We’re a bit surprised we didn’t see an iPhone app like this released earlier.  It just seems like a natural fit…combining iPhone functionality with FCP.

Playhead – controls the FCP timeline with your iPhone
Released this week, Playhead is currently being offered in the App Store for $2.99

A description from the developer:
Playhead offers an easy way for you to navigate your Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Express timeline from your iPhone. Playhead takes some of the pain out of organizing lots of footage by allowing you to do it from a comfortable position rather than sitting over the keyboard. It is also great for client presentations, such as when they come to visit your studio. Playhead is not, however, intended to replace your keyboard and mouse for editing.

Playhead allows you to: play/pause, rewind, fast forward, go directlyto the beginning/end of the timeline, navigate frame by frame, set in/out points, create, name, and color-label subclips, switch between the viewer and the timeline, and add markers.

The marker and subclip functionality is great and can come in very handy when reviewing footage with clients.  However, as you can tell from the description, the main purpose of the app is controller.

Playhead works with both Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express.  The iPhone/iPod touch and the computer with FCP must be on the same Wi-Fi network to function properly.

If you’ve got a large edit suite and often review footage with clients…throw this App in your digital toolbox.

From FCP Daily: You may have a project that requires many of the same type of graphics (ie title cards, lower thirds, etc). You could create them in Final Cut Pro, layering text and graphic elements, but if you’re got the know-how Motion is typically a much better way to go.

We’ve seen many editors create a new Motion file for each of the graphics they need in their project. For large projects that can mean a ton of title card and lower third files.

Well, if you’re using Final Cut Studio 2 there’s a much better alternative than creating all of these unique files. Create ONE template file and import it as a Master Template in Final Cut Pro. Not only will this cut down on the number of files you’re working with (simpler is often better) but it also will save time. Master Templates can be edited WITHIN FInal Cut Pro and so you won’t have to keep jumping back and forth between applications.

More here.

“Days of Our Lives is a completely in-house operation,” says lead editor and associate director Lugh Powers. “Deadlines are intense.  The production company requires the maximum in speed, flexibility and reliability to produce a daily one-hour program.  Because we have such a fast turnaround from production to air, we get pretty aggressive with time management and efforts to streamline the workflow.”

Read the rest of the article here.

FCP World Alpha Transitions – Lens Flares are now available for sale.

More Info on the Alpha Transitions page here.

via The Home for Pro Users of Final Cut Studio – HOME – FCP World Alpha Transitions – Lens Flares Now Available!.