Work at a faster clip.
With its modern Metal engine, Final Cut Pro allows you to edit more complex projects and work with larger frame sizes, higher frame rates, and more effects — all at blazing speeds. And it’s built to harness the extreme power of the new Mac Pro for next-level performance.
The Best Video Editing Software of 2018 Whether you're a weekend GoPro shooter or a full-time video professional, you need editing software that's powerful but easy to use. Here's how the best. In this article we bring you ten of the best music-production packages for Mac, as well as key specs and download links. The program has a wealth of sound creation modules and sample.
Accelerated performance with Metal
Mac Productions Inc
Metal dramatically accelerates graphics tasks like rendering, compositing, real-time effects playback, exporting, and more. When you’re working on a system with an eGPU attached, you can select which GPU to use — internal or external — for peak performance.
Optimized for the all-new Mac Pro
For the ultimate editing experience, run Final Cut Pro on the world’s fastest Mac, the new Mac Pro. Final Cut Pro takes advantage of all the GPUs in Mac Pro and uses multithreading to spread tasks across up to 28 cores. And when equipped with the optional Afterburner card, Mac Pro delivers the fastest ProRes performance ever. So you can do things like edit video, create motion graphics, and color grade in groundbreaking 8K resolution. All at maximum velocity.
The tools you need. From start to finishing.
With innovative features and an intuitive design, Final Cut Pro accelerates post-production. So editors can create and deliver at the speed of thought.
The Magnetic Timeline allows you to easily experiment with story ideas by moving and trimming clips without collisions or sync problems. Use Compound Clips to bundle separate video and audio clips into a single movable package, create Auditions to try out multiple takes in the timeline, and use Synchronized Clips to align video with second-source audio automatically. Color coding makes it easy to identify different types of content, with the ability to customize the look of your timeline while you edit.
Final Cut Pro offers the most advanced organizing tools of any professional video editing application. Easily tag entire clips or clip ranges with metadata for searching, and create Smart Collections that automatically collect content according to a set of custom criteria. Skimming lets you efficiently browse hours of material in a more visual way, so you can identify what you want in seconds.
Create 2D and 3D titles right in Final Cut Pro, apply and modify filters, and use the built-in chroma key for high-quality green- and blue-screen effects. Expand on the built-in effects with thousands of third-party tools and templates. And for even more control, use Motion to create stunning titles, transitions, generators, and effects you can access from Final Cut Pro.
Final Cut Pro lets you edit multichannel audio using built-in tools for removing background noise and optimizing levels. Adjust multichannel audio files in the timeline or open the inspector for more information and options. Choose from dozens of bundled plug-ins for audio compression, EQ, and more — or send to a professional audio application like Logic Pro X for advanced audio mixing.
Quickly encode video using the power of multicore CPUs and high-performance GPUs. Take advantage of presets to deliver ultra-high-quality masters or files optimized for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and websites like YouTube and Vimeo. And batch exporting makes it fast to deliver multiple files or projects in multiple formats. You can also use Compressor to create custom export settings that appear right in Final Cut Pro.
Multicam
The industry’s most advanced multicam editing lets you automatically sync up to 64 angles of video with different formats, frame sizes, and frame rates. View up to 16 angles at once in the Angle Viewer. And open the Angle Editor timeline to move, sync, trim, add effects, or color grade individual clips.
Video noise reduction
Improve the look of archival and low-light images with powerful noise reduction tools that reduce or eliminate grain and video noise. Simple controls let you quickly adjust intensity, and it’s easy to change processing order by dragging the effect in the inspector.
Motion and Compressor
Create stunning effects and sweeping graphics with Motion, including studio-quality 2D and 3D titles you can open and adjust in Final Cut Pro. Use Compressor to create custom export settings and streamline delivery of your movie to the iTunes Store. And because Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Compressor all share the same Metal architecture, you’ll experience blazing performance and consistent rendering across applications.
Compressor
Advanced color grading.
Every pixel closer to perfection.
Professional color grading tools are built into Final Cut Pro, including a dedicated color inspector with color wheels, color curves, hue/saturation curves, and keyframes to adjust corrections over time. You can work with High Dynamic Range footage on recent Mac systems that display an extended range of brightness. Or connect the all-new Pro Display XDR for the ultimate HDR experience.
Unique color wheels improve on traditional controls by combining hue, saturation, and brightness into a single, simple interface.
Color and luminance curves allow ultrafine level adjustments with multiple control points to target specific color and brightness ranges.
Sample a color with an eyedropper and change just the hue, saturation, or luminance of a specific color within the image.
Work closer to reality than ever before with HDR video. Import, edit, grade, and deliver incredibly lifelike images with Final Cut Pro. High-resolution scopes reflect HDR brightness levels as you edit, and tone mapping lets you easily convert HDR to Standard Dynamic Range output for broadcast. You can view beautiful HDR content on a wide range of Mac computers that use the reserve brightness of the display to show an extended range of light levels.
HDR on Pro Display XDR
View High Dynamic Range video the way it was meant to be seen. The gorgeous new Pro Display XDR delivers 6K resolution and 1000 nits of sustained brightness for HDR editing, grading, and delivery with Final Cut Pro. And setup couldn’t be simpler — just connect a single Thunderbolt cable from your Mac to Pro Display XDR to use it as an additional display or video monitor.
ProRes RAW. The flexibility of RAW with the performance of ProRes.
Import, edit, and grade pristine video with RAW data straight from your camera sensor. Work with ProRes RAW files and experience all the creative advantages of RAW with the seamless performance of ProRes. And with Mac Pro and the Afterburner card, you can edit in ProRes RAW faster than ever before.
ProRes performance
Remarkably smooth playback and real-time, multistream editing are part of the ProRes RAW package. The format is optimized for macOS and the latest Mac computers, allowing you to render and export faster than with other RAW formats. And since ProRes RAW files are smaller than standard formats, you can fit more footage on every card.
View the Apple ProRes RAW White PaperRAW flexibility
Work with untouched image data directly from your camera sensor. RAW files provide maximum flexibility for adjusting the look of your video while extending brightness and shadows — an ideal combination for HDR workflows. And ProRes RAW preserves more of the original image data, making it a great format for archiving.
Learn about ProRes RAW partnersWorkflow extensions. Extend the power of Final Cut Pro.
Work directly with powerful third-party applications — without leaving Final Cut Pro.
Use the Frame.io extension to simplify review and approval. Drag and drop clips and timelines, jump between markers, and review comments and annotations in real time from your Frame.io collaborators.
The Shutterstock extension lets you browse stock photos, videos, and music while you edit. Drag and drop watermarked files into the timeline and easily replace them later with licensed, high-resolution versions.
Connect directly to CatDV and KeyFlow Pro media asset management systems so you can browse, mark, and transfer files from within the Final Cut Pro interface.
360° video. Take your work further. In every direction.
Final Cut Pro includes a complete toolset for importing, editing, and delivering both monoscopic and stereoscopic 360° video.
360° editing
Import and edit 360° equirectangular footage in Final Cut Pro. Open the 360° viewer to see a headset view of your footage, and take advantage of simple tools for changing orientation, straightening the horizon, removing camera rigs, and more.
360° graphics and effects
Easily add 2D and 3D titles to your 360° video and apply blurs, glows, and other 360° effects. Or create more advanced 360° motion graphics in Motion, then add them directly to your Final Cut Pro project. You can even add 360° video to non-360° projects, using the Tiny Planet effect to create interesting spherical looks and animations.
VR headset playback
Watch your 360° video in real time with a VR headset like the HTC Vive Pro. Choose to mirror the headset view in Final Cut Pro, or turn off mirroring to watch video in the headset while independently controlling a separate view on your monitor.
Closed captions. Open to all.
Final Cut Pro includes an intuitive, comprehensive set of tools for closed captioning in a variety of formats, without the need for expensive third-party software or services. You can create, view, and edit captions within Final Cut Pro, and deliver them as part of your video or as a separate file.
Paint Program For Mac
Add an existing caption file to your project and Final Cut Pro automatically connects each caption to the corresponding video or audio clip in your timeline.
Type captions from scratch — in multiple languages and formats — and watch the text play back in real time right in the viewer.
Attach captions to connected audio or video clips in the timeline so they move in sync with your edit. It’s easy to adjust text, color, location, and timing in the captions inspector. And the enhanced Timeline Index lets you quickly search and select captions, or use captions roles to instantly switch between different versions.
Export captions in the industry-standard CEA-608, iTT, or SRT formats. Or burn them directly into your video. When delivering, you can choose to embed caption metadata in your video file or create a separate sidecar file. Captioned videos can be shared directly to YouTube and Vimeo. And you can send your project to Compressor to include captions in a batch or an iTunes Store package.
Step up from iMovie to Final Cut Pro.
iMovie is the easiest way to start making movies. And when you’re ready to ramp up production, it’s effortless to switch to Final Cut Pro from iMovie for iOS or iMovie for Mac. You’ll cut faster and more precisely with advanced editing tools, improve the look of your projects with third-party plug-ins, and easily integrate video recorded with professional cameras from RED, Sony, Canon, and more. You can import your iMovie projects right into Final Cut Pro, so you won’t miss a beat — or a cut — when you upgrade.
Third-party tools to make your workflow flow.
Choose from thousands of custom transitions, titles, and motion graphics. Work directly with powerful applications through workflow extensions in Final Cut Pro. And take advantage of other third-party tools for advanced tracking, EDL and AAF interchange, and more.
Five amazing apps.
One powerful collection.
Unleash your creative potential with the Pro Apps Bundle for qualifying college students, teachers, and education institutions. Get all five professional applications for video and music creation at a special price — including Final Cut Pro X, Motion, and Compressor, along with Logic Pro X and MainStage.
There are some excellent contenders for the best TV production software for Mac that turn your Mac into a professional broadcasting studio. Years ago, live TV production on a Mac would have been impossible and would have required a team of people and thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment. Nowadays, all you need is a Mac and some software and cameras and you’re good to go. If you’re starting your own internet web streaming channel or are a student of video production, the following live TV production software provide all the tools and software you need to use your Mac for live video production. The software covered here is also suitable for those that need to film a lecture, a conference or a presentation. Although they don’t come cheap – most packages cost around $500 – they’re a lot cheaper than buying a professional studio setup which can run into thousands of dollars. Below then is the best TV Production software for Mac in order of ranking.
1. mimoLive (formerly BoinxTV) $199/$699/$1,999 per year)
mimoLive was known for many years as BoinxTV and is probably the best TV production software available for Mac as it’s designed specifically for OS X and offers so much power for your money. Boinx is a German company that makes a range of multimedia software with BoinxTV being it’s most popular “Prosumer” (i.e. aimed somewhere between Professional and Consumer level) broadcasting software suites for Mac. However, in mid 2016, it decided to change the name to mimoLive and withdraw it from the Mac App Store. The reason Boinx did this is to “reflect the giant leap in user experience, functionality and technology” as Boinx became a Multi-in, Multi-out Live Video Engine (hence the new name mimoLive).
Since it’s one of the few video production software suites designed specifically for Mac, it works seamlessly with OS X and even won an Apple Design Award in 2009. mimoLive is expensive at anything from $199 to $1,999 depending on whether you choose a Personal, Commercial or Broadcast plan but the power it gives you is comparable to a mobile outside broadcasting studio costing several times more.
mimoLive works by adding layers. It uses QuickTime in order to capture and record video which is your bottom layer and then it allows you to build other layers – such as titles, effects and backgrounds on top of that.
What’s really nice is that mimoLive too is that it also includes lots of ready made themes such as Sports and News which give your production a real professional touch straight away.
And it’s incredibly easy to grasp the basics for such a powerful package. To get going, simply select a theme:
Select an output format in Template Format at the bottom (iPhone, NTSC, PAL etc) and you’re then presented with the “Document Window” which is basically your workspace where you’ll see a Preview of your video input on the right.
Select the video source you want to use:
And then you’re pretty much ready to broadcast although from there you’ll definitely need to refer to the extensive user guide and tutorials in order to configure encoding settings, frame rates etc.
mimoLive supports just about everything you need for professional live TV production from blue screens and multiple cameras or webcams to programmable special effects. It also allows you to combine video, photos, 3D effects, live broadcasts and more. mimoLive is ideal for live broadcasts with multiple cameras making it easy to switch between them and title layers during transmission. It can also encode and export your footage into just about any major format including exporting directly to YouTube and PodcastProducer:The downside is that inevitably with such a complex package, there’s a lot to learn to get the most out of it but the documentation and tutorials are very clear and in-depth and it’s worth the time investment in order to learn the package properly. However, if you find it too overwhelming and need something simpler, Boinx also offer BoinxTV Home aimed at home users although it’s not clear if this is still available with the switch to the new name, mimoLive. Note as well that BoinxTV Home is not a professional solution as it lacks support for multiple cameras, unlimited layers and resolution is limited to 950 x 540.
2. Wirecast Studio ($495)
Unlike mimoLive, Wirecast Studio is cross platform making it suitable for those working across Mac and PC on TV projects although it was originally designed on Mac. It’s the biggest rival to mimoLive on Mac and offers many of the same features, albeit without quite the same slick OS X style interface of mimoLive. It’s also geared more towards web streaming and recording gameplay than mimoLive.
From a cost perspective however, it’s nowhere near as competitive as mimoLive. Wirecast Studio costs $495 and for this you get video capture and encoding of live streams for broadcast to multiple servers and platforms simultaneously. However, for features such as integrated HDV input support, support for more capture devices, IP cameras, live scoreboards, 3D virtual sets, and advanced audio controls, you must purchase Wirecast Pro for $995 – more than double the cost of mimoLive 3 year license which includes many of these features by default.
However, from a usability perspective, the learning curve with Wirecast is not quite as steep as with mimoLive. When you first open Wirecast, you’ll see a more simplified interface than with Boinx. You get a Live Broadcast Area with a preview of your camera input:
Simply select the Framerate you want to use:
Select the Video format you want, select your streaming settings and encoding format, select the Source you want to use:
Wirecast automatically detects any capture cards or devices connected to your Mac which will be visible in Source Settings, including IP cameras:
For those intending to produce videos for webcasting, you then need to select an Output Source depending on the service you’re planning on using (such as Twitch.tv) and from there, you need to configure your encoding settings which will depend on various factors such as the speed of your internet connection, hardware, capture card etc. There’s extensive Wirecast help documentation and video tutorials to help you with the rest.
Audio Production Program
Although it’s hard for most amateurs TV program makers to justify the cost of the Pro version for $995 there’s no doubt that Wirecast Studio is a very complete and reliable tool for those that intend to stream content over the web. It’s also arguably better than mimoLive if you want to stream video gaming footage online as it gives you a high degree of control over streaming settings.
Free Writing Programs For Mac
3. Ustream Producer Pro ($549)
Like Wirecast, UStream Producer Pro is cross platform and works on both Mac and Windows and is tailored more for web streaming than live TV or video production. It’s also more suited to those that have never used a broadcasting studio and are new to live video production. Ustream is one of the most popular streaming services on the net and although the production suite isn’t quite up there with mimoLive and Wirecast TV, it does offer an ad supported free version if all you want to do is stream video content online and little else although you must sign-up for a Ustream account first.
However, you’ll need Producer Pro to have anything comparable to mimoLive or Wirecast with support for HD broadcasting, multi-camera support, titles editing, scoreboards etc. Note that there’s no way to add IP cameras though.
Unlike mimoLive and Wirecast, Ustream Producer is also very good for those that intend to integrate their video with e-commerce sites or need to find way of monetizing content. You can setup pay-per-view channels or easily add advertising to web streams too. Ustream is also better integrated than mimoLive or Wirecast with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter so that you can tweet broadcasts.
4. StudioBinder (Free & Premium Versions)
StudioBinder isn’t a TV production suite but it’s a useful web based film production software for Mac and PC which focuses on the job of organizing your video production project efficiently and smoothly. StudioBinder helps you manage cast and crew contacts, create customized, professional call sheets and backup everything to the Cloud.
StudioBinder is particularly good at helping you create call sheets quickly with useful localizers for weather and hospital details in the local area. You can also assign such things as individual call times, private notes, custom parking instructions and shooting schedules. A Stripboard allows you to create multi-day shooting schedules which you can then easily import into call sheets. There is also a useful approval system built-in so you that you can send drafted call sheet to clients for approval before officially sending it out. The result is highly professional and personalized call sheets that can be sent by email, PDF or put online which can be updated and tracked so that cast and crew can confirm their call times.
StudioBinder is free to sign-up for and use although to access all Premium features, you need to upgrade to a paid plan ranging from $25 to $85 per month. The difference in plans mainly concern the number of Projects you can open, the amount of online storage space you have and the number of templates and branding customization available. To help get the most out of the TV production software you use on your Mac, StudioBinder is an easy to use, well thought-out too to organize and setup filming efficiently.
First some things to consider before purchasing any TV production software for your Mac.
- We highly recommend using the highest end Mac you can afford for running live TV broadcasting software on Mac. The demands the software puts in your processor and RAM are very high – especially when dealing with multiple streams or video inputs – and slow or old equipment will make life very difficult. At the very least, we recommend a MacBook Pro or iMac from 2010 onwards with at least 2GB of RAM but preferably much more.
- We’ve focused on video production packages that are available specifically for Mac. There are other options that work on PC that can be installed on Mac using Windows in Boot Camp but we do not recommend trying to run video broadcasting software on Mac this way. Trying to run Windows software of this type on Mac is more prone to bugs and does not integrate as well with essential components such as the Graphics Card and iSight camera that TV production software relies heavily on. Also, if you have any issues or technical problems, developers are less likely to be able to help if you are running their software via Windows on a Mac. Live TV production and web casting can be stressful enough without having to worry about the stability of the software you are using so that’s why we’ve stuck strictly to Mac software.
These are the best software TV production software tools for Mac. Overall, Wirecast Studio and in particular, Wirecast Pro is still the most professional TV production software for Mac. The fact that you can stream to multiple destinations at one time will be a major requirement for most serious broadcasters and BoinxTV does not offer this. However, BoinxTV has come a long way in the form of mimoLive and offers a more accessible, user friendly and value for money alternative. Boinx TV is also Mac only although Wirecast was also originally designed for Mac even though it’s now cross platform. However, the mimoLive monthly subscription model will work out more expensive in the long run and while Wirecast costs a lot up front, it’s definitely worth it for pros.
You may also be interested in our articles on:
If you have any questions about any of the live video production software for Mac covered here, let us know.