Universal Applications
- Final Cut Express 4 and LiveType 2.1 are Universal applications; they run on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Mac computers.
Input and Capture
- 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 organising clips as they are captured
- Log and Transfer window for naming, adding comments to, organising 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 organisation
- Clip organisation in the Browser using extensive search and sort capabilities
- Clip labels for organising 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
Editing and Timeline
- Mix DV (NTSC and PAL) and HD formats in the same Timeline
- Non-destructive 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
Trimming
- Ripple, roll, slip and slide
- Asymmetric, multitrack trimming
- Dynamic JKL trimming
- Trim Edit window
- Timeline trimming
- Keyboard and numeric trimming
Output
- 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
Streamlined Workflow
- 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
- Customisable real-time effects settings
- Customisable render settings
- Customisable window arrangements
- Customisable user interface buttons
- Customisable Browser layouts
- Customisable track layouts
- Custom, independent track heights in the Timeline
Media Management
- 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
Transitions, Filters and Effects
- More than 200 transitions, filters and effects
- Unlimited effects favourites
- 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 customising 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, optimising 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
Titling
- 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
LiveType 2.1
- 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 customisable 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

Compositing
- 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
Colour Correction
- Secondary (two-way) colour corrector
- Image control filters
- Broadcast-safe filter
- Correction for flesh tones and other key elements
- Colour mixing for visual style
- Footage matching from different sources for consistency
- Error correction in colour balance and exposure
Audio
- Up to 99 total audio tracks per sequence
- More than 25 audio filters, including three-band and parameter equaliser, compressor/limiter, 60/120Hz hum remover and noise gate for soundtrack quality control
- New Soft Normalise 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
* AVCHD video requires a Mac with an Intel processor.
