Final Cut Pro 11 Introduced – Magnetic Mask, Transcribe to Captions & More

by Heath McKnightToday

Apple has unveiled Final Cut Pro 11 with AI-enhanced features, including Magnetic Mask and Transcribe to Captions. Spatial video editing for Vision Pro has also been unveiled. Let’s dive into the latest version of Final Cut Pro!

Final Cut Pro 11 – features

After 13+ years as Final Cut Pro X (10) and over 25 years since its launch, Apple has unveiled version 11. They have focused on enhancing the editor with new features and the use of AI.

One new feature is Magnetic Mask, which will isolate people and objects from the background. This eliminates the need for shooting on a green screen or time-consuming rotoscoping.

Another is Transcribe to Caption, which uses AI to automatically create closed captions by analyzing audio using Apple’s trained language model. This feature is another time-saver and one that other NLE’s offer, including DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, and VEGAS Pro.

Finally, Final Cut Pro 11 includes spatial video editing for Apple Vision Pro. Import, edit, color grade, add VFX and titles, and export stereoscopic video captured with the Vision Pro, iPhone Pro 15 (or later), or a supported third-party camera. You may recall FCP began supporting 360° and stereoscopic with version 10.4 in late 2017.

A deeper dive into the new features of Final Cut Pro 11:

• Magnetic Mask: This new feature is enhanced by AI and allows editors to isolate people and objects from the background of your footage. This allows for backgrounds to be replaced without the need for rotoscoping or filming with a green screen. Magnetic Masks can be combined with VFX and color correction for further customized looks.
• Transcribe to Caption: Final Cut Pro 11 will analyze dialogue in a project via AI and Apple’s language model and generate captions automatically.
• Spacial video editing for Apple Vision Pro: Footage captured with the Vision Pro (or iPhone 15 / 16 Pro or supported third-party camera) can be imported and edited. Effects, graphics, VFX, and titles can be added, then the project is exported for Apple Vision Pro users. Editors can also fine-tune right-eye and left-eye angles. Apple says there is a special, native visionOS Vimeo app that will debut this year, giving more options for Vision Pro content.

Other Final Cut Pro 11 features:

• Edit, add effects, and playback more streams of 4K and 8K ProRes footage at full resolution with Apple silicon (including the new M4 Apple computers).
• Enhance Light and Color can be selected to automatically improve the color, contrast, brightness, and color balance of footage or stills. Powered by Machine Learning.
• Voice Isolation enhances speed, optimizes levels, and removes background noise using AI.
• Quickly and automatically sync audio and video and multiple angles with Multicam, then switch when playing back.
• Smooth Slo-Mo can create slow-motion video using an AI-enhanced algorithm.
• Support for professional color correction, audio, and graphics.
• Additionally, Final Cut Camera 1.1 for iPhone and iPad can shoot 4K ProRes Log footage in HEVC and be added to Final Cut Pro 11.

Price and availability

Final Cut Pro 11 for desktop is available now from the App Store. It remains a free upgrade for current FCP customers and still retains the $299 price. Apple offers a 90-day free trial, as well.

Apple hasn’t raised the price of Final Cut Pro since ver. X debuted in 2011, nor have they required paid upgrades, despite speculation over the years. FCP ver. 1 to 7 cost $999 and required paid upgrades. While FCP for iPad is subscription-based, the desktop version is not. This positions Apple well against competition from Adobe Premiere Pro and Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve, which offers a free version.

Your Mac will need to be running macOS 14.6 or later, have a minimum of 8GB of RAM (Apple recommends 16GB or more), and have at least 5.9GB of space for the software. For some features, you’ll need Apple silicon and macOS Sequoia (ver. 15, the latest release). Visit Apple’s Final Cut Pro page to learn more and download the free trial.

Apple also introduced Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.1 and Final Cut Camera 1.1, both of which have new features and updates.

What do you think of the new release of Final Cut Pro? Do you use FCP as your daily video editor? Let us know in the comments below!