During a NAB Special Event (covered by MacScoop), Apple has introduced Final Cut Server, an asset management and workflow automation application, the new version of its software suite for the video professionals, Final Cut Studio 2.0 as well as a hardware encoder for its new HD codec.

Final Cut Server

Rob Schoeben kicked-off the special event by announcing Apple's new media asset management and workflow automation software, Final Cut Server. It allows management of large collectios of media with tracking, reviewing, approvals with Apple's stadnard's ease of use.

Final Cut Studio 2

The new suite includes Final Cut Pro 6, Motion 3, Sound Track Pro 2, Compressor 3 and a new application called Color.

One of the biggest features of Final Cut Studio 2 is the support for Apple's next gen post production format ProRes 422. This format offers uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes at 10-bit, 4:2:2, full raster, VBR.

Final Cut Pro 6 brings uncompressed HD editing, allows using 4K files and supports next generation devices from Sony.

Motion 3 brings better integration with Final Cut Pro, unrendered previews, GPU acceleration for effects and filters, Open Format Timeline (can mix formats, resolutions, frame-rate), improved 3D editing and many more tools.

Soundtrack Pro 2 ads more sound effects, 3-up video HUD support, composited audio tracks, core 5.1 surround mixing Conform allows easy correction of bad frequencies
and a new feature called "Conform", allowing easy sound frequencies correction.

Compressor 3 brings improved cluster support, dynamic filters with timecode overlay, animated motion watermarks, presets for all the devices, custom presets, draggable preset groups, preview of overlays and watermarks and chapter markers. In terms of performance Compressor 3 is claimed to be three times faster than version 2.0.

Apple also introduced Color, a new application for real-time color grading. This new application is part of Final Cut Studio 2.

We can note that, although still part of the software suite, DVD Studio Pro doesn't see any new feature or improvement and remains at the same version (4.0).

IO-HD

A new hardware encoder was also introduced by AJA and Apple. It allows real-time encoding in the newly introduced ProRes 422 format.

Pricing and availability

The IO-HD costs $3495 and will be available in July while Final Cut Studio 2 remains at the same price as the first version at $1299 for the full suite while the upgrade from Final Cut Studio 1.0 costs $499 and $699 from any version of Final Cut Pro. It ships next month and it's already available for pre-order on Apple's online store.