Final Cut Pro 3 serial key or number

Final Cut Pro (now the Final Cut Pro X) is a powerful video editing software in post-production for Mac users. It allows you to edit video and audio, do advanced color grading, create and edit closed captions and much more. Typical, Final Cut Pro features all the tools that you need to editing and delivering videos from start to ending.

However, Final Cut Pro X is only designed for Mac users and requires a Mac with macOS 10.13.6 or later, you can’t download and use Final Cut Pro on Windows, what's more, Final Cut Pro X will cost $300.

There are so many free video editing software for Windows, so if you are looking for a video editing software similar to Final Cut Pro for your Windows PC, you’re in the right place. I've done some research and updated the best alternatives to Final Cut Pro for Windows listed below. You can choose the right video editing software alternative to Final Cut Pro based on your editing experience, the Windows system you are running (Windows 10 / Windows 8/ Windows 7), and your budget as well.

Quick Pick: Free video editing software alternatives to Final Cut Pro are good choices if you’re in a budget. However, if you want to have the same video editing experience on Windows or Mac, here the Wondershare FilmoraPro is highly recommended.

Part 1: 5 Best Free Final Cut Pro for Windows 7/8/10 & Mac & Linux

Since most people who use Final Cut Pro X may have already known that iMovie is a free video editing app on Mac, iPhone and iPad, I didn’t list it below though I do really think it is a good video editing software for Mac users. Based on my editing experience and research, I’ve found the following free video editing software as alternatives to Final Cut Pro X for beginners and professionals as well.

Note: all the video editing software listed below are not in a particular order.

1. Avidemux [ Free & Simple Alternative to Final Cut Pro X]

Perfect for Beginners

Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Key Features for Avidemux

• It supports various video file formats, including AVI, MPEG, MP4, DVD, and ASF.
• Very simple software with no technical complex.
• Easy encoding for video and audio files

The interface of this software is very simple which makes it one of the perfect solutions for basic video editing tasks such as cutting, trimming, encoding, and a few other basic tasks.

More editing features are hidden under Video Filter Manager in which you can crop, rotate, flip and add borders, logos, or even duplicate frames for a give duration. What’s more, you can add hard code subtitles in SRT, ASS, and SSA to the video or modify saturation, brightness, and color of your edited videos.

On the other hand, the interface is lacking timeline and not intuitive for me, and when preview, you can only preview the selected applied filter but not all filters applied, which isn’t convenient for me.

This tool is perfect for beginners that have very basic needs, and need to learn fast, because it won't allow you to have more controls. A good advantage of this editing tool is that video and audio are saved in one file by using its container format.

2. Shotcut [Best Free Final Cut Pro X for Windows for Beginners]

Perfect for Beginners

Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Key Features for Shotcut

• It provides great file format support.
• Large selection of audio and video filters.
• Powerful and feature-rich.
• It supports 4K resolution.

If you’ve only used Windows Movie Maker for video editing and want to move to the next level, then this tool is the best solution for you, so we don't recommend this tool for more advanced projects. It is similar to Avidemux that was mentioned in our list, as no need to pay for any upgrade once you downloaded the software. The interface is highly customized, and approachable with dockable and undockable panels.

It supports hundreds of formats, 4K and HD resolutions via the FFmpeg project that eliminates the need for file import. It combines filters and special effects that are easy to manage. It is one of the best free video editors that will help you out in the majority of your projects. Compared to Avidemux, Shotcut features a more intuitive interface, more editing tools, providing you more controls. I highly recommend it as one of the best free video editing software alternatives to Final Cut Pro X on Windows, Mac and Linux.

3. Blender

Perfect for Professionals

Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Key Features for Blender:

• A portion of its remarkable abilities includes luma waveform, live review, chroma vectorscope, and histogram showcases.
• It supports audio mixing, waveform visualization, and video scrubbing.
• You can use 32 different slots for adding video, audio, images, scenes, and effects.
• It supports multiple filters, speed controls, key-frames, and transitions.

Blender is an open-source program that is completely free to use. It was designed as 3D animation creation software, yet it comes with an exceptionally valuable video editor. It will meet your basic needs for video editing such as video cuts and video splicing, however, it can likewise be used for progressively refined tasks, for like video masking. This makes it a truly adaptable video editor for beginners, with no complex features as in Final Cut Pro X.

4. DaVinci Resolve

Perfect for Beginners and Professionals

Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Key Features for DaVinci Resolve

• Fully support for 8K videos
• Intuitive interface for most routine functions
• Extraordinary color correction Functionality and Professional audio mastering

DaVinci Resolve is currently one of the best solutions for professional 8K video editing at the moment, it has become an all in one professional video editing software with the color correction, visual effects, audio and video editing post-editing. Davinci Resolve has many professional video features such as video slicing, video trimming, and creating videos that feature no watermarks. This software allows you to change lip color, skin tone, and eye color so easily. We can say that it is the most advanced free video editing software, and it is used on several TV productions and film productions as well.

As this video software is perfect for professionals, the spontaneous user interface it provides makes it an excellent choice for beginners too. Among its strongest features that many editors are looking for in any software are stunning image quality, professional audio mastering, and color correction. So, if you are looking for high-quality audio and stunning looks, this application is designed for you.

We have to mention that the free version of this software doesn't work for multi-camera editing, 3D editing, and spatial noise reduction that you can find only on the paid version DaVinci Resolve Studio. DaVinci Resolve 16 is currently available on the market, and incorporates such new impressive features such as facial acknowledgment, quick export to YouTube, and 3D sound. What's more, you can transfer FCPX projects to Davinci Resolve or vice versa.

5. Lightworks

Perfect for Professionals

Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Key Features for Lightworks

• Well designed interface, many advanced features.
• It supports the latest video and audio formats.
• Instant auto-save functionality.
• Export to 720p for YouTube.

We can start by saying that this tool has been used widely in many Hollywood productions that we all know like LA Confidential, Pulp Fiction, Shutter Island, Hugo, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Lightworks video editing software is free but it has extra features included in its upgraded Pro version that costs $25 monthly however, its free version still meets the needs for most professional users.

Lightworks is one of the more powerful video editors, with dignitary features that include professional-level color correction, video capture, and extensive format support. You can change its default design and shift to Final Cut Pro or Avid keyboard layouts.

If you are going to use its free version, you have to know that you will only be able to export MPEG-4 files with a resolution of up to 720p. Another great inclusion that is only found in the upgraded version is that you can edit Youtube videos and 4K videos. To get the best results of this tool and its flagship feature, you need to be tech-savvy and a professional editor. Briefly, this tool is not for beginners.

Above alternative free video editing software to Final Cut Pro are good choices if you’re in a budget. Please note some professional video editing software such as DaVinci Resolve has a high system requirement when using some features (like 16 GB of system memory is recommended when using Fusion).

Part 2: 5 Best Paid Final Cut Pro X Alternatives on Windows

Sometimes, a paid solution can save you time and offer you more creativity. In the following part, we’ve figured out some paid video editing software that you can use as alternatives to Final Cut Pro X. Some of them are easy to use yet powerful enough, you can download the free trial version first to have a try before paying.

1. Filmora9

Perfect for Beginners and Semi-Pros

Platforms: Windows and Mac

Price: $39.99 (1-year subscription); $59.99 for lifetime

Key Features for Filmora9

• Adaptable specifically for beginners.
• Its design is intuitive and easy to use.
• It is loaded with plentiful filters, transitions, elements and overlays and built-in text templates and audio library

Filmora9 is one of the best perfect video editing software for beginners as an alternative to Final Cut Pro X. Its interface is dark which is very similar to Final Cut Pro X, and the editing and trimming process is similar to Final Cut Pro 7 as well.

The interface design is intuitive which makes it so easy to use for video editors, and makes the video editing very interesting and with fun. It can always make your imagination real with its simple features.

You can perform your basic video editing using this simple tool, including but not limited to color tuning, noise removal, video stabilization, and 4K editing support. Apart from your basic video editing needs, you can also change your background, and use its split-screen feature to allow you to edit your video on multiple footages. You can download the trial version for free and have to try to discover more creativities.

Font style and color, has always been a major feature that video editors are keen to find in the software they use, and that's why this tool has its unique text editing function providing a good variety of fonts that you can use in your video editing.

2.Most Similar & Easy to Use FCPX Alternative: Wondershare FilmoraPro

Perfect for Professionals

Platforms: Windows, Mac

Price: $149.99 for lifetime

FilmoraPro is a powerful video editing software for those who want to edit the professional video easily. With its intuitive interface, users can quickly find the features they want. Users can make various visual effects like bolts of lightning and raining with dragging and dropping.

It has the same simple-to-use color correction and color grading features. Users can use the color wheel, LUTs and more to adjust color settings. You can also use auto color correction to get the best color quickly. Smooth keyframing will give you more control over text/title and animation.

More importantly, FilmoraPro offers various easy-to-follow free video tutorials. You can also learn FilmoraPro from start to finish with its learning course. Just download it on Windows to have a try!

3. CyberLink PowerDirector 18 Ultra

Perfect for Beginners & Semi-Pros

Platforms: Windows

Price: $99.99 for lifetime

Key Features for PowerDirector

• A broad suite of effects.
• Beginner and advanced interfaces.
• Easy to learn, regardless of skill level.

PowerDirector features a lot of professional and powerful editing tools that empower you to make stunning videos with ease. You can add creative transition effects, motion graphics, animated text and titles to video with few clicks.

The technology of multi-cam was developed by PowerDirector, and this specified technology was only created by professional tools like Final Cut Pro X. The interface of this software is pretty straightforward, which makes it very easy to use for beginners.

Rendering is a serious challenge in the video editing industry, and this software is one of the fastest software out there. Moreover, PowerDirector is one of the primary tools to bolster the 360-degree virtual reality film. The cost of this tool is fixed and you can buy it for $ 99.99 for one time as a new user.

4. Vegas Pro

Perfect for Professionals

Platforms: Windows

Price: $599 for lifetime

Key Features for Vegas Pro

• Multi-track audio capabilities.
• Filter plug-ins and video effects.
• Speed and flexibility

Vegas Pro is a major tool in the video editing industry, offering professional functions for creating, changing, and enhancing movies, and audio materials. Its powerful features and editing abilities enable you to make videos easily. It can enhance GPU, give instinctive timeline work process, save window formats, and perform video adjustment.

It supports 360-degree editing, 4K UHD, and 3D adjustments. This software is highly expensive with a wide range of prices that start from $698, however, they regularly offer discounts on these prices. The high prices of this tool might be one of the most reasons why many video editors don't choose this tool for their work.

You may also like: Sony Vegas VS Adobe Premiere, Which One is Better?

5.Adobe Premiere Pro

Perfect for Professionals

Platforms: Windows and Mac

Price: $20.99 per month

Key Features for Adobe Premiere Pro

• Has every video editing tool video editors look for.
• Dominant exported video quality.
• Easy integration with Adobe tools; straightforward interface

Adobe Premiere Pro is the ideal software for video editors who have spent a lot of time in shopper video editing software and are prepared to upgrade. It is the best alternatives to Final Cut Pro for professionals based on its pricing and features. With Adobe Premiere Pro, you gain access to functions for basic and advanced editing. It allows you to edit many videos together at the same time, and to transfer clips easily from one video to another.

A stunning feature in this tool is the Lumetri Color tool that allows color modification the same as in Photoshop. Adobe products are labeled Creative Cloud which means the platform can be accessed online from any connected device. Additionally, it supports any device, platform, and camera.

Its multi-cam feature allows you to work with an unlimited amount of camera angles that most of the other tools don’t offer. It can import and export motion pictures from other software such as Final Cut Pro. Finally, this tool can coordinate with other Adobe tools to give you one powerful creative suite.

Adobe Premiere Pro needs to be mentioned whether you like this software or not. We can't deny it is a great video editor on Windows. In fact, it has the largest number of users on Windows. With Premiere Rush, Adobe Premiere Pro has a big update recently. It is the leading product for editing 8K videos. You can also use Rush to edit videos on phone and import it to your PC to have further advanced editing if needed.

5 Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Video Editing Software that Suits Your Needs

#1. Budget

You have to plan for your budget based on your needs and if you are a beginner, then you can start with free software and then you can upgrade.

#2. Operating System

Are you using Mac or Windows or Linux? Some software can use all these 3 operating systems, and others use only one or two, so your operating system will play the main role in your decision.

#3. Input and Output of Video Formats

Check the video formats you need to import or export video files, this could be MP4 or QuickTime movie files.

#4. Project Needs

This could be a personal project like a family wedding video, or a professional video like a short ad video. Professional video editing will require more features and tools.

#5. User Interface

Is it a simple or complex interface? For beginners, a simple user interface will work better than a complex one.

Some of the video editing tools listed above are simple to easy, some of them are free alternatives to Final Cut Pro X on Windows, which also means they are function limited to some degree. So, if you are looking for some professional video editing software alternatives to Final Cut Pro for Windows, you can also try DaVinci Resolve, Lightworks, and FilmoraPro as well. Watch the video below to learn more about FilmoraPro professional video editing software.

In case you want to make a video with built-in presets, templates, effects, transitions, and elements quickly, you should try Wondershare Filmora9.

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Final Cut Pro X is a professional non-linearvideo editing application published by Apple Inc. as part of their Pro Apps family of software programs. It was released on June 21, 2011 for sale in the Mac App Store. It is the successor to Final Cut Pro.^[1][2]

Features[edit]

Final Cut Pro X shares some of both its code and interface design philosophy with Apple's consumer video editing software, iMovie.^[3][4]

Interface[edit]

• Event Browser: Replacing “bins” in other NLEs, the Event Browser is where the original media is found and can be searched and sorted by various forms of metadata. Keyword Ranges, Favorite and Rejected Ranges, and Smart Collections allow for faster sorting of a large number of clips.
• Magnetic Timeline: Inventing an alternative to track-based timelines found in traditional NLEs, Final Cut's Magnetic Timeline uses Clip Connections to keep Connected Clips and Secondary Storylines in sync with clips located on the Primary Storyline. By default, clips move around each other “magnetically” filling in any gaps and avoiding Clip Collisions by automatically bumping clips out of the way vertically. The magnetic connections are also user-definable.
• Roles: In order to separate and organize different audio types on the magnetic timeline, editors can designate what "role' each clip plays. Introduced in version 10.0.1, Roles can be assigned to clips as an alternate way of creating organizational functionality. A Role (or Sub-Role) gets assigned to clips to identify what it is (for example Video, Titles, Dialogue, Effects, Music). Upon Sharing a Master File of the Project the various Roles can be split out as stems or in a multitrack file for broadcast delivery or other distribution needs.
• Content Auto-Analysis: Found in the Import Window and Event Browser is the option to analyze media for shot type and facial recognition or fix potential problems like audio loudness, audio hum, channel grouping, background noise, color balance, pulldown removal, and stabilization. This process generates metadata that can automatically be organized as Keywords and can be grouped into Smart Collections.
• Synchronized Clips: Video and audio clips recorded on separate devices can be synched automatically by timecode, audio waveforms, and markers together as a single clip.
• Compound Clips: Nested Sequences from the original Final Cut Pro have been replaced by Compound Clips. A selection of video and audio clips can be nested into a single Compound Clip. This Compound Clip can be opened in its own timeline or broken apart for further editing. It can also be reused in different projects.
• Closed Captions: Introduced in version 10.4.1, closed captions can be created right in the timeline or imported into the timeline from an external file.
• Multicam Editing: Introduced in version 10.0.3, multiple camera angles can be synchronized automatically and combined into a Multicam Clip. Once in the timeline, a Multicam Clip can be cut up into different angles by using the Angle Viewer. A Multicam Clip can be opened in the Angle Editor where new angles can be added, synched, relabeled, and rearranged at any time.
• Auditions: Clips can be grouped together in the Event Browser or on the Timeline as Auditions. Once in the timeline, an Audition allows the user to choose between different clips in their edit while the timeline ripples automatically in order to preview two or more different versions of a cut.
• 3D Titles: Introduced in version 10.2.0, text can be extruded, textured, lit, and shaded with materials and environments in 3D. This allows users to create titles like those found in Hollywood blockbuster movies directly in the application.^[5]
• 360 Degree Video Editing: Introduced in version 10.4. Import and edit 360° equirectangular video in a wide range of formats and frame sizes.
• Advanced Color Grading
• High Dynamic Range

Technical features[edit]

While inheriting the name from its predecessor, Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Pro X is a completely re-written application. As a native 64-bit application it takes advantage of more than 4GB of RAM. It utilizes all CPU cores with Grand Central Dispatch. Open CL support allows GPU accelerated processing for improved performance for playback, rendering, and transcoding. It is resolution-independent, supporting images sizes from SD to beyond 4K. Final Cut Pro X supports playback of many native camera and audio formats.^[6] It can also transcode video clips to the Apple ProRes codec for improved performance.^[7][8] Many tasks are performed in the background such as auto-saving, rendering, transcoding, and media management, allowing the user an uninterrupted experience.^[9] Final Cut Pro X was developed for macOS and is not supported on the Windows Platform.^[10][11]Training and Certification is available by Apple for Final Cut Pro X.

Workflow integration[edit]

Motion 5

Titles, motion graphics, effects generated in Motion 5 can be published to Final Cut Pro X. Inside the Final Cut Pro X, editors can modify the parameters and contents of the effects, as long as the permission for such modifications is turned on in the Motion 5 project file.

Adobe Photoshop

In Final Cut Pro X 10.0.3 and later, the editor can import Photoshop projects onto the storyline similar to a still image. A Photoshop project with layers is treated similar to a compound clip and the layers are preserved after being imported into the Final Cut Pro X. Individual layers of the Photoshop project can be toggled on or off inside the Final Cut Pro X by double-clicking the imported project and going into the compound clip editing panel. Other adjustments to the Photoshop project should be performed on the imported Photoshop project using Adobe Photoshop program with updates happening in real-time inside Final Cut Pro X.

Development[edit]

Final Cut Pro X was made available for purchase and download on the Mac App Store on June 21, 2011 along with new versions of Motion and Compressor.^[2][12] Since then the application has been updated a few times each year with new features, bug fixes, native codec support, and overall improvements with stability.^[13]

Many features found in Final Cut Pro 7 that were missing in Final Cut Pro X on its initial release^[14] have subsequently been added such as: XML import and export, server support, multicam editing, chapter markers, and broadcast monitor support.^[15]

Because Final Cut Pro X abandoned a track-based timeline in favor of the Magnetic Timeline initially there were limitations in exporting audio stems for Broadcast and Distribution needs. On September 9, 2011 version 10.0.1 was released with a new solution to this problem, the introduction of Video and Audio Roles. Clips are assigned Roles and upon Sharing a Project the user could export Multitrack Quicktime Files or Stems.^[16][17] AAF export is done with a third-party app X2Pro which uses FCPXML. Another method is to use Logic Pro X to make an AAF.

With version 10.0.6 released on October 23, 2012, Apple introduced native Redcode Raw support as well as MXF support through a third party plugin. MXF was eventually natively supported by version 10.1.4.^[18]

Prior to the introduction of version 10.1.0 Project and Event Libraries were separate folders. Events contained all the original media and Project Libraries contained the actual edited Projects on timelines. The Project and Event Libraries were stored in a user's Movie folder or on the root level of an external hard drive. These Libraries automatically opened in Final Cut Pro X depending on which hard drives were mounted. That all changed on December 19, 2013, when Project and Event Libraries were merged into a new Library model. Libraries contained Events which in turn contained Projects. And unlike before Libraries could be opened and closed by the user. Media could be stored internally in the Library or kept outside the Library. On June 27, 2014 media management was further refined with the release of version 10.1.2.^[19]

During the NAB Show 2015 Apple released version 10.2.0. 3D Titles were introduced directly in Final Cut Pro X as well as its companion application, Motion. The Color Board merged with a new Color Correction effect to allow for more flexibility in stacking layers of effects. The ability to apply a Keying or Shape Mask directly to any effect was also introduced.^[20]

Version 10.3 introduced an entirely new interface and an improved magnetic timeline. Support for iXML metadata when importing audio. Audio editing vastly improved. Audio roles can be shown in lanes. REC 2020 color import, edit, and export. MXF support.

Version 10.4.0 introduced color wheels and color curves, 360º video editing and High Dynamic Range (HDR) video,

During the NAB Show 2018 Apple released version 10.4.1. Closed Captioning was introduced as well as support for ProRes RAW. Version 10.4.1 requires Mac OS version 10.13.2 High Sierra.

Release history[edit]

For a complete overview of the changes made, see Apple's release notes.

Reception[edit]

Final Cut Pro X was announced in April 2011 simultaneously at the Los Angeles Final Cut Pro Users Group held at Bally's Las Vegas and at the NAB Show in the Las Vegas Convention Center and released in June 2011.^[12][25]

The reaction was extremely mixed, with veteran film editor Walter Murch initially saying, "I can't use this," citing a lack of features compared to Final Cut Pro 7. In a 2015 interview, Murch was much less critical of the tool and suggested that he was interested in using it.^[26]

Missing features and issues noted as essential to professional video production in FCPX included lack of edit decision list (EDL), XML and Open Media Framework Interchange (OMF) support, inability to import projects created in previous releases of Final Cut Pro, a lack of a multicam editing tool, third-party I/O hardware output, and videotape capture being limited to Firewire video devices only, including capture with third-party hardware,^[14] were addressed within the first six months of the product's life. EDL export, a product of the early days of videotape editing, is now supported through third-party software^[27] and creating an AAF (a newer version of OMF)^[28] for passing projects to Pro Tools through X2Pro.

Since then, in some people's opinions, some of Final Cut Pro X's initial shortcomings have been fixed.^[29][30]

Apple announced in April 2018 that there are more than 2.5 Million users of Final Cut Pro X.^[31]

Ecosystem[edit]

Since its release, FCP X has supported the construction of Effect, Title, Transition, and Title plugins by publishing custom built effects from Apple Motion. This has led to a third-party ecosystem of developers building effects from simple color corrections to complex templates.^[32] Third-party plug-ins can also be created through Apple's FxPlugSDK.^[33] As Projects, Events, and Libraries are stored in a database format; this has allowed many third party developers to build workflow tools by utilizing FCPXML.^[34]

Feature films and television shows edited with Final Cut Pro X[edit]

Film[edit]

Television[edit]

References[edit]

To activate your product out of trial mode, you will need an activation that's received after purchasing the product.

• Option 1: Sign into Red Giant Application Manager
  Head into the Reg Giant Application Manager (RGA) located in your Start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac) and sign in using the email used to purchase your product from redgiant.com.
  
  The RGA should automatically detect your purchase and activate it out of trial mode accordingly. If it doesn't, use the menu in the top right to Refresh Account Information.
• Option 2: Submit the serial through Red Giant Application Manager
  Head into the Reg Giant Application Manager (RGA) located in your Start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac).
  
  Select Enter Serial Number through its menu in the top right and provide the serial you'd like to use to activate the product.
  
  
  
  
• Note if you used the product in a watermarked trial mode prior to registering, you may need to clean out the render cache to remove watermarked frames. To clean the cache in...
  • Final Cut Pro: Click File > Delete Generated Event Files
  • Premiere: Click Sequence > Delete Render Files
  • After Effects: Click Edit > Purge > Image Cache Memory
    

Related FAQs: