It’s been a long time coming, but Apple is finally bringing Pro apps to the iPad Pro and even other models of iPad. Specifically, Final Cut Pro for video and Logic Pro for music are arriving on iPadOS.
Creators, developers, and general iPad owners have been asking Apple for years and it’s been rumored for quite some time. Apple is finally making it official though and compatibility is pretty wide. Though, those with an iPad Pro or iPad Air will likely get the smoothest, most Pro experience around.
Both apps will launch on May 23--in about two weeks--and Apple is going for a subscription model for each. They’ll cost $4.99 a month or $49 a year with a one-month free trial via the App Store.
Let’s dive into what these apps bring and which iPads they’ll run the best part.
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Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro Arrive on iPad
If you’re unfamiliar, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro are Apple’s two leading Pro-grade software programs. They’ve been staples on the Mac for years and still run great on the M1 Air, M2 Air, or M2 Pro, all the way up to the fancy MacBook Pros.
These are just copy-and-paste versions, as both are optimized for a touch interface that takes advantage of the iPad and its accessories. Final Cut Pro for iPad still offers access to the central timeline with support for up to ProRes footage--which can be recorded on the iPad Pro or an iPhone--but Apple is dropping some new tricks.
You can drag and drop items onto the timeline and speed through with a brush of a finger, and Apple is introducing a “Jog Wheel” for easier editing on the iPad. When an iPad is docked into a Magic Keyboard, you can get a laptop-like experience with the trackpad and the ability to use key shortcuts.
Related: The 10 Best Accessories to Level-Up Your iPad
Even neater is the integration with the Apple Pencil and what Apple calls “Live Drawing,” which will let you markup video and automatically make it animated. You can also use the “Hover with Apple Pencil” debuting on the new M2 iPad Pro to see what an edit will look like without touching the video. You can skim over the timeline or footage in the library before making it part of the project.
Final Cut Pro for iPad also takes advantage of the Machine Learning and AI aspects that make other tasks fly on these devices. You can still use a scene removal mask to separate the subject from the background and let auto-crop do the hard work of cutting a video for various distribution platforms. You also get full access to the effects, text library, and audio--including classic Garageband and iMovie jingles--from within the app.
This app won’t live in a bubble on the iPad, either. Projects from Final Cut Pro for iPad can be exported to Final Cut Pro on the Mac, and you can even send projects from iMovie to the pro-grade app.
The idea here, though, is a one-stop shop for video shooting, editing, and producing on the iPad. Of course, you can take advantage of the triple-camera array on the iPhone and send that footage to the iPad for editing.
We’ll need to go hands-on with Final Cut Pro, but for now, this seems like a long-awaited debut that Apple has taken its time on and is offering some unique interfaces. The markup and animation ability with the Apple Pencil looks pretty neat.
With Logic Pro for iPad it’s a similar arrival that brings music creation on a professional level with new interfaces that are optimized for touch. Given that this uses a larger timeline, we expect that drag and dropping the tiles will be a great experience.
Given the sheer amount of instruments, loops, and plug-ins that are in Logic, Apple is debuting a new Sound Browser that will make it easier to shift through what is available and pull it onto the timeline or a specific track. You also get access to the same beat making tools that are found in the Mac version and the full mixing board that is further optimized with multi-touch for the iPad Pro. You can also use the Apple Pencil for more precise control with a certain edit or for general navigation.
Related: 10th Gen iPad Review
The other advantage here is seamless import and export with Logic Pro on the Mac with the iPad, as well as the ability to send sounds to Final Cut Pro and port in tracks or projects from Garageband. Similar to when you graduate from iMovie to Final Cut Pro, you can do the same with Garageband to Logic Pro.
Logic Pro for iPad is also available on a plethora of iPads including the entry-level 9th. It needs a Apple's (AAPL) A12 Bionic Chip or newer, as well as iPadOS 16.4.
You’ll Need an M1 iPad for Final Cut Pro, While Logic Pro Supports Many Models
Sure, both of these will probably run the best on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the M2 chip, and you’ll get to take advantage of the vibrant, crisp Liquid Retina XDR mini LED display. However, you need an iPad with an M1 chip or newer for Final Cut Pro. And if you’re only after using Logic, you need an iPad with an A12 Bionic or later.
That means Final Cut Pro works on the current and previous generations of the 12.9-inch or 11-inch iPad Pro and the latest iPad Air with an M1 chip inside. That’s pretty broad compatibility, but features like Hover with the Apple Pencil require the M2 iPad Pro.
Related: The Most Advanced Apple Pencil Is at Its Lowest Price Ever on Amazon
Best iPad Deals to Shop Now
Whether you want an iPad Pro or an iPad Air to run Final Cut Pro, both are currently seeing some epic discounts. The iPad Air is $100 off in any of the five fun colors, while you can also save a bit on the iPad Pros. Of course, the discounts increase as you opt for a higher-end model with more storage and cellular connectivity.
- iPad Air with M1 Chip, 64GB of storage, and Wi-Fi ($499.99, originally $599 at Amazon)
- 11-inch iPad Pro with M2, 128GB of storage, and Wi-Fi ($792.94, originally $799 at Amazon)
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro with M2, 128GB of storage, and Wi-Fi ($1,049, originally $1,099 at Amazon)
The second-generation Apple Pencil, which works with the iPad Pro or iPad Air, is still down to the lowest price on Amazon. You can get it for $89, 31% off the $129 MSRP, and it magnetically attaches to the side of the iPad.
Similarly, the Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro or the iPad Air is on sale for $249 in white or $259 in black for $299. The larger model for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is 14% off at $299 for either white or black. It’s an essential accessory for getting work done on the iPad and gives you an extra USB-C port for connecting devices.
Logic Pro for iPad works on many more models; essentially, any iPad with an A12 Bionic or later can run the app. That includes the iPad Pro and iPad Air, the 10th Gen iPad, the iPad Mini, and even the 9th Gen iPad. Yes, the most affordable iPad, which is currently just $269.99 on Amazon (AMZN), can run Logic Pro.
- 9th Gen iPad with A13 Bionic, 64GB of storage, and Wi-Fi ($269.99, originally $329 at Amazon)
- 10th Gen iPad with A14 Bionic, 64GB of storage, and Wi-Fi ($399.99, originally $449 at Amazon)
- iPad Mini (6th Gen) with A15 Bionic, 64GB of storage, and Wi-Fi ($399.99, originally $499 at Amazon)
Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.
