10.4.9
Final Cut Pro X 10.4.9 released in late August, 2020 is the 33rd update of the application, over eight months since the last update, with significant enhancements that require library updates. The most important new features are enhanced proxy workflows for easier collaboration and tools for automatic cropping of projects for vertical and square social media formats. There are enhancements to ProRes RAW workflow and a few new features including the long awaiting audio crossfades.
Proxy Upgrades
Until now proxies had to be created in Final Cut and stored in a special location. Now proxies can be created in multiple formats and sizes, and proxies from other sources can be used in FCP. Proxies for FCP can also be created in the new version of Compressor with new Proxy presets. By the way Compressor now lets you apply LUTs, for conversion from HDR to log, for camera LUTs, and even adding custom LUTs. Proxies can now be either ProRes Proxy or H.264 and created in various sizes. The only requirements for proxies still are that the files must be exactly the same in length to the frame as the original, use the same frame rate, and have the same audio channel configuration. With these options available you can create proxies of different sizes and codecs for use in the same project. Long interviews can be compressed more, other clips can use ProRes Proxy at the native size for virtually indistinguishable files.
Now when you select Transcode Media and use Proxy files you have choices.
You can choose between ProRes Proxy, better quality, but larger file, or H.264, smaller compressed files. You can also pick the size of proxy you want.
These proxy size and codec settings are also available in the Import window. If you’re working in a Wide Gamut library using HDR material, any proxies will be created in ProRes Proxy. You’ll get a warning dialog if you try to make H.264.
In the View popup menu in the Viewer there are now two proxy options, Proxy Preferred or Proxy. If you use Proxy Preferred, you will still see original or optimized files, unless proxy files are available, in which case they’ll be used. If you export from Proxy Preferred, you will still get the warning that you’re exporting proxy quality media.
Proxy media can now be stored wherever you like. In addition, if you use the shortcut menu for Reveal in Finder you now also have the option to Reveal Proxy Media in Finder. In addition, in the File>Relink function you now have an option for Relink Proxy Media. So a collaborator can send you a folder of small proxy files, and you can relink the to the files in that folder for proxy editing.
If you are now working in a project with proxy files, the application will automatically switch to proxy rendering.
There are also tags above the Viewer and in the Inspector that will indicate when you’re looking at proxy media. The frame resolution displayed is the original media, but the tag tells you that the playback file probably isn’t.
The application will keep separate sets of render files for proxy and for original/optimized media. Normally rendering will still default to ProRes 422.
Another interesting feature is the ability to use Delete Generated Clip Files. From the File menu you can now delete generated files, optimized or proxy for selected clips.
To create a proxy only library start by creating an event in which to put the media and projects you want to work in proxy format. If you don’t have proxy media already, create it for the clips in the event, using any codec and size you want. Once that’s complete use File>Copy Event to Library>New Library. When you do this a new dialog appears that lets you select proxy only and assign where it will be stored. Check the note that says this proxy functionality included non-proxy media like stills, audio, video with transparency in addition to the proxy files. This is only included in this copy function; it is not included when you use consolidate to consolidate proxies to a new location.
As part of the new proxy workflow there is also a new feature that you can, by right-clicking on the library or by using the File menu, copy a library to either an existing library or to a new library.
Social Media Projects
You have been able to make custom projects in vertical or square aspect ratio, but not these features are built into the project pane. In addition existing projects can be convert to these formats. First, you’ll want to use overlays to make sure your titles line up. You’ll need to add the overlay using View>Show in Viewer>Choose Custom Overlay>Add Custom Overlay. This is also in the Viewer’s View menu. But first you have to create the overlay, which is a 16:9 graphics file with the central vertical of square area. The wonderful guys at Ripple Training, Steve Martin and Mark Spencer, (https://www.rippletraining.com) have created a pair that you can download. You can download it through this link https://bit.ly/3jo7vy3. Once you’ve added the overlays they are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/ProApps/Custom Overlays. In the Viewer View popup you can set the transparency of the black area. Here it’s set to 50%, but 75% usually works better.
To create a social media format project after you’ve edited your standard 16:9 project, use a new feature where you can select an existing project and use a new Duplicate Project As function.
Notice the checkbox for Smart Conform. This has to be checked on or the vertical or square will not be set to cut the aspect ratio. When duplicated the project will use smart AI to analyze the project content and select what it thinks is the center of interest and what you want to be within the boundaries of the new format.
Smart Conform is clever but it’s not a genius. It will not, for instance, track a subject as they move across the screen. You can fix this my animating the Anchor point of the clip, not Position. Turn on the Transform function in the Viewer and use the new button in the upper left that allows you to see the entire frame.
If you need to shift the clip in the Video inspector Transform section change the X value of the Anchor point and uses keyframes to animate it if necessary.
If you add additional clips to the project, select them and use Modify>Smart Conform.
Duplicate As is also useful if you want to reframe media by putting your project in a lower resolution project, or if you want to export multiple resolution master files.
There’s also a new special title category for Social designed specifically for use on mobile devices for social media platforms.
ProRes RAW Controls
New to 10.4.9 is that ProRes RAW files now give you controls to adjust ISO, Exposure, and Color Temperature. Now instead of using RAW to Log conversion together with a Camera LUT, you have ISO, Exposure Offset, and Camera Color Temperature controls. You access these in the Video inspector in Settings.
Because HDR video like ProRes RAW is blown out in standard Rec. 709, the controls need to be adjusted. Set the ISO option down to lower the white level. Expoure Offset will fine tune the ISO setting, unfortunately the control is not real time in Waveform or Viewer, so it requires a little hunting and pecking. There’s also a Temperature slider to adjust color hue. For some reason not all cameras will show a Temperature slider. All these adjustments can be made to the clips in the Browser before adding them to a project.
Other Enhancements
An audio improvement that’s long been asked for is the ability to add Audio Crossfades. Now you can select two adjacent clips in the primary or a secondary storyline and press Option-T or use Modify>Adjust Audio Fades>Crossfade. Nothing seems to happen but a crossfade is created. Double click the audio portions of the clips to expand them and you’ll see the overlap and the fades. There are now new Editing preferences that lets you set Crossfade default durations in addition to Audio Fade durations. The default crossfade is quite short, ideal for removing clicks at cut points. To make the crossfade you must have handles on the clip or the fade won’t be added; the clips will not be pulled up like a video transition.
A really useful new feature in the project timeline is the ability to close the open project or to close other open projects. In addition to the backward and forward buttons that access menus you can use a popup that lets you access multiple options, including close other projects, and close the open project. Using them both, will clear the Timeline pane of all content. Not a bad idea if you’re shutting down a complex project and don’t need to have it reload when you relaunch the application.
In the Browser in List view there is now a column for Last Modified that can be added to the display.
Finally, there are enhancements to 360 productions. There’s stabilization for 360 clips. There are also new 360 presets for 5K and 7K. In addition there are new modes in the 360 Viewer for viewing stereoscopic projects.
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