Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Express?

Introduction

Apple Computer revolutionized the digital video editing industry with its competitively priced, Emmy-award-winning Final Cut Pro (FCP) software. Striving to bring professional-level non-linear editing to a broader audience, Apple stripped some features out of FCP and reduced the price, creating a repackaged product that they dubbed Final Cut Express (FCE). The interfaces of the two products are remarkably similar. If you learn FCE, you know FCP. Also, both programs can seamlessly share clips and project files. If one doesn’t require any of the features that are unique to FCP, FCE can be a compelling choice.

Pricing

	Retail	Individual Education	Institutional Education
Final Cut Pro	$999	$499	$299
Final Cut Express	$299	$249	$149

Feature Comparison

1. Final Cut Express is DV only (NTSC and PAL frame rates only, no 24fps support).
2. Final Cut Pro supports 3rd party capture cards.
3. Final Cut Pro supports timecode, Final Cut Express does not present timecode information to the user.
4. Final Cut Pro allows you to LOG and capture. (No logging in Express.)
5. Final Cut Pro includes support for RS-422 control.
6. Pro users can use OfflineRT, Express can not.
7. Pro includes three-way color correction and other advanced tools that Express does not.
8. The keyframing model is substantially different in Express. Only Motion tab items can be keyframed. Filters cannot.
9. Final Cut Pro has a Media Manager, Express does not.
10. Final Cut Pro supports EDL I/O.
11. Final Cut Pro can be extended with Cinema Tools.
12. Final Cut Pro includes Audio OMF export.
13. Pro supports Edit To Tape and Insert editing.
14. Pro can do a Batch Export.
15. FXScript is not in Express.
16. AE plug-ins are not in Express.
17. Undo: FCP = 99, FCE = 32.

Bottom Line

The most significant difference between the two programs lies in their handling of effects. Final Cut Express has omitted certain major filters (such as Color Corrector 3-Way) and removed the ability to keyframe (animate) effects. While the inability to animate effects may not deter the casual user, the omission of Final Cut’s most powerful color correction tool should be considered a major loss. The fact that Final Cut Express is DV-only limits the equipment that is compatible with the program, making it difficult (or expensive) to capture footage from a non-DV source such as a VHS tape.

In the retail space, the $700 price difference more than justifies the limited features of Final Cut Express. However, with Final Cut Express being half the price of Final Cut Pro ($499), the best value of the two should undoubtedly be given to Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Pro also comes bundled with a license for QuickTime Pro (normally $29.99) as well as Bias Peak DV software. As for institutional education purchasers, it comes down to budget versus needed features.

Related sites

Product Site - Apple Final Cut Pro
Product Site - Apple Final Cut Express
Product Site - Quicktime Pro
Product Site - Bias Peak DV
Review - Apple Final Cut Express (The Ken Stone Index)
Review - Apple Final Cut Express (Mac Buyer’s Guide)