2 minute read
While there are many uses for the new Apple Vision Pro, the thought of editing video with your hands via AR is very intriguing. Will Apple release a version of Final Cut Pro that is ready for Vision Pro? Heath McKnight reckons they should…
There have been some persistent rumors and reports that Apple will release a version of Final Cut Pro for the Vision Pro. It’s not a surprise and was one of the first things I thought of when watching Apple’s demo video of the gentleman doing work with the Mac Virtual Desktop with his hands and the Vision Pro. After all, it was only after years of rumors that Apple finally released a version of FCP for iPad, and that’s been a success. So it makes sense for it to debut it a bit more quickly on its latest device.
You'd likely be able to view footage and make cuts in Final Cut Pro using eye movement and gestures, though pairing the Vision Pro with a Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard will go a long way to making the rig even more usable.
Filmmaker Matti Haapoja was one of the first people to try an Apple Vision Pro back in June 2023, and said it will feel like the editor is in the scene, not just watching it on a monitor or two. Extending that forward, a fully immersive experience while cutting might lead to an even greater understanding of the story beats, emotions, plot points, etc. As Matti said, we'll finally be cutting footage, Minority Report-style.
Taking it forward, if Final Cut Pro on the Apple Vision Pro is a hit for editors and filmmakers, it’s a safe bet that other companies will follow suit, if they aren’t already developing versions. I’d imagine Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Avid, and perhaps even some VFX apps could be available for AR cutting. As of now, no one is talking, but it would be a huge surprise if something wasn’t underway somewhere.
What about the downsides? That’s about the device not the software. The Vision Pro is big, bulky and heavy, and the battery isn’t that great. Some people may have eye issues with it due to the technology. Even as Apple releases smaller versions in the future with improved battery life, you’ll be wearing a pair of glasses (or an extra pair) while cutting. It reminds me of the time nearly 15 years ago when editors would wear 3D glasses to properly cut native stereoscope. After a while, it just got old wearing them.
Looking at the Vision Pro I'm not sure if I'd be wanting to wear it for longer than 20 to 30 minutes at a time. And even with a fully AI-assisted edit package, there’s not a lot you can do in 20-minute chunks…
AR goggles will likely remain very niche as far as entertainment goes, and be better suited for practical applications such as medical (including med school and learning surgery), engineering, general education, and, yes, editing. And to be fair, that’s the segment of its users that Apple is targeting initially. All the same, Mark Gurman says that inside sources at Apple Stores indicate that returns are running at or above average for the company. Obviously, not everybody is convinced.
Mark said he kept his and uses it to write articles. Will anyone be using it for editing soon? We’ll need the applications first. And of course there might then be a phase of editors buying one and taking it back themselves after a couple of weeks saying ‘thanks but no thanks’. But you get the feeling that it would certainly be fun to try…
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