bit-tech Shopping: Apple Final Cut Studio 2

• Audio Editing/Capture
• Video Editing/Capture

• Mac OS X v10.4 (Tiger)
• Mac OS X v10.5 (Leopard)

• Intel Core Duo
• PowerPC G4
• PowerPC G5

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: user interfacefast learning curveamount of programs and features

Weaknesses: printed documentation and user manuals

Summary: One of the absolute best editing products on the market. You will be hard pressed to find another product that gives you as much bang for the buck. Comes with several programs that will allow you to take a project from beginning to end. You can edit your video in Final Cut Pro, compose a music score in Soundtrack Pro, create graphics and effects in Motion, adjust the color of all of your shots in Color, and finally, author your DVD in DVD Studio Pro. The simple user interface allows one to immediately start working and learn as they go. Even someone with no previous experience could begin editing in a few hours. Despite the simplicity of getting started, the programs have a depth of features which truly make it a professional product. My biggest knock is the lack of printed user manuals provided. A complete set is provided for Final Cut Pro, but I wish a complete guide for DVD Studio Pro, Motion, Soundtrack, and Color would have been included as well. There are however PDF versions of the user manuals included on the install discs.