For the past two years I have been working on Final Cut Pro 6, specifically the Open Format Timeline. This feature allows you to edit any content into a single timeline. Many years ago, everyone using FCP edited in DV. Or if not, they usually edited in a single format. But these days people get material from different sources, different cameras, different sizes, different frame rates...

Open Format Timeline allows you to edit anything into one timeline and we play everything back in real-time. We do real-time up and down converts, and real-time framerate adjustments. Now, you can even preview an HD timeline on an SD video monitor, something I think lots of people will love.

It all sounds sorta simple and boring but it should make editing much easier. The holy grail of editing is to be able to splice stuff together, add effects, make changes, and always be able to playback immediately. Then you can make changes, playback, make changes, etc. Anytime you have to stop and render seriously slows down the creative process. Hopefully Open Format Timeline will be a big win for our users.

On store shelves in a month...