Version: 3
Platform: Final Cut Pro 3
Introduction and announcement; not a sales date.
Apple source ↗Final Cut Pro 3
Apple announced Final Cut Pro 3 on December 4, 2001, for Mac OS X and Mac OS 9, with availability planned during that month. The announced US price was $999, or $299 for registered users upgrading. The announcement day is not converted into a verified sales day.
- Family
- Pro Apps
- Version
- 3
- Historical US price
- US$999 / upgrade US$299 · Apple 2001
Apple · Final Cut Pro 3 · 2001-12-04
The new G4-based real-time effects architecture did not require a specialised add-in card for those effects. It did not remove processing requirements or all rendering. OfflineRT was a smaller offline editing format, distinct from real-time preview; colour tools added primary and secondary correction and broadcast-level controls.
Apple · Final Cut Pro 3 · 2001-12-04
The specifications require a 300 MHz G3 or G4 with built-in FireWire, Mac OS 9.2.2 or Mac OS X 10.1.1 and 256 MB RAM. G4 effects require more: a single 500 MHz or dual 450 MHz G4; mobile DV needs a 667 MHz PowerBook G4. The 384 MB figure is recommended for those effects, not the general minimum.
Apple · Final Cut Pro 3 · Technical Specifications
On b-roll.net, Kim Fatica explained that G4 effects were a preview: FireWire output was disabled in that mode and final work still needed rendering. He praised Autosave Vault and Boris titles but described OS 9 plug-in incompatibilities under OS X and capture problems reported by colleagues. These are attributed experiences, not a universal stability guarantee.
Kim Fatica · b-roll.net · 2002-12-12
Dates documented by Apple
Selected releases, not a complete history. Dates follow Apple's release records, not the latest page edit. No builds are included.
ISO date: year-month-day.