Final Cut Pro
Apple’s professional nonlinear video editor for macOS built around the Magnetic Timeline, deep ProRes support, integrated color and audio tools, and on-device intelligence features for faster finishing.
Typical Mac workflow
You import footage into a library, keyword and rate clips in the browser, then assemble edits on the Magnetic Timeline where connected clips stay in sync as you trim and rearrange. Roles separate dialogue, music, and effects for mixing; built-in color wheels, curves, and HDR tone mapping handle grading without leaving the app. Object Tracker, Magnetic Mask, Smart Conform, and Beat Detection speed up common finishing tasks, while Compressor and Motion extend export encoding and motion graphics when bundled through Apple Creator Studio.
Version 12.3 expands that stack with Generate Captions for on-device subtitle creation, Auto Mask for isolating subjects without manual rotoscoping, a rebuilt Match Color tool for cross-camera consistency, and Edit Detection that splits rendered footage at shot changes. Editing refinements include a persistent two-up display during Precision Editor trims, one-click frame export to Pixelmator Pro, HEVC-based proxy media, and bulk subtitle inspector controls. Export paths cover ProRes and HEVC masters, social presets, and XML handoff to external color or sound workflows.
Licensing and version 12.3
Final Cut Pro sells for $299.99 as a one-time Mac App Store purchase that continues to receive updates, or it is included in Apple Creator Studio at about $12.99 per month or $129 per year. The app requires macOS 15.6 or later, 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended), a Metal-capable GPU on Intel Macs, and 7.2 GB of free disk space. Generate Captions needs Apple silicon and is U.S. English only; other 12.3 intelligence features also lean on Apple silicon hardware according to Apple.
