JoeTallyho
Level 1 (15 points)

Q: Getting new iMac-Late 2013 FCE4 Available?

Just ordered iMac 21.5" w/Haswell, 512GB SSD, and 3.1Ghz processor.  I am 60% in editing an iMovie HD (6) project on my iMac G5 ALS, but exhibiting hard drive minor issues.  Want to continue project on new iMac, but I think current iMovie 2009 will not import project correctly and files and also not as powerful (for consumer level editing as the iMovie HD.  So, looking at Final Cut Express, but it appears it is no longer available and only FCPX is the only editor (better than iMovie/iLife11) out there now. And FCPX is $300 and I remember FCE4 being around $200 when it was available.  What are your suggestions in my options in moving my iMovie HD project on my new iMac with a little more powerful editing capability?

 

Thanks!

iMac G5 2.0Ghz 20" Ambient Light, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 2GB RAM/Seagate 500GB

Posted on Sep 25, 2013 8:34 AM

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JoeTallyho

Q: Getting new iMac-Late 2013 FCE4 Available?

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  • by MartinR,Helpful

    MartinR MartinR Sep 25, 2013 8:54 AM in response to JoeTallyho
    Level 6 (14,891 points)
    Sep 25, 2013 8:54 AM in response to JoeTallyho

    Final Cut Express was discontinued nearly 3 years ago, even prior to the release of Lion.

     

    Final Cut Pro X is the current product, and is qualified & supported on Mt. Lion.

  • by MartinR,Helpful

    MartinR MartinR Sep 25, 2013 9:15 AM in response to MartinR
    Level 6 (14,891 points)
    Sep 25, 2013 9:15 AM in response to MartinR

    My suggestion is to complete your project on iMovie HD 6 on your current Mac.  Then move to iMovie 11 & FCPX on your new Mac.

  • by MartinR,

    MartinR MartinR Sep 25, 2013 10:47 AM in response to MartinR
    Level 6 (14,891 points)
    Sep 25, 2013 10:47 AM in response to MartinR

    One more thing (although I don't recommend doing this in the midst of a video project) ...

     

    Replacing the hard drive in an iMac G5 ALS is a relatively simple process.   There are even official Apple DIY instructions for doing it.   If the iMac is otherwise fine and you want to preserve your copy & use of iMovie HD6  (and, btw, install FCE) ... you might consider keeping your old iMac and putting a new hard drive in it.

  • by JoeTallyho,

    JoeTallyho JoeTallyho Sep 26, 2013 11:04 PM in response to MartinR
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Sep 26, 2013 11:04 PM in response to MartinR

    Thanks Martin.  I also have a 20" iMac ALS. THe hard drive was replaced on this and is fairly new, but the video board apparently failed which locked up my iMac until I found a workaround on the support site which is a software video implementation or something like that. If this hard drive is compatible with the 17" ALS, i might try your recommendation.  It appears FCPX is my  only option for better editing than iMovie.  Will try to finish project on  current iMac and will experiment with FCPX on new iMac with same project to  see if  I can edit an older iMovie project.