How to Learn Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is a versatile video editing program that is ideal for amateur creatives and aspiring professional Video Editors. Whether you are looking to break into a new career or just improve the quality of your creative projects, learning Final Cut Pro can help. The number of options for learning Final Cut Pro might be overwhelming at first glance. There are books, video tutorials, classes, and more to choose from; it all depends on your learning style and personal preferences. 

Here, we’ll discuss the various methods of learning Final Cut Pro so you can decide how you’d like to get started.

What is Final Cut Pro?

Final Cut Pro is Apple’s first-party, non-linear video editing software. Final Cut Pro is a tool professional and amateur filmmakers use to edit video clips, cut and combine video files, and otherwise add or remove elements from film. Final Cut Pro is a versatile video editing tool, useful for both elaborate editing projects and personal video productions. New features of Final Cut Pro allow users to import and edit videos taken on iPhone 13s in stunning cinematic detail, making Final Cut Pro an ideal program to learn for amateur artists looking to break into the world of video editing. However, the program retains all of the essential features that make Final Cut Pro comparable to other professional video editing software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro.

Final Cut Pro users can automatically synchronize shots from multiple cameras, chroma key out green screen effects, add animated 3D titles to their work, and insert or import closed captioning directly into a file. These features have contributed to the rise in popularity of Final Cut Pro, making it an ideal program for new video editors, particularly those interested in working on elaborate personal projects to learn. While it has not reached the market saturation of Adobe Premiere Pro, partly due to its macOS exclusivity, students won’t be making a mistake if they opt to learn Final Cut Pro for their video editing needs.

Read more about what Final Cut Pro is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Final Cut Pro?

Final Cut Pro lets users edit, compile, manipulate, and otherwise cut video files from virtually any macOS device. With Final Cut Pro, users can quickly and efficiently make minor edits to video files, making the program ideal for anyone who wants to shoot their own footage (including on devices like an iPhone 13) and immediately begin working on their edits. Final Cut Pro has advanced editing capabilities for users who want to create more professional video productions, such as multi-camera editing functionality, chroma-key removal tools, and built-in 3D animation modeling capabilities.

Final Cut Pro is also an excellent skill to learn for creatives who want to work on editing their own content. Since it is such an accessible tool, you’ll be able to quickly pick up the basics of Final Cut Pro, letting creatives work on basic editing tasks without needing months of video editing training. As the landscape of digital content creation becomes more and more crowded, creatives looking to have their voices heard know that their output needs to look as professional as possible. No matter what kind of video project you aspire to create, learning how to quickly and effectively edit those projects will be invaluable for online content creators.

In-Person Final Cut Pro Training

Students interested in learning to use Final Cut Pro may find that their preferred option is receiving in-person instruction. Many students find that working directly with their instructors and a cohort of like-minded students is the best way to learn a new skill. These classes will allow students to learn hands-on Final Cut Pro skills from experienced instructors who can provide immediate feedback and assistance as issues arise. These courses also let students access a training center’s computer labs, ensuring they have access to Final Cut Pro and a computer that will run the application.

The drawback to these classes is that they only provide instruction in some geographic regions. For instance, while Noble Desktop provides comprehensive in-person Final Cut Pro instruction at its Manhattan campus, students in Burbank or Peoria will need to look elsewhere. This means that students can find their options to be limited. Students may have difficulty finding the kind of quality in-person Final Cut Pro training that fits their needs, so Noble Desktop provides them with the Classes Near Me Tool to help students find and compare their options.

Live Online Final Cut Pro Training

Students interested in learning Final Cut Pro may be unable to travel to attend the in-person training seminar they desire. These students may wish to explore their options for live online Final Cut Pro training. These classes allow students to receive professional Final Cut Pro instruction from experienced instructors without leaving their homes. Students will still be able to interact directly with their instructors, asking them questions and receiving feedback so that students won’t lose out on one of the more valuable aspects of live instruction. Students will be responsible for acquiring and maintaining their software and hardware, and given that Final Cut Pro has a steep upfront cost, this may be a challenge for some students.

Noble Desktop offers live, online instruction versions of all the seminars it provides to students in person at its Manhattan campus. Even online, these courses boast small class sizes, ensuring that students won’t compete with one another for the attention of their instructors. Instructors can even interact directly with a student’s desktop or Final Cut Pro application remotely with a student's permission. Plus, all of these courses come with Noble’s option for a free retake within one year. Students interested in live online Final Cut Pro training should consult Noble’s Classes Near Me tool to find and compare their options.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

Some students may want to learn how to use a program like Final Cut Pro, but they are still hesitant about paying to enroll in a video editing training course. For these students, free online training seminars are a great way to explore the possibilities Final Cut Pro training offers without immediately committing to an expensive training program. These free training resources will give students the freedom to experiment with Final Cut Pro and give them a valuable background in the basics of the program should they choose to continue with their Final Cut Pro training.

Noble Desktop understands that students may hesitate to jump head-first into professional skills training courses. To help ease them into online skills training, they offer a wide range of free video tutorials and seminars to help students begin to understand the kinds of lessons and projects they will work on in a professional learning environment. Students interested in learning the basics of Final Cut Pro should visit Noble’s free seminars page to view their Getting Started in Video Editing seminar. This free course will give students a detailed overview of video editing projects' basic techniques and tools. Once they’ve taken advantage of these seminars, students can visit the Video Editing and Motion Graphics playlist on Noble’s official YouTube page to view more videos covering these tools and techniques.

Students can find additional free tutorials through providers like Udemy and Coursera. Apple also offers free resources, templates, and training videos for new Final Cut Pro users.

Read about more free Final Cut Pro videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Final Cut Pro Classes

Some students may find that their obligations make it too difficult to attend a live in-person or online training seminar. Whether they have work or family obligations or just don’t have a set schedule, enrolling in an on-demand Final Cut Pro training course is an ideal alternative to a course with a more fixed schedule. These courses give students flexibility in the structure and pace of their learning regiment, which can be helpful for students who need to pause their instruction or learn specific skills at an accelerated pace. The downside to these classes is that without an instructor to turn to, students won’t have a place to get actionable feedback and will have to try and overcome obstacles they run into without assistance.

Due to the lack of an organizing schedule, on-demand classes will also be the most varied classes students can enroll in. Some of these classes are free, some require students to pay an upfront cost, and others require students to subscribe to a premium training service like SkillShare or LinkedIn. On-demand courses can take the form of individual recorded lectures, or they can be self-sustained modules that students move through at their own pace. Some of these classes are designed for beginners, while others expect students to be familiar with basic video editing techniques. Since a diversity of options is such an advantage of these courses, students will want to carefully review their options before enrolling in a course.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

With so many different resources available to help beginners learn Final Cut Pro, you might be unsure about which one is best for you. Everyone has different learning styles and preferences, and you can experiment with multiple tools to see which one feels right for you. One of the great things about directing your learning is that you pick which combination of tools you prefer; you don’t have to stick with what a teacher chooses.

It’s also essential to consider your current schedule before selecting a learning method. If you have a lot of responsibilities like a full-time job or family commitments, you may not be able to devote time to a structured course that requires you to attend at the same time every day. In this case, a self-paced class or video tutorials may be better since you can access them when your schedule allows. On the other hand, those with a more flexible schedule may prefer a structured course offered in-person or live online. 

Why Learn Final Cut Pro?

Final Cut Pro is an incredibly accessible video editing application, making it ideal for creatives looking for a way to break into the world of video content production and editing. The program allows individuals to easily and quickly compile, cut, and synchronize video and audio files, including video files captured using an iPhone 13’s cinematic camera. Learning to use Final Cut Pro will give creatives the tools to produce professional quality videos without needing a professional-grade editing rig. Optimized to run on lightweight tools like MacBooks, Final Cut Pro will let you start editing your videos almost instantly. Still, the program doesn’t skimp on the elaborate features, as Final Cut Pro is steadily gaining footing in the professional film editing industry.

Learning tools like Final Cut Pro can also set students up for success in the in-demand field of video editing. Any individual or company looking to produce video content will want to ensure that their final product meets specific professional standards. Video Editors are a vital part of making that happen. Video Editors commonly work in the film and television industries, but they also work in advertising, education, and politics. In addition, the world of digital content creation has massively expanded in the last few years, giving content creators and editors far more opportunities to stake a place for themselves in the market, thanks to platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Learning to edit videos using Final Cut Pro will ensure that your content isn’t passed over for looking like it was produced by an amateur.

Read more about why you should learn Final Cut Pro. 

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

Final Cut Pro is designed to be an accessible, user-friendly video editing program that amateur video editors can pick up and begin experimenting with quickly. Final Cut Pro is ideal for beginners and experienced video editors since the program accommodates a diverse user base. Even though it is user-friendly, Final Cut Pro is still a deep and complex program, meaning that those looking to become expert video editors will likely need more training and practice time.

There are no technical prerequisite skills to learning Final Cut Pro. However, users will want to be comfortable using computers for complicated tasks, particularly having multiple files, folders, and applications open simultaneously and navigating multiple interfaces. In addition, since Final Cut Pro is exclusive to macOS machines, students will want to ensure that they have access to a computer that meets the system requirements to run Final Cut Pro.

Final Cut Pro has an up-front cost to purchase a license to the program. At the time of writing, a license to Final Cut Pro costs $299.99, though up to six family members can access the application through linked Apple accounts. Apple offers a free trial version of the complete program, but no free version is available for long-term use.

Read about how difficult it is to learn Final Cut Pro.

Learn Final Cut Pro with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Students looking to learn how to edit videos using Final Cut Pro have many options available through Noble Desktop. These courses, offered at Noble’s Manhattan campus or through live online instruction, offer students the opportunity to learn the skills they need to start a career in video editing. Students will receive hands-on experience working with Final Cut Pro in classes taught by experienced professionals with years of video editing experience. Even online, class sizes are kept small, ensuring that students won’t be competing with each other to get the attention of their instructor, who can provide them with real-time feedback and assistance. Plus, all of Noble’s courses come with the option to retake the class within a year of a student’s initial enrollment, giving students even more time to work closely with their instructors and receive direct Final Cut Pro instruction. 

For students looking to learn the ins and outs of Final Cut Pro, Noble offers a Final Cut Pro Bootcamp. This course will teach students how to use the basic and advanced features of Final Cut Pro, ensuring that students leave with a complete understanding of what the program is capable of. Students will learn the fundamental principles of film editing, such as how to clip video files, combine those clips, and how to insert transitions between clips. Then, they will work with Final Cut Pro’s more advanced video editing features and learn skills such as chroma-key replacement, multi-camera editing, color correction, and altering footage speed. These lessons will train students to begin editing their videos or compiling a demo reel for a professional editing portfolio. Students taking this course online must ensure they have access to a copy of Final Cut Pro and a macOS device that can run Final Cut Pro.

Students looking for a more career-focused training program to help them break into the world of video editing should consider Noble’s Video Editing Certificate program. This course is built with student professionalization in mind. Rather than learning basic video editing skills, students will learn all major film editing software applications, including Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, and After Effects. These training courses will ensure that students are comfortable with every aspect of video editing and ready to work on nearly any project. In addition, since these are career-focused courses, students will receive professionalization training, including one-on-one career mentorship sessions, professional demo reel development seminars, and hands-on training with real-world editing projects. This course is an immersive experience designed to take students from amateur to professional video editors.

Key Insights

• Final Cut Pro is a versatile video editing tool perfect for learning whether you are an amateur creative or an aspiring professional; it will benefit students to learn Final Cut Pro.
• Several different options are available for students looking to learn Final Cut Pro. Training options can be either live or asynchronous and either in-person or online.
• Students often prefer in-person training options, but they are limited in their available locations.
• Online training options are available both live and asynchronously. These courses are ideal for students looking to work around their schedules and availability.
• No matter what training you choose, Noble Desktop can support you, including comprehensive in-person or live online training.