Buy the Right Mac | Professional applications for the Mac

Professional applications for the Mac

Well known for its consumer applications, like its new iLife’08, but many people are unaware of Apple’s applications for graphics, video and audio professionals. Those working with film or audio production find the applications help them be more productive with a shorter learning curve than many other applications. Since each application works seamlessly with the others, the two major application suites can work together from start to finish of your project. If you work in any of these type of fields, Buy The Right Mac can help you choose the Mac best suited to use Apple’s pro apps.

Final Cut Studio is a must for video and/or audio professionals as it integrates film, motion graphics and audio in one post-production tool. There are six major applications as well as several smaller applications contained within Final Cut Studio 2:

  • Final Cut Pro 6 is a real-time editing tool for DV, SD, HD and film.
  • Motion 3 is a real-time motion graphics design application.
  • Soundtrack Pro 2 offers advanced audio editing and sound design tools.
  • DVD Studio Pro 4 allows authoring, encoding and burning of professional DVDs.
  • Color is a color grading tool.
  • Compressor 3 allows multiple format for video projects.
  • LiveType 2 is a very nice text animation tool.
  • Cinema Tools 3 has several specialist tools for film processing.
  • Master 2 is a distributed processing tool.

The other professional suite that Apple offers is their excellent music production suite, Logic Studio. This set of tools also encompasses several different tools in the one integrated package:

  • Logic Pro which is the master audio editing software.
  • Soundtrack Pro 2 allows editing and creation of soundtracks.
  • Apple Loops Utility for creating custom loops.
  • Wave Burner Pro is the CD mastering tool.
  • Compressor3 is for audio and video data compression.
  • Main Stage for live performances.
  • Studio Instruments offers synthesizers and sampler.
  • Studio Effects helps create audio effects.
  • Studio Sound Library is huge collection of samples, loops, etc.
  • Impulse Response Utility creates custom convolution reverbs.

A stand alone application, Shake, is Apple’s image compositing package that is frequently used in video and film post production to deliver visual effects and digital compositing. It operates on a node-based system which allows for greater flexibility to the post-production team. Shake has been used in many recent films to help create visual effects and offer a seamless film experience. Some of these include the Harry Potter movies, The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Incredibles. This application’s main strength is that it works very well with the high resolution formats used in modern film productions.

With the new MobileMe service, you can coordinate with other members of the production team. You will be able to access all of your devices from the one interface through your mobile phone through its new suite of web applications. All the members of the team will be able to sync all of their devices to matching deadlines, contacts and even emails as needed.

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