| Final Cut Express 4 - Part Numbers | |
| Retail | MB278Z/A |
| Upgrade from Final Cut Pro | MA339Z/A |
| Academic | MB279Z/A |
• A Mac computer with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, or Intel Xeon processor
• For AVCHD: A Mac computer with an Intel processor
• 500MB of disk space to install Final Cut Express and LiveType
• Additional 500MB to install LiveType content
• 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
• Final Cut Express 4 and LiveType 2.1 are Universal applications; they run on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Mac computers.
• Plug-and-play support for most DV25-format camcorders and decks: MiniDV and DVCAM (NTSC or PAL)
• Plug-and-play support for most HDV-format camcorders and decks: 720p, 1080i
• Plug-and-play support for most AVCHD-format camcorders and decks: 720p, 1080i*
• FireWire device control of most FireWire-equipped MiniDV camcorders from such leading manufacturers as Sony, Canon, Panasonic, and JVC
• Capture window for naming, adding comments to, and organizing clips as they are captured
• Log and Transfer window for naming, adding comments to, organizing, and transferring AVCHD clips
• Incremental clip naming during capture when a recording break is discovered
• Still image importing for PSD, BMP, JPEG, PICT, PNG, SGI, TARGA, and TIFF formats
• iMovie ’08 file import with cuts and dissolve transitions
• Bins for project file and sequence organization
• Clip organization in the Browser using extensive search and sort capabilities
• Clip labels for organizing and sorting clips
• Master and affiliate clip relationship for automatic update of certain properties of a clip, such as clip name or reel name, within the current project
• Up to 32 levels of undo
• Mix DV (NTSC and PAL) and HD formats in the same Timeline
• Nondestructive editing references original video to prevent alteration of source footage
• Editing palette for most-used functions, enabling one-click, pro-style edits
• Drag-and-drop editing
• Editing in the Timeline
• Three-point editing model
• 99 video tracks with support for nesting sequences
• Support for multiple sequences and projects for creating alternative edits or breaking projects into smaller pieces
• Insert and overwrite with or without transitions
• Replace, fit to fill, and superimpose edits
• Blade and Blade All tools for adding edit points to sequences
• Extend and split edits for additional editing options
• Sync detection and correction to compensate for audio and video tracks that slip out of sync
• Active track targeting for specifying individual or multiple tracks to apply edits or protect from editing
• Auto Select controls of specific tracks in the Timeline for track content selection via In and Out points in the Timeline or Canvas
• Keyframe graphs
• Track locking
• Timecode or frames in the Timeline
• Clip, sequence, scoring, chapter, and compression markers
• Clip and sequence marker export to LiveType for titling
• Chapter marker export to iDVD
• Custom, independent track heights
• Autosave Vault for saving projects at specified intervals to prevent accidental loss
• Ripple, roll, slip, and slide
• Asymmetric, multitrack trimming
• Dynamic JKL trimming
• Trim Edit window
• Timeline trimming
• Keyboard and numeric trimming
• Print to Video command for recording a sequence or clip back to DV or HDV device
• Footage looping for multiple outputs on the same tape
• Sequence, scoring, chapter, and compression markers
• Marker export to DVD Studio Pro for chapter and compression settings
• Project export using any QuickTime file format, including MPEG-4, for distribution via email or the web
• Digital Cinema Desktop for full-screen, real-time preview playback
• Full Unicode support
• Dynamic window resizing
• Mode-free interface for workflow efficiency
• Simultaneous opening of multiple sequences and projects
• 99 audio and 99 video tracks with support for nesting tracks together
• System and user preferences
• Easy Setups for quick configuration
• Customizable real-time effects settings
• Customizable render settings
• Customizable window arrangements
• Customizable user interface buttons
• Customizable Browser layouts
• Customizable track layouts
• Custom, independent track heights in the Timeline
• Extensive search and sort capabilities in the Browser
• Clip labels
• Custom comment fields
• Master and affiliate clips
• Move, copy, and transcode capability at sequence or project level
• Autosave Vault
• More than 200 transitions, filters, and effects
• Unlimited effects favorites
• Over 50 new FxPlug filters and effects from Final Cut Pro
• Support for third-party FxPlug filters and effects
• Copy and paste capability for motion and effect attributes
• Bezier curves for motion paths
• Keyframe control of all effects and filters for precise results
• Precision numeric controls for effects and animation
• RT Extreme for scalable, software-based, multistream real-time effects
• Safe and Unlimited RT Extreme modes for customizing performance versus quality tradeoffs
• RT Extreme quality settings: low, medium, high. Low setting for maximum simultaneous real-time streams and effects; high setting for full-resolution output for finishing directly to DV or HDV device
• Dynamic RT for automatic adjustment of image quality and frame rate on the fly, optimizing playback, and scaling performance as processor power increases
• Opacity overlays in the Timeline for adjustable, keyframable opacity
• Direct-to-Timeline drag-and-drop integration of Motion projects
• Auto Render option
• Broadcast-safe filter
• 2D and 3D titles with Boris Calligraphy
• Composite and transfer modes
• Standard and scrolling text generators for creating titles that crawl, scroll, or appear in the lower third of the screen
• Option to combine titles with other filters, effects, and compositing for unlimited creative expression
• Boris Calligraphy plug-ins for 2D and 3D titles
• Non-Latin alphabet characters and symbols with full Unicode support
• Animated title and motion graphics creation
• Unicode system font support
• 500MB of royalty-free animated content, including over 50 background textures and objects
• Sophisticated project templates
• More than 200 customizable text effects
• Keyframe animation
• Real-time wireframe preview
• Canvas RAM preview
• Import capability for a wide variety of formats
• Independent and scalable resolution
• Dynamic individual character control
• Animation for rolls and crawls
• Type on a curve capability
• FontMaker utility for creating custom LiveFonts
• Drag-and-drop integration to Final Cut Express 4 Timeline with auto-updating
• Nesting for virtually unlimited compositing layers for complex video effects
• Adobe Photoshop file import, complete with layers for effects and motion graphics
• Bezier curves with movable motion paths for animation application and control
• Ease in/Ease out motion paths for smooth compositing animations
• Time effects, including slow motion with frame blending, for smooth, time-altered playback
• Accurate subpixel interpolation rendering for smooth, high-quality effects creation
• Composite modes including multiply and lighten
• Flicker filter for incorporation of still frames from video
• Secondary (two-way) color corrector
• Image control filters
• Broadcast-safe filter
• Correction for flesh tones and other key elements
• Color mixing for visual style
• Footage matching from different sources for consistency
• Error correction in color balance and exposure
• Up to 99 total audio tracks per sequence
• More than 25 audio filters, including three-band and parameter equalizer, compressor/limiter, 60/120Hz hum remover, and noise gate for soundtrack quality control
• New Soft Normalize and Gain filter
• Real-time fader automation
• Real-time audio filters and effects
• Real-time audio filter adjustments during playback
• Subframe audio keyframing to 1/100th of a frame
• Sampling at 8kHz to 48kHz and 8 to 24 bits
• Audio level meters
• Mac OS X Audio Units plug-in support
• Pan controls
• Mute and solo controls
• Audio waveform display in the Timeline
• Logarithmic audio fades
• Scrubbing with or without pitch shifting
• Voice Over tool for adding narration directly to the Timeline
• Audio level overlays viewable in the Timeline
• No re-rendering required when muted tracks are reactivated