Software Review:
Apple Final Cut Express 4 Video Editing Software (page 2)

Once we have all of our elements (organized, of course) inside FCE4, we start to cut and assemble our video clips. Thanks to Apple's new feature that allows different types of video to be cut side-by-side, we don't have to worry about resizing our video. Our standard definition video is automatically scaled up to fit in our HD project. Our Photoshop PSD files are accepted on our timeline with their layers intact. FCE4 imports a PSD file into the Project window as a Sequence. The Sequence is added to the Timeline as a clip, where each layer is given a video track. When we add non-widescreen DV in with our wide HD video, the DV appears with a ‘pillarbox'; where a vertical black bar is added on either side to fill in the gaps. A nice example of FCE4's feature set resides in the toolbox. These are the same industry-proven tools that come with Final Cut Pro 6, including Ripple Edit, Blade, and Pen tools. We used the Pen tool to add audio keyframes right on the Timeline, along with motion keyframes to our video. The result? Our video zooms away as the corresponding audio fades down into the end credits. Another effect we add to our video is a Color Correction filter. This visual-based effect features a window with two colorful wheels in which you can adjust the white balance of a clip, among other things. It's effective and fun, allowing for a high degree of creativity for those who explore it.

Although Soundtrack, Apple's mid-level audio editing tool is gone from the bunch, LiveType 2 is around and kicking. We picked out some moving text, called Live Fonts, which can dance or blow up or scroll. There are a myriad of different backdrops too, all user adjustable and able to be tweaked from the stock look (quite edgy) into more organic-looking images. We can choose HD 1080, HD 720 or DV LiveType 2 projects for direct import into Final Cut Express 4.

Overall, Final Cut Express 4 serves as a solid editing tool and a great stepping stone from iMovie to FCP. Although Soundtrack is no longer a part of this sleek bundle, Final Cut Express 4's price drop helps make-up the difference. With its support for AVCHD and other popular high-definition video formats, including many top features found in Final Cut Pro 6, Final Cut Express 4 is a perfect editing application for most semi-pro editors.

OS: Mac OS X v10.4.1 or later
Minimum CPU: 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 or higher(Intel processor for AVCHD)
Min. RAM: 1GB
Min. Hard Drive: Space for Installation 500MB for applications, 500MB for additional LiveType content
Minimum Display: 1024 x 768 resolution
Import/ Capture Formats: DVCAM, NTSC DV, PAL DV, AVCHD (720p and 1080i), HDV (720p and 1080i), PSD, BMP, JPEG, PICT, PNG, SGI, TARGA, TIFF
Batch Capture: No
User Interface: Project Browser, Viewer Window, Canvas Window, Timeline Window, Audio VU meters, Tool bar, Customizable button bars.
Number of Video Tracks: 99
Number of Audio Tracks: 99
Nesting Support: Yes
Audio/Video Level Envelopes: Yes
Audio Scrub: Yes
Keyframe Animation: Yes
Number of Video Transitions and Filters: 200+
Real-time Software Previews: Yes
Third party Plug-in Support: Yes
Encoding Formats: DV, Apple Intermediate Codec, Any QuickTime file format, including MPEG-4

• User Interface.
• Color Correction.
• Broad HD video support.

• Intel Mac required for AVCHD

Apple continues adding top features to their Mid-level video editing application; Final Cut Express 4.

Andrew Burke has worked in all areas of video production on three continents.

Apple, Inc.
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
www.apple.com

$199 ($99 Upgrade from any previous version of Final Cut Express)

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