[ Update, Nov. 18, 2024. I just finished testing DaVinci Resolve and will write it up by mid-week. Based on what I’ve learned, I’ve changed my opinion on RAM and GPUs. I added new comments below.]
I’m still in the middle of my performance testing, but already I can see that the M4-series Macs continue Apple’s tradition of delivering outstanding computer performance in a variety of form factors at (mostly) affordable prices.
SO, SHOULD YOU BUY ONE?
Maybe.
The big benefit to M4-computers is support for more and larger monitors and, on M4 Pro and M4 Max systems, support for Thunderbolt 5. However, Thunderbolt 5 also requires buying Thunderbolt 5 storage hardware.
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INTERNAL STORAGE PERFORMANCE
I looked at the speeds of various internal drives. All M-series computers have internal drives roughly equivalent to the fastest Thunderbolt 5 external unit, which is about 6,000 MB/second.
However, tests using both Final Cut and Premiere also show that they are not exporting data anywhere close to Thunderbolt 5 speeds. FCP averages 1.2 GB/second.
In general, buy enough internal storage to hold the operating system, all applications and work files. I have a 2 TB system on my M2 Max Mac Studio and I’m using 500 GB of it. Use external storage for all projects and media.
The big benefit to Thunderbolt 5 – currently – is that file transfers using Finder or other third-party file transfer software will come close to filling a Thunderbolt 5 pipe – assuming the storage hardware is fast enough to support that speed. This makes handling giant files much easier and faster. But it won’t make much difference – yet – to your NLE.
PLANNING YOUR CONFIGURATION
As you plan your new system, here are some considerations to keep in mind:
Laptop or Desktop
If you need portability, buy a laptop. If not, desktops will cost less. All M4 Macs include a monitor and keyboard, except for the Mac mini.
M4 vs. M4 Pro vs. M4 Max
If you are a hobbyist, with a limited budget, or don’t edit that much, or principally need it for office work – web, word processing, spreadsheets, databases and the like – the M4 is TOTALLY perfect.
If you need/want Thunderbolt 5 – and the additional external monitors it supports – you must get a system with an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip.
If you are doing massive multicam edits, working with gigantic frame sizes, have zero time for anything to render, work with 3D space, create animated videos, all of these will benefit from an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip. (The M4 Max is nice to have for media, but it has power you’ll never use.)
If you have the budget, but don’t know – yet – what you want to do with it, get a system with the M4 Pro chip.
CPU Cores
More cores provides more performance. But even base-level systems have more than enough performance for media editing. Keep in mind that, in general, M4 systems are roughly as fast as M1 systems and 4X, or more, faster than any Intel system.
Regarding efficiency vs. performance cores, no software maxes out all the cores all the time. So, there’s no reason to spend extra for all the cores. I generally recommend something in the middle. In fact, FCP rarely uses the performance cores during render or export.
GPU Cores
Increasingly, our NLEs are using the GPUs more effectively. More GPUs will help complex projects with extensive rendering, but won’t affect simpler edits using cuts, dissolves and limited color grading.
UPDATE: I used to say the number of GPUs doesn’t really matter. In this round of testing, they matter a lot. Once you have at least 24 GB of RAM, if you need to choose between more RAM or more GPU cores, buy more GPU cores.
RAM
In the past, 16 GB of RAM was the minimum for video editing. The 8 GB that Apple shipped was OK for office applications, but far too limiting for editing. Today, with the new unified memory of M-series chips, I recommend 16 GB for straightforward editing regardless of frame size. I recommend more RAM for multicam editing, Premiere is much more RAM hungry than FCP.
Again, based on my testing, you won’t see a significant improvement in media editing or rendering performance with more than 48 GB of RAM. Remember, all NLE software was designed to run in 8 GB of RAM. What more RAM gets you is larger cache files.
UPDATE: Based on my testing of Final Cut, Premiere and Resolve, systems with more RAM, but fewer GPU cores are not as fast as systems will less RAM and more GPU cores. At a minimum, get 24 GB of RAM. Then, if you have to choose, buy more GPU cores before you buy more RAM.
Storage
Media files are gigantic. Regardless of how much internal storage you buy, you’ll need more. Rather than spend excessive dollars buying more internal storage, buy enough internal storage to give your system room to work, then supplement it with external storage.
The minimum storage I recommend for media is 1 TB. Yes, you can get away with 512 GB but your space will be crunched sooner than you expect. At the high-end, I recommend 2 TB. For media, buying more internal storage than that is wasting money.
In my office, I have a Mac Studio with 2 TB internal, an external 8 TB SSD RAID, an external 48 TB HDD RAID, and a 160 TB HDD network server. And that’s just for me – you can never have enough storage.
Ethernet
Unless you have a network optimized for 10G, which requires a 10G switch, 10G server connections, and 10G cables, a 1G Ethernet port on the computer will be fine.
Because I like playing with blinking lights, my office network is optimized for 10G.
CONFIGURATION RECOMMENDATIONS
If you have the money, buy whatever you want. There’s no harm in buying any of these systems, loaded however you want. However, if you are on a budget, here’s what I recommend as the best way to spend your limited dollars.
NOTE: I ended up buying one of these systems. Here’s what I bought and why.
To Save Money – but still be productive editing video.
MacBook Pro – UPDATED
Size: 14″
CPU: M4
RAM: 24 GB
Storage: 1 TB
Price: $1,999.00 (US)
iMac
CPU: M4 8-core
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 1 TB
Gigabit Ethernet
Price: $1,529.00 (US)
Mac mini
CPU: M4 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 1 TB
Price: $999.00 (US)
Better Performance
MacBook Pro – UPDATED
CPU: M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU
Size: 16″ (easier to see the interface)
RAM: 48 GB
Storage: 1 TB
Price: $2,899.00 (US)
iMac
CPU: M4 10-core
RAM: 24 GB
Storage: 512 GB
Price: $2,099.00 (US)
Mac mini – UPDATED
CPU: M4 Pro 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU
RAM: 24 GB
Storage: 1 TB
Gigabit Ethernet
Price: $1,599.00 (US)
High-End
MacBook Pro – UPDATED
CPU: M4 Max, 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU
Size: 16″ (easier to see the interface)
RAM: 36 GB
Storage: 2 TB
Price: $3,899.00 (US)
iMac
CPU: M4 10-core
RAM: 32 GB
Storage: 2 TB
Price: $2,699.00 (US)
Mac mini – UPDATED
CPU: M4 Pro 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU
RAM: 48 GB
Storage: 2 TB
1G Ethernet (10G if your network supports it)
Thunderbolt 5
Price: $2,599.00 (US)
SUMMARY
It’s important to remember that you don’t need to buy the fully-loaded version of any system to get serious work done. Apple charges a fortune for RAM and storage. It is FAR cheaper to buy external storage, while providing room on your internal drive for macOS, applications and work files. Also, for RAM, you can buy more, but your system won’t use it for video editing. Middle of the road is a good choice for both option. More GPUs is better than boodles of RAM.
15 Responses to Configuring an M4 Mac for Video Editing
Thank you for posting this. I appreciate your extensive experience and concise summaries, as I balance those against my ever-evolving studio set-up. This information is timely and immensely helpful to cut through the significant noise to make informed choices.
The foggy area at this moment seems to be wrangling media files and storage as much, or more than raw workstation performance.
Bryan:
This is exactly correct. Our computers are more than fast enough. Where we need to upgrade is our storage.
Larry
The only app I run that maxes out all the cores is Shutter Encoder on an MBP, M2 Max, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD.
Thank you! I kept wondering if 16GB was enough for my use case and you clearly answered that! Do you know of any tool that runs in the background while you are working and monitors your system for pinch points (memory spooled to disk, CPU heat slowdowns, etc) then tells you about it and makes recommendations for upgrading either current system components or configuration of next system? Thanks for sharing your expertise!
Dan:
The only tool that might is iStat. Check with them.
Larry
Dan:
I’m not sure, but the first place I’d check would be iStat.
Larry
Good stuff! – I will say that in terms of upgrading, as I recall, M2 was the 1st generation that had “Media engine” on board everything even the entry level machines, M1 entry level did not have those. You want Media Engines on board for sure!!
Larry, your newsletter has always been a must-read. I have to say, however, that you have elevated your publication to a new level of excellence and practical advice. I love the news section with the latest products. There’s no way I could keep up with all the news on my own.
I was great to stop by your set-up at NAB NYC and say hello. (I didn’t realize you are so tall. Ex-forward?) Folks, Larry can edit, lecture AND kick your ass. Ha… You were very nice amid your whirlwind day. And thanks for the photo. (No, video people. I am not an LJ groupie. Just an appreciative fan.)
As for Mac configurations. I use an M2 Max MacBook Pro, 64GB RAM, 2TB storage.. FCP 11 is working beautifully. It’s fast and smooth.
Caesar:
It was a pleasure meeting you at NAB – NYC! Yeah, I’m really proud of this issue – feel free to share the articles with friends. I like your M2 Max MacBook Pro – excellent choice.
And, um, volleyball, not basketball.
Larry
Thank you for this, Larry. I am in the end of the year upgrade mode and have been wrestling with buying a Mac mini M4 pro with 24 GB of RAM and 1TB of storage (I have monitors at both places I usually edit and a iPad mini M2 for use as a sidecar monitor or getting a MBP m4 pro with 1TB and 24GB of RAM. The combinations cost about the same, but I get the portability and a few more cores with the MBP. Any thoughts?
Ed:
If you need portability, go with the MacBook Pro. Both systems have more than enough power to edit anything you want to edit. More CPU cores is a wash. More GPU cores is better. Also, the M4 Pro is faster than the M4 and the M4 Max is faster than the Pro. But the M4 Pro Mini with 14 CPU cores, 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage is $1,799. The M4 Pro MacBook Pro with 14 cores, 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage is $2,699. If portability isn’t critical you’ll get equal power out of the Mini for less money. The M4 Max will be faster than the M4 Pro, but cost $800 more.
Keep in mind that I have not personally tested the MacBook Pro.
Larry
Hi Larry, thank you for this and all the work you do! What I want to know is the 16 inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro with 1TB of internal storage, 14-core CPU, 20- core GPU and 24gb RAM good to handle 4k video editing? Or is going up to 48gb the better move?
I want to expand my workflow to include up to 4k 120fps with SLOG (Sony camera LOG) footage colour grading, a audio tracks (dialogue, nat sound for B-roll, music) and graphics (lower thirds, moving windows, text on screen, titles, etc).
I also use Affinity Photo for photo editing and Affinity Designer for graphic design. Will add Logic Pro for audio work in 2025 as well.
On a budget and don’t want to buy extra RAM if it’s not necessary.
Thanks!
Trent:
24gb is totally fine.
Larry
Larry, I love the depth and experience you bring to your reviews such as focusing on performance from the POV of using NLE’s.
How what type of video editor is the M4 Pro (say, 20 core GPU model) now for, and who is the M2 Max/Ultra for now?
Ravi:
The Mac Studio has more ports 9 vs. 6 and supports more RAM. However, the M4 Pro with the maximum amount of GPU cores is roughly the same speed as the Ultra. The M4 Max, which is only on the MacBook Pro at the moment, beats the Ultra.
Frankly, the Ultra isn’t worth the extra money for video editing. Perhaps, because of its larger memory, it would be good for 3D modeling or other RAM intensive tasks, but that isn’t video editing. 24 – 36 GB is fine for even the most challenging multicam work. For single camera editing, 24 GB is MORE than sufficient. The key, as has been true since the M-series computers came out, is the speed of your storage. High-speed SSDs are needed to take full advantage of the speed of your system.
If you need the Mac Studio, get the Max version and save $1,000. That’s what I own and I still haven’t really challenged the system with any editing I’m doing.
Larry