Can users of Final Cut Pro eventually switch from Mac to iPad?

Imagine the following scene: editors working furiously to finish their masterpieces in a crowded, hectic video production facility. You presumably see them on enormous workstations and monitors, don’t you? Imagine that they are all currently editing on iPads while lounging on plush couches.

For both amateur and professional creators, Final Cut Pro for iPad adds a new tool to the mix. There are many ways that the iPad may enhance and optimize the manufacturing process, even though the aforementioned scenario may not yet seem feasible to people working in the field. Furthermore, Final Cut Pro is a significant step toward transforming the iPad into a true PC.

Apple silicon enables everything.

The majority of creators are accustomed to editing, color grading, and exporting film on large, robust workstations. These workstations cost several thousand dollars, similar to the Mac Studio or Mac Pro. But Apple silicon has altered how designers think about the necessary hardware, helping them to save some money in the process. Many people find that utilizing simply a MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (or even the MacBook Air) has adequate processing power because to its amazing efficiency and almost miraculous performance.

The resource-hungry applications usually stayed on laptops and desktops, so there weren’t many expectations about a tablet performing the hard job. When the quick M1 processor was added to the iPad Pro, the performance-enhancing software was still lacking. Why can’t an M1 tablet run those programs if an Apple silicon Mac can? This paved the path for apps like Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro to appear on the iPad. Then, rather than performance, the issue is one of usage and practicality.

The restriction is that Final Cut Pro requires an iPad Pro M1 or above to function. Even with this limitation, editing with Final Cut Pro is more accessible than ever across more devices. Older iPads with A-series CPUs are not supported.

Basic differences between Final Cut Pro on iPad and Mac

Let’s discuss practical examples, how to use Final Cut Pro on iPad, and areas where it falls short of the Mac version. It includes a magnetic timeline and a comparable visual interface, which will be comfortable. But there are some more significant variations to be aware of.

Here are several fundamental variations that could dissuade you from wanting to replace Final Cut Pro on your Mac. Or you could be persuaded to employ both.

Mobility

According to Apple’s own marketing, the iPad edition of Final Cut Pro is designed for “Creators on the Go.” That may be taken as a reference to those who shoot video directly on their iPads. Social media content has made it feasible to create incredibly realistic processes even though the border between “pro” and “consumer” is hazy.

Apple even includes a camera option in Final Cut Pro for iPad that allows you to instantly shoot video. Additionally, it offers you other manual changes like exposure and frame rates. Due to the fact that you are not importing video from a camera and are instead cutting out the middleman totally, the workflow is undoubtedly sped up significantly.

On the iPhone, whole movies have been produced, but owing to the iPad’s bigger size, it is undoubtedly not the first instrument that most artists would choose to purchase. Even so, using an iPad allows for a “all-in-one” environment of shooting, editing, and exporting. (Alternatively, record on the more mobile iPhone and then edit with ease on the bigger iPad Pro.)

The iPad Pro’s touch screen is remarkable, and it can really improve editing in a novel way. Once you become used to the movements, you can swiftly modify with a swipe of your finger. The Jog Wheel aids in improving movement and editing precision, which can occasionally seem sloppy when touched. After using the Jog Wheel for a few weeks, I found it to be simple to use and a lot of fun. At times, I even missed having it on the Mac.

Touch screen

Although it’s bulkier than a mouse for precise motions, the Apple Pencil may be beneficial as well. The Apple Pencil can be the ideal tool for the task for making specific tweaks and modifications.

The downsides of a touch interface are real. Mouse input is preferred when manipulating some screen elements or even simple file motions. It might be difficult to type on the on-screen keyboard if you don’t have a linked real keyboard.

In general, it’s simple to sit back and make the initial rough edit on the iPad Pro—obvious cuts, silent removal, and project organization. The project may then be finished by simply importing it into Final Cut Pro for Mac.

Storage

With an iPad Pro, you’ll primarily be limited to the built-in storage and probably rely more on iCloud or other cloud storage, even if Thunderbolt compatibility is available on Apple hardware versions. Storage raid arrays may be added considerably more easily on a Mac using Thunderbolt/USB-C. There is just one USB-C connector on the iPad Pro, which does provide you some alternatives like SD card readers but also comes with extra limitations.

The iPad Pro can only be used for simpler, less involved tasks due to the enormous storage gap between it and the Mac. While moving projects from an iPad Pro to a Mac is conceivable, it is currently not possible to do the same from a Mac library.

Additionally, there will be less room for storage organizing. Many users are used to the Final Cut Pro Mac version’s rather powerful methods for organizing the video and related data. While some of it is available on the iPad, it is a little less comprehensive and obtuse. The Files app on the iPad Pro really brings usability closer to home, and when you need to share files, AirDrop is an extra bonus. Another way the iPad Pro has resembled a Mac without necessarily taking over that territory totally is in this regard.

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