Final Cut Pro X: One Week Later

Around this time last week, Apple launched its next generation video editing software Final Cut Pro X. Debuting at an attractive price point and promising an array of impressive enhancements, many users snapped up the Mac App Store exclusive on its first day of availability. Many, expecting the software to logically build on its predecessors while simultaneously introducing a slew of slick new features, were shocked—even appalled—upon launching the app for the first time.

On the official Final Cut Pro X product page, Apple markets the software with the slogan “Everything just changed in post.” Having been in the wild for more than a week, the general consensus among the well established FCP community is that everything just changed too much! Pro level users were quick to identify the software’s extremely limited tape support, lack of multi-cam and missing OMF, EDL and XML export. Perhaps the most staggering exclusion of all—especially for veteran FCP users—there is no support for projects created in earlier versions of Final Cut Pro.

While toting itself as a more modern piece of software, these notable omissions created a user backlash against FCPX almost overnight. In its first 24 hours of availability, preliminary five and four star App Store reviews were met with a flood of scathing one stars. YouTube roasts, rants and parodies surfaced immediately and even Conan O’Brien lampooned the software on his eponymous television show.

What initially seemed a passing phase or period for legacy users to adjust, only grew worse as the week drew on. By the time the weekend rolled around, Apple had a PR crisis on its hands and was even rumored to have frozen App Store reviews for the software to quell the tide of negative press.

Though a minority of users have acclimated themselves to the new software, the opinions surrounding it this week are still highly negative. Sensing the need for immediate action, Apple has taken two steps to appease the hoards of angry AV geeks calling for its squib packs of blood—anyone?

Many FCPX users are reporting Apple has breached its own App Store policy of “all sales final” and has begun issuing full refunds to dissatisfied users upon request. Claiming a special “one time exception,” some unhappy early adopters have reported success after thoroughly discussing their issues with Apple Support representatives.

Apple has also posted an official FAQ page in an attempt to better clarify the software’s limitations and reassure concerned users that updates are in the works. Though the page is fairly transparent, it’s clear Apple’s motive is to pull itself out of a nosedive as all answers are deliberately framed with a positive “markety” slant.

Have you purchased and downloaded Final Cut Pro X? If so, what are your impressions of the software? Do its current limitations affect you or your job? How much experience do you have with previous versions of the software and video editing in general? Let us know with a comment.