FCP 6.0.6 and Mac OS 10.8.5

Hello Forum,

I need some help. I have a Mac Pro that is currently running Mac OS 10.6.8. I am also running FCP 6.0.6, yes I am living in the past. I am doing this because I compose the music with Protools, and then export into FCP. This has worked well for many years, but now I am considering upgrading my Mac OS and Protools OS, but I don't want to upset the apple cart. Will FCP 6.0.6 work with either Mac OS 10.7 or better yet Mac OS 10.8.5?

Thanks very much!
Meanmrmustard

Hi Mean, oops mean Mr Mustard.
Need some more info. What MacPro? Apple restricts the latest OSs to 2008 MPs or newer, but there are ways to "hack" around this restriction. I've run Mavericks on a 2006 MP1.1.
Likewise, how are you planning on upgrading? Software update or clean install? While you most likely you will be able to use Software Update to install your current programs, clean installs may present problems with installing legacy programs like FCP6/7. These used a 32bit universal installer that is no longer supported in latest OSs. Again there are work arounds.
Given the benefits of clean installs, this is my recommended method of installing new OSs. This is especially true while going from 10.6 to 10.10. Getting 10.7 Lion from Apple, may be possible as this is the last OS for some computer models, but not sure about 10.8. Do you have these already?
FCP6 is veeery long in the tooth now. If I remember correctly, Philip Hodgets 7toX app works with FCP6 as well for bringing in old projects.

Finally, I really recommend switching to FCPX. Try it using the demo trial. Takes some getting used too and has requirements for GPU and OS versions. Worth it IMHO.


Hope this helps, Greg

Hi there
My experience is that I updated my retina macbook pro from Mzvericks to Yosemite, and all the software converted, including Final Cut Pro 7, and it is a tiny bit quicker, not much, but it seems faster, not that I use it much, I am now using X, so many benefits, I cannot justify having to go back, other than to keep memory fresh.