Final Cut Express 4.0
Now you can edit like a pro with Final Cut Express 4. Start by capturing DV, HDV and AVCHD footage or import your movie from iMovie ’08 — and discover the advanced moviemaking power at your disposal in the new, open format Timeline. Ready for still more? Add dynamic titles and graphics using LiveType. Final Cut Express 4 delivers all the tools you need to make great movies.
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Overview
Advance your moviemaking.
Work with DV, HDV, or AVCHD footage — or all three — in a single Timeline, sculpting your video quickly and precisely using pro-level editing and trimming tools. Final Cut Express 4 supports a virtually unlimited number of video tracks, lets you add amazing real-time special effects and transitions, and provides powerful color correction and matting tools.
Take the next creative step.
Send your iMovie '08 projects to Final Cut Express 4. Then take advantage of its additional creative options — professional editing tools; the new, open format timeline; hundreds of real-time effects and transitions; animated titles; and multiple video and audio tracks — to create more sophisticated projects.
Add dazzling titles.
Quickly and easily create dynamic, animated titles for your next video project using LiveType 2.1 and its revolutionary LiveFont animated font technology. Tight integration means that when you make a change, LiveType projects automatically update in Final Cut Express 4.
Mix sound effects and voiceovers.
Mix up to 99 audio tracks in your movie, and further enhance your audio with real-time volume and audio filter adjustments. For documentary-style projects, use the voiceover tool to record narration in an audio track while your video plays.
Share your movies.
Author a DVD using iDVD, export your movie in QuickTime for your website, or send it back to your camcorder or deck for a fast connection to your HDTV home theater system.
What's New in Final Cut Express 4
- • Ability to import iMovie '08 projects
- • Editing of AVCHD, HDV and DV — NTSC and PAL — in a single Timeline
- • AVCHD support (Intel-based Mac computers only)
- • Support for FxPlug third-party plug-ins
What Comes with LiveType 2.1
- • More than 200 customizable text effects
- • 500MB of royalty-free animated content
- • Sophisticated project templates
- • FontMaker utility for creating custom LiveFonts
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What's in the box
- • DVD containing Final Cut Express 4, LiveType 2, and LiveType content
- • Electronic documentation
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System Requirements
- • A Mac computer with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core Duo 2, or Intel Xeon processor
- - For AVCHD: A Mac computer with an Intel processor
- • 1GB of RAM or more
- • An AGP or PCI Express graphics card compatible with Quartz Extreme; or an Intel GMA integrated graphics processor in a MacBook or Mac mini computer
- - Some FxPlug filters are not compatible with integrated Intel graphics processors.
- • A display with 1024-by-768 resolution or higher
- • A DVD drive for installation
- • Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later
- • QuickTime 7.2 or later
- • 500MB of disk space to install Final Cut Express and LiveType
- • Additional 500MB to install LiveType content
* Upgrade information: Requires a previous commercial version of Final Cut Express (version 1, 2, 3, or HD 3.5) for installation. Academic and not-for-resale versions are not eligible for this upgrade.
Most Useful Reviews
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Final Cut Express 4.0
Ok, so it's not perfect...
Written by RJ from Lincoln
31-Dec-2007
But I doubt apps like Final Cut Pro are, either. In all honesty, this app gives you one of the best insights into professional video editing at a VERY reasonable price. And most of the problems you get in this software can easily be worked around, just like in the real video editing world.
For instance, today I couldn't import an AVI file made on my PC (I couldn't import it into any Mac application - it was corrupted in my Mac's opinion) but my clunky old PC could play it and import it with no problems (since it made it). So I imported it into a program on my PC, converted it into WMV and with Flip4Mac which I bought the other day for £20 (A must have for those of you who work with PCs and WMVs), I imported my WMV and managed to create a pleasing video whilst having a great time doing it. I didn't want to stop.
This product, in my opinion, is perfect. Couldn't ask for anything more... other than maybe a stretch tool, as the Speed/duration tools can be a but imprecise if you don't want to do a lot of counting... and maybe Soundtrack, back? But for the price, you really can't complain and Garageband does the job.
On the whole, an excellent app that takes very little adjusting to to get a good result. A lot of features and options with little bloat, and the video tutorials on apple.com help a lot, too. This isn't software for the average Joe - that's why you have iMovie. This is for the guy who is pretty (or deadly) serious about video editing but either doesn't need FC Studio or can't afford it. Really,a must buy for anyone looking into serious Video editing and has a Mac that at least meets minimum requirements.
Oh, and Live Type is brilliant too. Unlike what it implies in the name, you can also animate objects other than text, making it almost like a mini Motion or After Effects. It just makes this sweet deal even sweeter. …More456 of 618 people found this useful
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Final Cut Express 4.0
Go to an Apple shop 1st.
Written by AW from Stanford-le-Hope
11-Aug-2008
Before I parted with my cash I went into an Apple shop last Thursday and had one of the staff show me the basics and specific things that I wanted to achieve. I spent about 45 mins. with them and now (Monday) I am on my third short movie edit, it has been a breeze. This software has given me so much more freedom than iMovie ever did and now I can get my edits looking the way I want them to, really quickly. It's also bundled with Live Type which is great at creating animated titles, I think FCE4 its an absolute steel.
So my advise is... buy this if you want professional looking edits for a bargain, but get someone in an Apple shop to show you how to use it first, you won't regret it. …More224 of 231 people found this useful
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Final Cut Express 4.0
Final cut express 4
Written by PM from conwy
21-Nov-2007
Quick delivery and easy install ,I use FCP5 at work and it seems very easy to switch between the two.
I like the way it can read I-Movie EDLS.You will need an Intel mac for the newer AVCHD camera format.Runs fine on a dual 2.0 G5 with 1 gig ram.Guess it has less in the way of livetypes as the install size is smaller than FCP5 .No printed manuals , but all are included as PDFs.
I think it's good value for what you get.
Loads of FCP books available.Be creative ! …More300 of 449 people found this useful
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Most Recent Reviews
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Final Cut Express 4.0
Perfect software
Written by AN from London
26-Sep-2009
At this price you will get a full featured editing software. Compared to PRO, you have ALL the tools, filters and possibilities you need as serious amateur or aspiring filmmaker. If you don't use multicam setups, XDCAM or other pro formats you will never need FC Pro.
Oh, and by the way the review written by EK earlier is totally inappropriate. FCE does handle AVCHD in FULL HD size. Learn to use the software, dude. …More31 of 31 people found this useful
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Final Cut Express 4.0
FCE4
Written by DM from Clevedon
23-Sep-2009
I am a complete amateur/novice.
Having invested in 3 PCs and countless hours on helplines- all ending up with programme stability and driver compatability issues, started over from scratch with Mac.
After 2 succesful attempts with imovie, felt the need for a metered timeline. Viisted an apple store to check compatabilty with my camera & purchased FCE4. Used the online tutorials and the occasional forum to get me through the sharp learning curve.
First project entailed downloading from Mini HDV & DV tape (Canon HD10) Direct from Sony TG7. VHS & Beta through an analogue converter and mixing in Quick Time movies - all within the same project.
Export for archiving to external hard drive & Mini dv tape. Burning to DVD for current use as well as ipod & Youtube.
FCE4 has enabled me to edit film clips, sound tracks and titling with much greater accuracy & precisicion than imovie and allows me to develop technical ability at my own pace. …More15 of 16 people found this useful
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Final Cut Express 4.0
Excellent (except for the output options )
Written by TC from bracknell
09-Aug-2009
FCE 4 is brilliant stuff. Very stable. You do not need to understand all of it to make it work well as there are several ways to do any task. Once you have moved up from i-Movie you will not wish to return. Imports AVCHD fine from my Panasonic HCD SD 200. However as this camera will not record other than 'through its lens' ( hardly the fault of FCE !! ) you have to go through the tortuous process of burning back to DVD, which for HD is a lengthy task! If FCE would go direct to DVD it would be 'smoother'. FCE also strips off the Dolby 5.1 ( But am I bovvered?? ) The Full screen cinema playback is a good feature not featured on earlier FCE versions. If you are thinking of moving into HD camera may be a good idea to get a DV tape model with firewire whilst they exist !!!! …More
29 of 33 people found this useful
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Questions & Answers
Most Interesting
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If I want to work with the Green-screen effect, would that program come with this Final Cut Express Package
- Asked by ZR from Denver
- 06-Oct-2009
Best Answer
I know that you can. I googled it and hundreds of tutorials on how to do it showed up. that is the same reason I want to buy it too. …More
- Answered by TP from honolulu
- 13-Oct-2009
- 6 of 6 people found this useful
- 1 more answer
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I'm having trouble with poor video quality from iMovie. Will Final Cut Express be any better?
- Asked by BW from Gladwyne
- 11-Oct-2009
Best Answer
...sorta.
It depends on what you mean by video quality, and it depends on how you view or export your movies.
FCE has more tools for tweaking your videos, so you might get more "viewability" by adjusting your video. FCE also allows you more export options... it supports raw DV export and can also read back your video onto a MiniDV tape or back to your camera at full quality, iMovie 09 can not.
However, the primary measure of video quality will always be the camera you are shooting with (and your microphone). Exporting video from iMovie 09 can, indeed, reduce quality... in my opinion, the designers of the program crippled it a little bit. But that won't make any difference for a YouTube video, or even for the videos you burn to DVD, in most cases.
End result: If you're just making basic movies, in most situations FCE will not improve video quality and you should save your money for a new HD camera. …More- Answered by DB from Colchester
- 12-Oct-2009
- 14 of 17 people found this useful
- 1 more answer
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A dealer told me that I need to buy the Final Cut Studio first before I buy FCE. Is this true? FCE is just an upgrade?
- Asked by KG from Metro Manila
- 11-Nov-2009
Most Recent
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I want FCE but I already have FCP Studio. Is there a path to doing this that doesn't involve a whole new purchase, but some sort of upgrade?
- Asked by PI from Burbank
- 25-Nov-2009
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Will Final Cut solve my problem with importing MTS-file from my Sony SR7-camera
- Asked by HV
- 25-Nov-2009
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Can Final Cut Express open a project created in Final Cut Pro (minus any Final Cut Pro-specific features?)
- Asked by DW from Crozet
- 24-Nov-2009
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what's the difference between final cut express and final cut studio
- Asked by RI
- 23-Nov-2009
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Does Final Cut Express 4.0 support plug-and-play for the Sony PMW-EX1?
- Asked by AB from orem
- 23-Nov-2009
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I record on Canon Camera in 1080 HD Mov Format, Will FCE 4 edit in full HD then render final edit for HD upload to YouTube?
- Asked by JW from denny
- 22-Nov-2009
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Does this work with FLIP video AIV format - imovie does so I would assume this would work as well?
- Asked by AM from San Francisco
- 22-Nov-2009
