ll management with ease to be able to get simply the look you’re after.

Let’s not neglect the added assist for Look Up Tables (LUT) to make it a lot simpler to import and apply particular customized seems to be all through your undertaking or chosen clips, nor full assist for Excessive Dynamic Vary video (HDR).

One other puzzling ‘why did it take so lengthy’ second comes with the introduction of straightforward importing of iOS iMovie initiatives. As you’d count on, FCPX caters for a lot of various kinds of cameras, however because the outdated saying goes, usually the very best digicam in your arsenal is the one you could have with you, and now, not solely are you able to shoot along with your iPhone, you can begin your edit with iMovie on that machine and transfer your undertaking to FCPX when you get again to your Mac. Should you began your enhancing steps in iMovie for Mac, that migration path continues to be there.

Talking of various kinds of digicam, FCPX can now deal with full 8K decision footage – so long as you’ve bought an iMac Professional to work on. The entire program has been absolutely optimized to benefit from the uncooked energy supplied by Apple’s newest , however FCPX may also work extraordinarily effectively on older machines. We examined it on a three-year-old 2.5GHz Intel Core i7 MacBook Professional, and other than enhancing 360-degree footage which it struggled to do in real-time, it carried out completely.

Some will argue that plenty of what Apple has added in model 10.four was already out there by using third-party plugins, and Apple is merely seeing what’s widespread and cannibalising the impartial market. That is nothing new from any software program developer, and but we nonetheless have a big and thriving marketplace for add-ons and plugins.

Irritating glitches and omissions

What’s far more irritating is that glitches we’ve got skilled in model 10.three have nonetheless not been mounted, like a undertaking not saving colour matching we had utilized to clips, so the subsequent time we opened the work, every thing needed to be redone.

For all its new options, there are nonetheless some evident omissions. This replace is clearly centered on the visuals, and including assist for codecs which might be rising in affect. Audio work continues to be not superb inside FCPX. In fact, you possibly can carry out plenty of audio changes, enhance the sound, apply results, and so forth, however that is on a clip-by-clip foundation.

Except you compound your audio clips, you can’t as but create total audio controls and results, and if you open the compound clip to tweak an edit, you can’t hear any adjustments made to the entire nest of clips till you get out of it. There are workarounds which largely contain altering your workflow to swimsuit, however typically adjustments need to be made out of the same old set sequence of occasions, and you then battle with FCPX’s present audio talents (or lack thereof).

One other desperately wanted function is a capability to collaborate, and have a number of folks work on the identical undertaking on the similar time. Years in the past, this gave the impression to be an space Apple was going to give attention to with the introduction of Closing Lower Server, however that providing rapidly disappeared and we’re nonetheless left with no straightforward means for editors to work collectively.

Granted, it’s a vastly extra difficult prospect than collaborating on a Pages doc, however this can be a sorely wanted function for individuals who work on a undertaking with others, and such an replace can’t come quickly sufficient.

Clearly one other failing which can by no means be addressed is the actual fact FCPX solely works on a Mac. PC customers are completely out of the loop on this one. If you would like FCPX, you need to purchase a Mac.

However there’s a particular upside – all of the updates to FCPX since 2011 have been free. It’s not sure how lengthy this case will final, however for now, you solely need to pay $300 (£300, or €330). There’s no month-to-month or yearly subscription, only one preliminary outlay, and every thing else is free (other than the Mac , after all). That’s a value which may be very onerous to beat for a really secure, feature-rich and versatile video editor (although like each different app on the market, it’s imperfect and incomplete).

Should you already personal this software program, end your present undertaking after which don’t hesitate to replace your copy. Should you’re interested by Closing Lower Professional, Apple affords a free 30-day trial version you need to use to get a style of what this video enhancing app is all about.

Closing verdict

FCPX 10.four will appease nervous customers, and exhibits that Apple continues to be strongly dedicated to the skilled video enhancing market. The brand new additions on this main replace construct on an already spectacular listing of options, and execs of all ranges will discover one thing to get enthusiastic about – though there are nonetheless glitches and omissions which want consideration.

Notice: You’ll be able to try our previous review of Final Cut Pro X 10.0.3 here