Final Cut Studio 2 (with Final Cut Pro 6), Final Cut Server launched

During the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference in Las Vegas, Apple announced Final Cut Studio 2 an upgrade to the video production bundle that will include Final Cut Pro 6.

Final Cut Pro 6, will feature a new format dubbed "ProRes 422," which Apple claims offers "uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes and support for mixed video formats and frame rates in a single Timeline."

Other products in the suite include:

• Motion 3 "featuring an intuitive 3D environment, paint and new behaviors"
• Soundtrack Pro 2 "with dozens of innovative tools for multitrack editing, surround mixing and conforming sound to picture"
• Compressor 3 "delivering powerful batch encoding for multiple formats with a single click"
• DVD Studio Pro 4.2 for SD and HD DVD authoring.
• Color, a new color grading and finishing application "for ensuring consistent color and creating signature looks."

Final Cut Studio 2 will be available in May for US$1,299. Registered users of the current version of Final Cut Studio can upgrade for US$499 and registered users from any previous version of Final Cut Pro can upgrade for US$699.

For full details on the Final Cut Studio 2 announcement, see this Apple press release.

Apple also announced Final Cut Server, a new server application that provides media asset management and workflow automation for Final Cut Studio applications.

The server includes a cross-platform client that "enables content browsing, review and approval from within a studio or over the Internet. Final Cut Server automatically catalogs large collections of assets and enables searching across multiple volumes via an intuitive user interface."

Final Cut Server will be available this summer for US$999 for one server and 10 concurrent client licenses, and US$1,999 for one server and unlimited client licenses.

For more on Final Cut Server, see this press release.

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