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


11 Responses to Are the New Macs Good Enough?

  1. 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

  2. Ryan Jacobi says:

    Nice article, Larry. So, what’s your opinion, are these new iMacs going to handle 4K well? Just joking. Good stuff as always.

  3. Frank Cope says:

    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

  4. Chris says:

    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.

    • Larry says:

      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

  5. Paul says:

    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!

  6. Oren Hercz says:

    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?

  7. Peter Cohn says:

    Given this Mac environment, why not go the Hackinstosh route?

    • Larry says:

      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

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