What is continually amazing to me is the way in which digital tools have “democratized” production of audio and visual media. Twenty years ago, it was only possible for major houses to produce, in $500,000 editing facilities, what kids now can do on their Macs in their rooms.

My century has brought the power of professional level communication into the hands of the people. All the people.

To see some of this in action in a school setting, check out the Interlochen Arts Academy Motion Picture Arts program for high school students… 

“Final Cut is the first Apple program that’s not available in computer stores and not available on DVD. You can get it only from the online Mac App Store.

It’s a great system, though. You don’t have to worry about serial numbers, viruses, disk images or installers. You always get the latest version. You never have to hunt for your DVD when you want to reinstall. The software gets installed automatically, the way iPhoneapps do; you don’t even have to type your Mac password.

The new Final Cut has been radically redesigned. In fact, it looks and works a lot like iMovie, all dark gray, with “skimming” available; you run your cursor over a clip without pressing the mouse button to play it.

Once you’re past the shock of the new layout, the first thing you’ll notice is that Apple has left most of the old Final Cut’s greatest annoyances on the cutting-room floor.”