When Apple released Final Cut Pro X, one thing that was clear was that FCPX could not open legacy Final Cut projects. This is a major disappointment for almost all editors who have projects they need access to. However, thanks to Intelligent Assistance’s latest product – Project X₂7 – that has sort of been solved.
Project X₂7 allows editors to have compatibility between Final Cut Pro 7 and Final Cut Pro X. But, it’s probably not what you’re expecting. You can go from X to 7 (hence the name X₂7) using XML. At first, you may be wondering, “what is the point? This isn’t helpful at all!” until you realize the possibilities.
Project X₂7 – FCPX Timeline
Project X₂7 – FCP7 Timeline
Images courtesy Intelligent Assistance
I was fortunate to be one of the BETA testers for this application and got to witness how great it is! Once you convert your project from FCPXML to XML, you have access to all of “Classic” Final Cut’s tools! That means you can send it to Color for color grading, export OMF to mix audio in software such as Pro Tools, and more! Those who are using tape formats can access Print to Tape. All of a sudden, most of the problems FCPX currently faces cease to exist!
Intelligent Assistance did a great job with this application. It can convert Final Cut 10′s new features – to-do markers, roles, synchronized clips, auditions, compound clips, inactive clips, titles, transitions, and more – to ones legacy Final Cut can understand.
Their reason for not offering support for FCP7 to FCPX is because they heard that was in the works, possibly by Apple. As of right now, CatDV offers rough support for converting older Final Cut projects to Final Cut Pro X projects.
Update: Intelligent Assistance has released a new application called 7toX for Final Cut Pro which now converts Final Cut Pro 7 project to FCPX. In addition, they have renamed Project X₂7 to Xto7 for Final Cut Pro.
Overall I am really happy with Project X₂7. I like that I am able to create a project in FCPX and then get the tools and options found in Final Cut 7. The great thing is that it’s super affordable! Project X₂7 is available for only $49.99 USD! So even students and post houses with small budgets can afford it.
For more information regarding Project X₂7, please visit Intelligent Assistance’s website. Be sure to become a fan on Facebook, subscribe to the RSS feed, and follow @FinalCutWhiz on Twitter for Final Cut Pro news, tutorials, and updates!
I have made the corrections.
You have your terminology reversed. Opening a FCPX project in FCP7 is *forward* compatibility, in that you are using FCP7 but can open projects created with newer software. These FCPX projects are “in front of you” from FCP7′s perspective.
Opening FCP7 projects, which are “behind you” when you’re working in FCPX would be *backward* compatibility.
It’s not which direction the file moves, from X to 7, but which direction the software which opens the file is “looking,” which is from 7 to X.
It’s an easy mistake to make, I only mention it because you want to be careful that you don’t confuse people, especially since the number-one missing feature that editors have been clamoring for in FCPX is backward compatibility.