Hot news indeed. This plugin gives editors direct access to Baselight functionality within Final Cut Pro. You can render the Baselight settings within Final Cut or export them as an XML list to load into a Baselight system. Could this just last 4 days before the new FCP is announced?
There are two ways to look at this news. Either it is designed to work just in FCP7 or looking ahead there will be some amazing integration into the new FCP. Our money would be on the former and priced at 'less than' $1,000 it is going to be a tough sell against the existing colour correction products, including a new Color possibly.
Here is the press release from today:
LAS VEGAS—9 April 2011— At NAB 2011, FilmLight is previewing a new Baselight colour grading plugin for Apple® Final Cut Pro®. The plugin is aimed primarily at smaller editorial and post-production facilities, and indie filmmakers, providing them with sophisticated colour grading functionality from the industry’s leading system.
FilmLight will be previewing Final Cut Pro and all their latest developments on StandSL7920. It will also be hosting in-depth demos of the new developments in the Paramount Room at The Renaissance Hotel.
Baselight for Final Cut Pro is not merely a port that uses the Final Cut Pro interface. Rather, it provides editors with access to Baselight functionality directly within the application. Editors can grade projects and then either render within the host application, or export thegrade as an XML list—with all metadata preserved—to a full Baselight system for final adjustments and rendering. Similarly, grades prepared in a Baselight suite can be exported seamlessly to Final Cut Pro for conform and final editing.
Baselight for Final Cut Pro provides additional cost savings in that it is compatible with AvidMC Control and MC Transport panels. It does not require FilmLight’s Blackboard control surface.
“Baselight for Final Cut Pro provides smaller facilities with an inexpensive way to expandor upgrade their service offering with a brand that has become synonymous with high quality colour grading,” said FilmLight co-founder Wolfgang Lempp.
Lempp added that Baselight for Final Cut Pro can also serve as a low-cost prep station forlarger facilities with full Baselight systems. In such cases, it will be a huge improvement over current methods that rely on colour decision lists (CDLs ) to exchange grade databetween editorial and grading suites. The system can also serve as a training tool for colourists and assistants.
The plug-in marks the start of an initiative designed to make Baselight’s advanced functionality directly available within third party applications. In future, the technology behind Baselight for Final Cut Pro could be applied to other editing systems, as well as to visual effects and compositing systems.
FilmLight expects to release Baselight for Final Cut Pro this fall. Pricing has not been setbut will be less than $1,000.
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!
