Thoughts on the 10.1.4 Update to Final Cut Pro X

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Sudd

Yesterday, Apple updated Final Cut Pro X to version 10.1.4.

Here is a summary of what’s new in version 10.1.4:

Native MXF import, edit, and export with Pro Video Formats 2.0 software update
Option to export AVC-Intra MXF files
Support for import and editing with Panasonic AVC-LongG media
Fixes issues with automatic library backups
Fixes a problem where clips with certain frame rates from Canon and Sanyo cameras would not import properly
Resolves issues that could interrupt long imports when App Nap is enabled
Stabilization and Rolling Shutter reduction works correctly with 240fps video

Apple also released the Pro Video Formats 2.0 software update, which provides native support for importing, editing, and exporting MXF files with Final Cut Pro X. While FCP X already supported import of MXF files from video cameras, this update extends the format support to a broader range of files and workflows.

For more information about the new MXF support, read: http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT6423

MORE DETAILS

Immediately after the release, my email lit up with people worrying that the limited new features in this update indicated a lack of interest by Apple in the application. Editors are an impatient bunch.

Keep in mind that this is Apple’s fifth free release in the past 12 months. The 10.1.2 update – which included significant enhancements to libraries, real-time LUT support, OS X Yosemite compatibility, ProRes 4444 XQ, and more – was less than six months ago.

Expanding on the bullet points above, the FCP X 10.1.4 release features key performance improvements including resolving an issue with automatic library backups; I’ve heard about that from a number of users. In addition, the new update introduces support for the AVC-LongG format. A relatively new format from Panasonic, AVC-LongG is part of the AVC Ultra family and provides high quality, high efficiency recording at smaller file sizes. It is being integrated into a number of Panasonic’s pro cameras and video recording devices, which are popular with broadcasters.

NOTE: AVC-LongG support is one of those features that you need if you own Panasonic gear and don’t care about in the least if you don’t.

This brings me to Apple’s Pro Video Formats 2.0 update. This provides native support for import, editing, and export of the increasingly popular Material eXchange Format (MXF). MXF is heavily used in pro video environments for editing, file delivery, and archiving. It’s specified as a delivery standard for European broadcasters, and it’s used as the audio and video packaging format for Digital Cinema Package (DCP).

While many US editors work with ProRes, the new MXF support is a significant upgrade for the video editors and facilities who work with that format. Many of these users are in Europe, where MXF is a delivery standard.

In the past, similar MXF support in FCP (Final Cut Pro 7 or Final Cut Pro X) required the purchase of expensive third-party plug-ins. MXF support is now built directly into not only Final Cut, but also Motion and Compressor and other media tools via today’s update, so editors can work seamlessly with other video products and platforms.

SUMMARY

Our industry is evolving at an incredible pace. All of us have our own wish list for Final Cut. Mine includes better collaboration support for small groups, improved audio mixing, better integration between FCP, Motion, and Logic, and improved speed and performance for Compressor. I’m sure your list is equally long and demanding.

None of these requests will surprise Apple. They are continuing to add staff to the Final Cut team and continue to aggressively improve the product. This was “only” a dot.dot.x release – principally bug fixes and performance improvements – with continued support for new codecs, cameras and workflows. It wasn’t intended as a major release.

There will be much more to come. Apple is not turning their back on the application, but releasing new updates and upgrades essentially every few weeks.

The recent growth of Premiere Pro and rapid development cycles from Adobe are an excellent incentive for Apple to keep pace. Competition is a wonderful thing.

Look at where we are today. Look at where we were a couple of years ago. The difference is pretty amazing.

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35 Responses to Thoughts on the 10.1.4 Update to Final Cut Pro X

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Tony Gallardo says:

January 2, 2015 at 7:37 pm

Larry, i currently have fcpx 10.1.4 installed with pro video formats also installed, on an iMac 27″, ( late 2013) running os x yosemite, 10.10.1
i would like to know if this new pro video formats will allow me to capture the files from my mrc1 ( compact flash files m2t files)unit directly to fcpx without having to use a 3rd party transcoder like claptrap.
Thanks for you time , as i have spent the last 2 weeks researching and reading and am unable to make this work.
tony
Larry Jordan says:

January 3, 2015 at 9:00 am

Tony:

Apple publishes a list of supported cameras here: http://help.apple.com/finalcutpro/cameras/en/index.html?

The best thing to do when trying to figure out if a camera will work with the software is check this list.

Larry
Dave F says:

January 29, 2015 at 12:18 pm

Hello From Las Vegas
I am stuck and would appreciate any help that I can get. I am using the latest version of Final Cut Pro x on my iMac. I have videos taken on my Canon HF G10. I have processed the files through Wondershare and made them a .mov and a MP4 file. I can’t get Final Cut Pro to use them in a project. I do not know what I am doing wrong. Would someone direct me to where I can get help with this. I have been working on this for 2days
Thank You
Dave F
Fahrnyteam@yahoo.com
702-400-7668
Larry Jordan says:

January 29, 2015 at 12:30 pm

Dave:

If your camera is a Canon VIXIA HF G10, that camera is supported natively by FCP X. You don’t need to convert the files.

Simply copy the entire contents of your camera card to a single folder on your hard disk, then import from there.

You can see the entire list of supported cameras here:
http://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/resources/

Larry
Dave F says:

January 29, 2015 at 12:45 pm

Thank You so much! I was making it harder than it was.
I do watch all your training videos on your site. I am a subscriber.
Dave F
Oksana says:

February 9, 2015 at 5:55 am

Hi Larry,

Thank you for all the work and your great sense of humor with which all your videos are done. 🙂
I am not a pro video editor and I’m learning new things every day.

It seems I’ve rushed into updating my OS with Yosemite and now, every video I make is broken (picture jumps and looks like old TV) . All the original media is good, while I edit it it’s good, but when video is rendered in final version some broken bits are suddenly appearing. I’ve tried everything. I’ve got ssd with OS and I applied all remedies you were talking about in your SSD-Yosemite problems article. So it’s trimmed.
My FCX libraries are on other internal HD and FC is on SSD. Any suggestions for a reason it happens?
(there is enough of space for rendering on both HDs)

Any suggestions are welcomed, as I’m becoming more desperate with every day. 🙁

Thank you,
Oksana
Larry says:

February 9, 2015 at 7:01 am

Oksana:

Hmmm… Well, first of all, the TRIM function is not causing this problem, I don’t think. If the original media is good, and editing is good, but final playback is bad, that would tend to rule out Trim.

Try changing render settings using File > Project Properties. Try sharing using a different video format. See if the errors occur in the same place each time, or different places.

I don’t know what’s causing this, yet. But one of those steps might help.

Larry
Bob says:

February 15, 2015 at 2:29 pm

I’ve been working with a FCP tech for a week now on an audio waveform issue that started immediately after upgrading to Yosemite and FCP X 10.1.4 No solution yet.

Waveforms are not drawing or are incomplete. Anyone else have this problem?
Simone says:

February 19, 2015 at 11:40 am

Hi Larry!

Thank you so much for your article. I was hoping to see if anyone else was experiencing the strangest bugs — I’m running Final Cut Pro 10.1.4 on Yosemite, and some clip transitions aren’t working (they default to a cross dissolve), and the app itself isn’t in the Applications folder! I can only access it via Launchpad (and because I installed it in my Dock). It’s not anything major, but incredibly weird!

Thanks!
Simone
Simone says:

February 19, 2015 at 11:49 am

Update: Found the app; our IT guy installed it in some random folder. Gah!