With the release of FCP X 10.1, it appears that Apple is offering updates at no charge, meaning that once you buy Final Cut, you never pay for updates. Individual users may install and use these applications on any Mac computers they own, but enterprise users are supposed to purchase volume licenses to cover one installation per computer. Final Cut Pro X is $299.99 with another $49.99 each for Motion and Compressor.

Users may install the software on as many computers as they like (Mac or PC), but only two can be activated at any time.Īpple’s software sells through the Mac App Store. Individual users have access to all creative applications for $49.99 a month (not including promotional deals), but when they quit subscribing, the applications cease to function after a grace period.

Adobe offers most of its content creation software only through a Creative Cloud subscription. Adobe and Avid offer cross-platform solutions, while Final Cut Pro X only works on Apple hardware. By the end of 2013, these three companies released significant updates that give users a good idea of their future direction and has many zeroing in on a selection.Īdobe, Apple and Avid have three distinctly different approaches. For the last two years many users have been holding onto legacy systems, wondering when the dust would settle and which editing tool would become dominant again. The lion’s share of editing is done on three platforms: Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer or Adobe Premiere Pro. The editing world includes a number of software options, such as Autodesk Smoke, Grass Valley EDIUS, Lightworks, Media 100, Sony Vegas and Quantel.

Adobe premiere pro vs sony vegas