Apple Releases Final Cut Pro X 10.4 with 360-Degree VR Video Editing

Apple has released Final Cut Pro X 10.4 on Thursday, alongside the arrival of the iMac Pro. In addition, the company also released updates for Logic Pro X, Motion and Compressor.

Final Cut Pro X 10.4 includes a suite of new tools and features, including, for the first time, 360-degree video editing. Users can now import and edit 360-degree video in a wide range of formats and frame sizes. The new 360 video tools will allow editors to create virtual reality content, and view their projects in real-time with a connected VR headset.

“Final Cut Pro gives video editors the tools to create stunning, next-generation content,” said Apple’s Susan Prescott. “When combined with the performance of Mac hardware, including the all-new iMac Pro, Final Cut Pro provides an incredibly powerful post-production studio to millions of video editors around the world.”

The new version of Final Cut Pro also includes new advanced color grading tools, direct import of iMovie for iOS timelines, and support for HDR and Apple’s new HEVC video format. Standard photos and videos can also be added to Final Cut Pro VR projects, and 360-degree videos can be shared directly to platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Vimeo.

Like Final Cut Pro, Motion has also been updated to support 360-degree, VR motion graphics. Users can now import 360-degree video, design VR titles and effects, and output their creations to a connected VR headset. Of course, it also adds support for playback and editing of Apple’s new HEVC video and HEIF photo formats.

Apple has also released a new update to audio editing app Logic Pro X. It includes optimized performance for iMac Pro users, including support for up to 36 cores with hyperthreading. It also includes various minor performance and stability improvements.

Apple’s Compressor compression and encoding app — which integrates tightly with Final Cut Pro — has also been improved with performance and stability enhancements.

The new versions of Final Cut Pro X, Logic Pro X, Motion and Compressor are now available in the Mac App Store.