How do you develop native audio plug-ins for Apple's "Final Cut Pro"
(FCP)?

I am aware of the following:

1) Since FCP supports Adobe "After Effects" plug-ins, one solution is
to develop a plug-in using the Adobe After Effects SDK.  However, this
is not a "native" solution.

2) FCP FXScript allows video filters to be created.  However, I am not
aware that FXScript can be used to create audio filters or call
"outside" code modules.

3) The Apple developer site has the following SDKs: "iMovie Plug-in
SDK" and "QuickTime Interfaces" as well as others.  However, it is not
clear if any of these SDKs can be used to create native audio plug-ins
for FCP.

Reference links:
http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/
http://partners.adobe.com/asn/developer/gapsdk/AfterEffectsSDK.html
http://developer.apple.com/sdk/

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Request for Question Clarification by haversian-ga on 19 Oct 2002 03:13 PDT

You are correct - FXScript does NOT allow you to create audio effects.
 I have been unable to find any place that specifically says that FCP
will not let you edit audio at all, but at the same time have been
unable to find any place that mentions editing audio (including emails
to Apple).  I suspect that you will be best served either by writing
After Effects plugins or by using a separate audio editing program /
suite entirely.

Best of luck.

-Haversian

---

Clarification of Question by ehuffman-ga on 19 Oct 2002 10:54 PDT

In response to Request for Question Clarification:

FCP does allow the user to edit audio (please see
http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/specs.html).

My understanding of Final Cut Pro is that the native filters are
actually QuickTime filters, as I believe FCP processes footage as a
Quicktime stream - so looking at developing a quicktime filter may be
the closest to a native audio filter you have.

However some of the limitations inherant with FCP being a video
editing tool tend to mean that complex filters are best executed in a
specialist audio tool, such as ProTools.

Hi, 

'editing audio' can mean a number of things. if one wants to
cut/move/trim an audio clip, it's obviously possible in FCP.

"Built-in audio filters, including reverb, EQ, echo, and noise gate" 
"Subframe audio editing to 1/100th of a frame"
"Scrubbing with or without pitch shifting"
"Automatic, single-step audio transitions"
"More than 12 audio filters, including three-band and parameter
equalizer, compressor/limiter, 60/120-Hz hum remover, and noise gate"
 
- from the Apple FCP3 specs page 
[ http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/specs.html ] 


Apple specifies a separate program that it bundles with FCP called
PeakDV which can be used out of the FCP environment to perform some
algorithm-based functions like time compression, expansion, etc.

"PeakDV audio-editing tool for time compression/expansion, VST plug-in
support, and batch file processing (included)" - from the Apple FCP3
specs page.


Protools is altogether another realm! 

warm regards
vinods-ga