Actually we are going to take a further look back with a webpage of every FCP version. This video from 2003 has some very interesting facts, figures and faces from 2003 to start it all off.
We thought we would start off with this video from MacVideo that first aired at NAB 2003. We were there at the SuperMeet when about a hundred people showed up. How things have changed, the last SuperMeet had 1700 editors getting a first look at FCPX!
Take a look at this video though from about 3'33 onwards. How many of the comments still hold true today?
FCP goes back a few years before 2003, we all know that it started off long before its first release in 1999.
Text wise, the best description of its birth can be found in the history section in Wikipedia.
We prefer the two video interviews with Michael Wohl (shown left) that not only describe FCP's beginnings, but also go on to tell how Bruce the Yak became a very famous Easter egg within the program.
Sorry we can't embed those for you but the author has toggled that feature off :(
Wouldn't it be really cool if you could look at all of Apple's Final Cut Pages through time? Well you can thanks to the Wayback Machine archive. Enjoy watching your favourite editing program's evolution!
Final Cut Pro (April 1999)
Final Cut Pro 1.2.5 (November 2000)
Final Cut Pro 2.0 (April 2001)
Final Cut Pro 3.0 (December 2002)
Final Cut Pro 4.0 (April 2003)
Final Cut Pro HD (April 2004) 4.5
Final Cut Pro 5 (April 2005)
Final Cut Pro 6 (April 2007) Final Cut Studio 2
Final Cut Pro 7 (July 2009) Unofficially Final Cut Studio 3
Thank you to Simon Kirkby for doing the early years research.
One of the contributors in the 2003 video, Michael Vitti sadly died on the first day of NAB 2009.
I am the Editor-in-Chief of FCP.co and have run the website since its inception ten years ago.
I have also worked as a broadcast and corporate editor for over 30 years, starting on one inch tape, working through many formats, right up to today's NLEs.
Under the name Idustrial Revolution, I have written and sold plugins for Final Cut Pro for 13 years.
I was made a Freeman of Lichfield through The Worshipful Company of Smiths (established 1601). Though I haven't yet tried to herd a flock of sheep through the city centre!
Current Editing
2020 has been busy, the beginning of the year was finishing off a new property series (cut on FCP) for Channel 4 called The Great House Giveaway. I also designed and built the majority of the graphics as Motion templates. It has been a great success and the shows grabbed more viewers in the 4pm weekday slot than any previous strand. It has been recommissioned by C4 for 60 episodes, including prime-time versions and five themed programmes. The shows have also been nominated for a 2021 BAFTA.
Although both were postponed to later in the year, I worked again on ITV's coverage of the Tour de France and La Vuelta. 2020 was my 25th year of editing the TdF and my 20th year as lead editor. The Tour was the first broadcast show to adopt FCPX working for multiple editors on shared storage.
BBC's Snooker has played a big part in my life, I've been editing tournament coverage since 1997. I'm proud to be part of a very creative team that has pioneered many new ideas and workflows that are now industry standard in sports' production. This is currently an Adobe Premiere edit.
Covid cancelled some of the regular corporate events that I edit such as trade shows & events. I was lucky however to edit, from home, on projects for Amazon Kindle, Amazon Black Friday, Mastercard and very proud to have helped local charitable trust Kendall & Wall secure lottery funding.
As for software, my weapon of choice is Final Cut Pro and Motion, but I also have a good knowledge and broadcast credits with Adobe Premiere Pro, MOGRT design and Photoshop.
Plugin Design & Development
I'm the creative force behind Idustrial Revolution, one of the oldest Final Cut Pro plugin developers. It hosts a range of commercial and free plugins on the site. One free plugin was downloaded over a thousand times within 24 hours of release.
I also take on custom work, whether it is adapting an existing plugin for a special use or designing new plugins for clients from scratch. Having a good knowledge of editing allows me to build-in flexibility and more importantly, usability.
FCP.co
Now in its 10th year and 4th redesign, running FCP.co has given me knowledge on how to run a large CMS- you are currently reading my bio from the database! Although it sounds corny, I am pretty well up on social media trends & techniques, especially in the video sector. The recent Covid restrictions has enabled live FCP.co shows online. This involves managing a Zoom Webinar through Restream.io to YouTube and Facebook.
The Future
I'm always open to new ideas and opportunities, so please get in touch at editor (at) fcp.co. I've judged film competitions, presented workflow techniques to international audiences and come up with ideas for TV shows and software programs!
