My top requests for an update to Final Cut Pro

Here is my top request list for any new version of Final Cut Pro.

This list may be updated at any time. Last updated 08-11-2010.


  1. Bullet01 Timeline scrolls behind stationary Playhead

  2. Bullet02 Rock solid roundtripping between all Pro Apps

  3. Bullet03 100% reliable and dependable Media Management

  4. Bullet04 Firewire capture of HDV to the new ProRes codecs (LT & Proxy)

  5. Bullet05 Native import and editing of H.264/AVCHD files

  6. Bullet06 Scratch Disk setting stays with individual project files

  7. Bullet07 Make use of all available computer processors when exporting and rendering

  8. Bullet08 Render files that stay linked and don’t go offline

  9. Bullet09 Useful error messages rather than useless messages like General Error

  10. Bullet10 One menu to Save ALL custom window & keyboard layouts, button bars, etc.

  11. Bullet11 Application-wide Spellcheck

  12. Bullet12 Save Favorite Effects and Motion Effects outside of the project file

  13. Bullet13 Snap guides for aligning objects in the Canvas like Motion has.

  14. Bullet14 Lock Open playhead sync function, on/off selectable

  15. Bullet15 Lock Play function to force Timeline to play without stopping, on/off selectable

  16. Bullet16 Audio Timeline waveforms that always draw and update properly and quickly

  17. Bullet17 Easier garbage matte point adjusting/setting

  18. Bullet18 A Jump to Pre-Edit shortcut to place playhead before next edit point

  19. Bullet19 Selectable Text size throughout all Final Cut Pro windows

  20. Bullet20 Consistent item location order from menu to menu

  21. Bullet21 Variable audio fade contours like Sound Track Pro

  22. Bullet22 Finder and Browser are “live linked” and mirror each other, on/off selectable

  23. Bullet23 Graphical user interface for audio plug-ins per Apple’s own Audio Unit spec

  24. Bullet24 Did I mention a scrolling Timeline?

  25. Bullet25 Select All Render Flavors available in Sequence menu (default)

  26. Bullet26 Rename Audio “Compressor Limiter” to “Compressor”. It is not a limiter.

  27. Bullet27 Proper graphic image file handling for images larger than 4000 pixel dimension

  28. Bullet28 Several user assignable blank Button Bar Buttons for unassigned items

  29. Bullet29 An FCP crash report that gives helpful real world information

  30. Bullet30 Fix FCP losing focus when switching to another app with some FCP functions

  31. Bullet31 Audio waveforms on/off selectable per audio track instead of all tracks

  32. Bullet32 Select Timeline, Window, Browser layouts from a Layouts menu or Button

  33. Bullet33 Global mini Timeline with selector bubble for navigating Main Timeline

  34. Bullet34 Custom track names in Timeline

  35. Bullet33 A Reveal Bruce button (Just kidding)



Most of these are requests and fixes that I would find useful editing with Final Cut Pro on a daily basis or when teaching the application to students. Of course your list may be different.


My recent article Encoding Video Optimized for the iPad

Philip Hodgetts’ thoughts on Apple’s Pro Apps click here

Philip Hodgetts’ thoughts on Final Cut Pro’s future click here

Oliver Peter’s Improving FCP and Media Composer click here


email Richard@FCPro.TV


Copyright © 2010 Richard Taylor. All rights reserved.

Apple and Final Cut Pro are registered trademarks of Apple Inc..