Final Cut Express 4 - Old Version

by Apple

Product Features

• Edit quickly and precisely with professional, flexible editing tools;
• Achieve the look you want with a robust suite of color correction and image adjustment tools
• Mix and edit DV, HDV, and AVCHD video in a single Timeline; mix up to 99 audio tracks with built-in audio editing tools
• Work with built-in filter effects and third-party FxPlug plug-ins; watch effects in real time thanks to RT Extreme with Dynamic RT
• Import iMovie '08 video projects with cuts and cross dissolves

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2.1 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000Z3DXT2
• Item model number: MB278Z/A
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 6, 2007
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,246 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #26 in Software > Video & Music > Video Editing & Effects > Video Editing

Product Description

Amazon.com

Discover powerful video editing for DV, HDV, and AVCHD. Final Cut Express 4 delivers a single, open format Timeline where you can edit all three, mixing formats and frame rates using the same pro-level editing tools available in Final Cut Pro. Import video projects directly from iMovie '08. Take advantage of LiveType to create dynamic, animated titles. Built-in audio controls let you mix up to 99 audio tracks—even add a narrative voiceover. Perfect your movie with professional transitions and effects, including optional third-party FxPlug plug-ins.

Final Cut Express 4 delivers advanced editing tools in a highly accessible, all-in-one package. Click here for a larger image

Edit like a pro. Final Cut Express 4.

Top Features

• Edit quickly and precisely with professional, flexible editing tools
• Mix and edit DV, HDV, and AVCHD video in a single Timeline*
• Watch effects in real time thanks to RT Extreme with Dynamic RT
• Import iMovie '08 video projects with cuts and cross dissolves
• Precisely adjust the animation of any effect or transition using keyframes
• Achieve the look you want with a robust suite of color correction and image adjustment tools
• Work with built-in filter effects and third-party FxPlug plug-ins
• Easily create sophisticated, animated titles with LiveType 2.1
• Mix up to 99 audio tracks with built-in audio editing tools

AppleCare Support

In the United States and Canada, new registered users of Final Cut Express 4 receive 90 days of complimentary software installation support via telephone. In addition, Apple offers a range of support options, including AppleCare Professional Video Support, which provides one year of direct access to Apple's Professional Application Support team. For more information about AppleCare video support services, visit www.apple.com/support/products/provideo.html.

Related Products

Edit on the road with a MacBook or MacBook Pro. In the studio, do your editing on an iMac or Mac Pro with a fast Intel processor. Equip your Mac Pro with an ATI Radeon X1900 XT or NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 graphics card for faster rendering of FxPlug filter effects. Then connect a second 20-, 23-, or 30-inch Apple Cinema Display and edit videos full screen.

*AVCHD video requires a Mac with an Intel processor.

Product Description

Discover powerful video editing for DV, HDV, and AVCHD. Final Cut Express 4 delivers a single, open format Timeline where you can edit all three, mixing formats and frame rates using the same pro-level editing tools available in Final Cut Pro. Import video projects directly from iMovie 08. Take advantage of LiveType to create dynamic, animated titles. Built-in audio controls let you mix up to 99 audio tracks even add a narrative voiceover. Perfect your movie with professional transitions and effects, including optional third-party FxPlug plug-ins. AVCHD video requires a Mac with an Intel processor.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

182 of 185 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Upgrading from iMovie? Read this April 15, 2008

By mregisterga

Final Cut Express is a very powerful video editing package. If you are thinking about making the step up from iMovie (as I did), you need to understand that the level of sophistication and power in this package is exponentially greater than that of iMovie. If your video editng experience is limited to iMovie, don't expect to be able to install FCE and be off and running in an hour or two. You'll need to plan on investing some real time to learn the program.

This is in no way a criticism of FCE - it is as advertised, a "light" version of Final Cut Pro, which is used by professionals everywhere. I just want your expectations to be set properly. You'll need to invest in a third-party manual, as only soft copies of documentation are included, and they are for reference only, not for training. Just be CERTAIN that the manual you get is for the FCE 4 - there aren't many available as of this writing.

FCE is a very expansive and powerful program; just don't expect the type of plug-n-play results you got from iMovie. You'll need to spend time to understand the numerous differences in how iMovie and FCE operate.

88 of 91 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product April 10, 2008

By Chris P. Kunicki

This is a great product for the money. I have used a few editing programs on Windows and also iMovie extensively ('08 and older). While I like iMovie, I was looking for just a little more control. So i bought this program.

At first, the interface seemed a bit dated (in comparison to Aperture, itunes, imovie, etc). However, after using it for a few hours I cam to realize the interface is very functionality and componetized based on task. I actually grew to appreciate the logic of the interface with use. So don't be scared away by this simple thing.

Second, I hate having to learn new editing software. Personally, I don't think any of my iMovie knowledge transferred between programs. They are not in any way the same. However, I was able to compose a 2 hour DVD (with about 5 unique segments) in about 4 hours. I also spent an additional 2 hours familiarizing myself with the concepts and features of the program. So this isn't bad. In a few hours I had good video, edited, with nice transitions. I exported everything and created the DVD in iDVD. All this worked wonderfully together.

I highly recommend this program to those who plan to do a lot of video editing. iMovie is great if you want to create a few simple one-off movies. However, if you have larger projects and want to be guaranteed you have control, go with this program.

The only thing I wish is that the DVD came with a video tutorial. I think the idea of EXPRESS means it does appeal to newer users and possibly those new to video editing. Some tutorials would go a long way. [...]

109 of 115 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Apple Removed Good Features March 1, 2008

By K. Hughes

Apple removed from Final Cut Express 4 some of important features contained in the previous version, Final Cut Express HD 3.5. Macworld identified "a pair of significant omissions." The most significant one for me is removal of Soundtrack, a program for scoring movies with music. Apple may want us to make do with GarageBand, but Soundtrack is better geared toward the job of creating a (you see it coming) soundtrack. Compared to GarageBand, Soundtrack "offered more options and better performance" (Macworld). Is it unreasonable for a consumer to assume that Apple would design version 4 of a program to be better than version 3.5, rather than stripped of valuable capabilities? (The other significant loss is a reduction in the number of animated LiveType fonts.)
Final Cut Express is a good program, just not as good, in a couple of very important ways, as it used to be.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars EASILY the best editing software in its price range June 17, 2009

By Presas

I recently graduated from film school and am certified by Apple as an FCP 6 "Pro."

After graduating, like many a film student, I found myself in a tricky sitaution. I was broke (in debt) and had no equipment to practice my newly mastered craft on. I didnt have any interest in working crew in hollywood. I didnt have any interest in taking an internship (hey, i went to art school becuase i DON'T want a 9-5 gopher job!) I wanted to self sustain on my skills until the "right chance" came up, and if it never did, i wanted to at least be able to pay my bills doing what i love.

But a decent HD camera runs at least $3,000. A decent audio package, $1,000. And Final Cut Pro? $1,500. I knew i just didnt have all that money yet, and likely wouldnt until I had a job and could save it all up.

There were cheap options. iMovie was included free on my mac...why not give it a try?

Allow me to say that once you have used Final Cut, iMovie is unusable and will never "Do" again. iMovie didnt give me the editing control I really wanted and too many of the controls just seemed counter intuitive.

Then I decided to buy FCE 4, and it changed everything. I started it up, and it FELT very very familiar. I uploaded some of my old footage that i wanted to re-cut and got right to work!

granted, there are quite a few tools and features on FCP that you won't find anywhere on FCE, but i think in the realm of pro quality consumer use FCE proves MORE than adequate.

Today, I am an "indie filmmaker" who pays his bills doing various types of freelance work (Weddings and the like)with the occasional narrative or documentary project and FCE is still 100% adequate for my uses....

i WILL be upgrading to FCP6 this year, but make no mistake, FCE was a lifesaver. If you want to get into making your own movies, and want to teach yourself in a way that you WILL actually use if you ever get into the professional world, FCE is the perfect tool. Read more ›