Are the New Macs Good Enough?
A question I get asked frequently is: which of the current Macs should be used for video editing.
So, I wrote a blog about it and posted it on Post Magazine. You can read it here:
Let me know what you think.
Larry
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11 Responses to Are the New Macs Good Enough?
I just upgraded to a MacBook Pro, 2.7 ghz Intel Core I7, 15″ Retina Display, 750 gb ssd storage. and am now using FCP X. I’m shooting with a Canon xha1s , HDV. It’s a whole different animal from FCP ver 6. I still get some long render times when sending (Share) my timeline to DVD. But so far so good
Nice article, Larry. So, what’s your opinion, are these new iMacs going to handle 4K well? Just joking. Good stuff as always.
Larry, you said that you would be adding new 27imac to you editing bays. What configuration–CPU, GPU, RAM, internal drives, external drives, etc?
Thanks,
Frank
Frank:
Writing this up now for this Monday’s newsletter.
larry
Firewire 800 was too slow to manage a HD Multicam production, Thunderbolt not an option on my Mac Pro 2010. So I bought a eSata/USB3 combi PCI express card from CalDigit and an eSata dock (Sharkoon). Not only can I use any Sata drive (up to 4 TB) but everything works great, is fast enough (probably even faster than the internal drives) and didn’t break my bank.
Chris:
This is a good solution because you have a MacPro, which supports plug-in cards. And I agree, FireWire 800 is no longer fast enough for HD multicam work.
Larry
Larry,
I got an iMAC in June for editing and LOVE it! I’m using FCP-X and have a Matrox MXO2 LE for monitoring. This connects via thunderbolt, as does my 6TB LaCie drive. It all works very well. I edit native H.264 and XDCAM EX 1080 30p on the same timeline and there are no hiccups. I’m sure these new iMACs will work even better!
NEVER thought I could do serious editing on an iMAC but I am, and when you need to take it on location, it’s a dream to move and set up. I’m pretty sure you are going to love it too!
What I’d really like to understand is what will speed up an operation like loading up an Event with over a thousand ciips in it, or doing a filter operation on that Event, or smoothing editing flow on a complex timeline that is 20 minutes long in FCPX, where it tends to lag a bit. Is this storage, RAM, GPU, or CPU, or just the limitations of the software?
Oren:
This is a question I am getting a lot, and am spending some time today researching the answer.
Larry
Given this Mac environment, why not go the Hackinstosh route?
Mainly because I haven’t run a Windows system since 1995. To me, spending a few more dollars to get an integrated system with an operating system that I know that I can get help with at any Apple store is worth far more to me than learning a new operating system and being on my own for tech support.
Larry