Apple has finally announced that two of its most popular creative editing tools – Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro – are headed for compatible iPad devices. This will enable users to edit their videos, music, and other audio-visual content on the go, with a UI adapted for touch screens. The apps will be available on the App Store for iPads as subscription-based services starting Tuesday, May 23.
Apple says that the inclusion of iPad compatibility to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro incorporates some nifty new tricks including machine learning, integrated touch controls, and a lot of the same features seen on the desktop versions of both apps. According to Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing:
“We’re excited to introduce Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad, allowing creators to unleash their creativity in new ways and in even more places. With a powerful set of intuitive tools designed for the portability, performance, and touch-first interface of iPad, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro deliver the ultimate mobile studio.”
Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro for iPad will introduce an all-new touch interface, featuring a jog wheel that makes editing easier and allows users to navigate the Magnetic Timeline, move clips, and make edits completely using multi-touch gestures and controls.
The app will also be compatible with Live Drawing, meaning that users can draw and write directly on top of video content using their Apple Pencil. For users with the M2 iPad Pro, the Apple Pencil hover will give users the ability to skim and preview footage without ever touching the display. Of course, using a Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard Folio will provide access to more “traditional” key commands and control.
The portable version of FCP will also support Pro camera mode, so users can shoot video, capture, edit, and publish all from a single device, and support for multicam video editing. Users can likewise import supported media from Files or Photos, and save them directly inside a Final Cut Pro project. There’s also support for importing projects created in iMovie for iOS, and iPad users can export their Final Cut Pro projects to Mac.
Logic Pro
Similar to Final Cut Pro, the iPad version of Logic Pro likewise comes with support for multi-Touch gestures including pinch-to-zoom and swipe-to-scroll, and even lets users record directly using the built-in mics on iPad devices. For more precise editing, users can also edit with their Apple Pencil and connect a Smart Keyboard Folio or Magic Keyboard for more precise editing with key commands.
Apple has also introduced an all-new sound browser that uses “dynamic filtering,” which allows sound browser to display all available instrument patches, audio patches, plug‑in presets, samples, and loops in a single location. As with the full desktop version of the software, Logic Pro will come with over 100 different instruments and effects plug-ins, including effects like vintage EQs, compressors, and reverbs for editing and even pro-mixing tools.
iPad users can export their finished songs in a variety of compressed and lossless audio formats, as well as individual audio track stems. Additionally, users can create a soundtrack in Logic Pro for iPad and export it into Final Cut Pro for iPad and also open projects created in GarageBand for iOS.
Pricing and Availability
Users can get Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro on iPad via the App Store for £4.99 per month or £49 per year (including a one-month free trial). One big caveat is that Final Cut Pro is only compatible with M1 chip iPad models or later, while Logic Pro will be available on A12 Bionic chip iPad models or later. Furthermore, both apps will require iPadOS 16.4 in order to run.
