Update: 10.11 is out. Here’s a link to essential CoreMelt updates, and an Izotope Audio Plugin workaround.
Update 2: 10.11.2 is out, and fixes the stabilization rendering issue some have reported. The TC window UI glitch is partially fixed, but numbers are still offset… Also, Izotope’s stuff works now, and most major plugins have been updated…
In the next couple days, OS X 10.11, El Capitan, will be unleashed. Generally, I’m the moron who immediately updates anything the second it appears, and I happily tell everyone else to do the same. But this time, if you’re using Pro Apps, I’d recommend holding off for a bit. And by “a bit”, I mean until Pro App and 3’rd party plugin updates appear.
That’s not to say your apps won’t work, they will. In fact, those of you who stubbornly refuse to give up FCP 7 – (what is wrong with you?!?) – will be thrilled to learn that it still works. This is probably it’s last gasp, but it’s still kicking. 🙂
And while there are some little UI oddities, FCP X works just fine too. The problem is with plugins. El Capitan contains some fairly significant changes to the GPU code in preparation for “Metal”. It also restricts access to certain system locations, essentially making the “sandbox” more secure.
As you can see, I’ve had some issues with audio plugins, and CoreMelt has posted that the Slice/Track/Drive X plugins will need to be updated. (see updates above for fixes) I’m sure there are others with similar issues, I haven’t really tried everything.
UPDATE: Izotope plugins now work. 🙂
Ben Balser has a related post on his blog, which you may want to check out. He reports that Color Finale won’t work properly though it seems OK for me. Anyway, I’m not as strident in my warnings. Honestly, If you don’t use any 3’rd party plugins, you may be OK. But if you do, don’t dive in just yet. Leave that to fools like me!
Final Cut Pro X Babbling 
So FCP 7 still works when you upgrade to El Capitan, but will my Mac running El Capitan let me install FCP 7?
Hi, It will if you have Final Cut Studio 3 install discs… and a disc drive of course 🙂 Anything older than that the installer may not run…
You will also need “Rosetta” Which can be found on the Snow Leopard installer disc,
among other places.
Hi, I finally jumped into upgrading my iMac (not an easy decision but I had to do it for various important reasons) and now need to render a whole bunch of stuff on my timeline in FCP7, that didn’t need any rendering before the upgrade to the new OS. I have a clean , all ProRes, same frame rate, etc., footage, not too many effects either. But even simple audio dissolves need rendering in a few places now. All of my titles (not 3D, simple outlined text) are orange too, before they weren’t even green. Have looked at seq settings, render settings, the number of real time audio mixing tracks, etc, nothing helps. Do I need additional plugins? Any ideas on how this could be fixed? Would appreciate any thoughts, thanks.
Hi… that’s odd, 7 has been pretty much the same for me on 10.11 as before, and we have 4 more systems running on the same OS as well… all seem OK. Have you updated the “pro” codecs? you can grab ’em here if not… https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1396?locale=en_US …just a shot in the dark… Also, if you have an NVIDIA GPU, make sure the drivers are updated.. There should be a control panel at the bottom of the system prefs window to do that if it applies. Seems like you’ve hit all the usual places… Also check the playback settings menu on the left side of the timeline. (RT, Full etc…) sometimes those settings get tweaked and it does what you’re describing.
Thanks for the suggestions. I will download the pro codecs, although I think I’ve been updating those regularly. I don’t think it is any of those other things. Thanks again.
None of those helped unfortunately. Every time I edit something on FC7, I say to myself this is the absolute last time! I’ve been saying that since 2001 actually. Still can’t seem to get rid of it, no matter how hard I try! Every other project, it comes back to haunt me!
lol… I know the feeling… Sorry that stuff was no help. It is odd, like I said, the systems I’m working with all seem OK… Maybe try reinstalling 7? Hope it clears up…
hello,
i just got an iMac 5k and tried to install FCP 7 and i have it up and running however and it runs my old project files but when i log and transfer from canon (which i did download canon to fcp 7 plugin) my log and transfer does not work in el capitan. any ideas feel free to email me thanks.
Hi Reuben,
Did you get an answer to this? I am unable to get log and transfer working as well.
Hi Reuben,
Did you get an answer to this problem. I can’t get my log and transfer to work either.
Thank you
I have the same problem, I have just got iMac 5k, installed FCP 7 just fine and then upgrade to 7.0.3 and all seems fine, BUT when I do log and transfer fcp will crash every few minutes, any suggestion to solve this problem! many thanks …