Apple has just announced Final Cut Studio 2, a significant upgrade to one of the industry’s leading video production suites. With brand new creative tools designed expressly for film and video editors, Final Cut Studio 2 includes Final Cut Pro version 6, which introduces Apple’s ProRes 422 format for uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes. Also included in this release is support for mixed video formats and frame rates in a single Timeline; Motion 3 featuring an intuitive 3D environment, paint, and new behaviors; Soundtrack Pro 2 with dozens of innovative tools for multitrack editing and surround mixing; Compressor 3, which delivers powerful batch encoding for multiple formats with a single click; and DVD Studio Pro 4.2 for SD and HD DVD authoring. Final Cut Studio 2 also introduces “Color,” a professional color grading and finishing application for ensuring consistent color and creating signature looks. Expect it to ship sometime in May, so start saving your loose change right now!
