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Fastest configuration?
Hi there,
We’re used to the (compositing) speed of our Media100 844/X system.
Now we want to move to HD. Did some tests on FCP on our MacPro, but with disappointing speed results.
Any suggestions?
Kind regards,
PRO MOTION PICTURES
Robin Plomp -
14 Replies
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The faster the Mac, the faster the rendering… Graphics cards matter depending on which effects are being used for the composite. Faster graphics accelerate FX plug class filters, as well as Motion and Color.
I was working on the latest 2.93 eight core machine last week and it was considerably faster than my 3 gig 8 core now 2 years old. At least 2 times faster maybe more… just felt extremely fast.
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO, CD’s
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We have no plans to go to HD for several years so I’ll be watching with great interest. Give the wonks a day or two to add their experience, which is much more vast than mine.
What flavor of HD? There are many and they all have different requirements.
All of the fastest HD systems of which I am aware are proprietary or hardware-based codecs like Media 100. I’d start asking the other Media 100 users what they’re planning on migrating to in the future if Boris has no plans to enter the 21st Century that you like.bogiesan
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Several years? We’ll be colonizing Jupiter, or at least time-traveling by then. You don’t want to miss *that* in HD. 🙂
[david bogie] “We have no plans to go to HD for several years so I’ll be watching with great interest.”
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[Robin Plomp] “Now we want to move to HD. Did some tests on FCP on our MacPro, but with disappointing speed results.
Any suggestions? “
Well we cant really suggest anything with out some more info. At this point its hard to say is what you are experiencing is really slow or if its just your expectations are unreal and that the speed is normal.
What type of HD footage are you working with?
What type of “tests” did you do?
What are the specks of your MacPro?
What were the speed results?
What type of drives are you using for your media drives?
How are your media drives?With some more info I think the Cow here get you going.
There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity! -
[Ed Dooley] “Several years? We’ll be colonizing Jupiter, or at least time-traveling by then. You don’t want to miss *that* in HD. 🙂 “
Yar, it’s a weird place to be but all of our internal work is shot on DV and released in WMV for streaming. There is absolutely no reason to originate in HD just to turn it all into 15fps postage stamps with eensy bitrates. The bigger question is should we be shooting on HD for archival purposes? Not my decision, thankfully.
I’m holding out for time travel.
bogiesan
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I see more and more HD clips posted on websites. So, HD is here right now. With H.264 codecs, you can get some really nice looking clips posted on the web.
I was an early user of M100 and switched to FCP about 3 years ago. I don’t miss it at all. Sure, there’s always going to be a few user things that are different, but speed-wise, I’m rockin’ with FCP everyday.
Take note on the things that might have made a difference in your FCP test. Graphic cards, RAID speed, RAM, Codecs used etc. All effects speed.
Ernie Santella
Santella Productions Inc.
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
[Robin Plomp] “Is it fair to demand for the same realtime speed in HD on FCP as in SD on our 844/X system?
To repeat my first question: what is the fastest configuration and best codec for the job? “Robin
with all due respect HIRE SOMEONE to assist in the transition.Why rely on the myriad of good and bad answers there that will have nothing to do with your specific issues and workflow.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production WorkflowsCheck out
https://www.aja.com/kiprotour/Inside look at the IoHD
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php -
We tested in ProRess HQ. The specs of our existing MacPro are not relevant because we’re willing to invest in a hole new setup that meets our demands.
Is it fair to demand for the same realtime speed in HD on FCP as in SD on our 844/X system?
To repeat my first question: what is the fastest configuration and best codec for the job?
Acquisition is on XDCam HD 35 Mb/s. We’re doing a lot of short form (commercials), many layers,
masks, grafics and color correction.As a usp we want to produce the hole flow in HD and decide in the end how to deliver. SD for broadcast, HD for client copies and internet.
Regards,
PRO MOTION PICTURES
Robin PlompRobin Plomp
Director/owner
PRO MOTION PICTURES BV -
[Robin Plomp] “We tested in ProRess HQ”
ProRes HQ is usually overkill, plus for good performance with it you need a fast raid.
Have you tried just using regular ProRes.[Robin Plomp] “The specs of our existing MacPro are not relevant because we’re willing to invest in a hole new setup that meets our demands. “
I disagree, with out knowing what your current specs are nobody here can even say if it is worth buying a new computer.
You yourself admitted that you are new to HD. Working with HD video is a bit different, and one of the most common things I see with people making the move to HD is that they base there speed expectations off of old SD practices. You cant do that with HD. I honestly have a suspicion that your machine will handle HD video just fine but your expectations for how long things may take with HD may be a bit off. When you said you are using ProRes HQ, that reconfirmed to me that you don’t fully understand the HD world.
So help us help you, a little info and we can say how well your current system can cut HD compared to a new system. Your money may be better spent investing in a few minor upgrades. Especially with out knowing what your media drives are they may be your biggest issue.
What type of HD footage are you working with? – you said Pro Res HQ – I suggest just using Pro Res
What type of “tests” did you do?
What are the specks of your MacPro?
What were the speed results?
What type of drives are you using for your media drives?
How are your media drives?There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity! -
[Robin Plomp] “To repeat my first question: what is the fastest configuration and best codec for the job? “
Repeating it won’t help without providing more information. Your acquisition format has almost nothing to do with your compositing application. If you are new to this HD stuff and Meida 100 is your only major editing experience, you have much to study. Our advice has now turned into efforts to either help you spend lots of money or convince you to spend much more time offline trying to figure out your business plan for the next few years. If you think you know where you want to be in three years, you can start to plan backwards.
[Robin Plomp] “Acquisition is on XDCam HD 35 Mb/s. We’re doing a lot of short form (commercials), many layers,
masks, grafics and color correction. “That’s completely different. The fastest config is the fastest Mac and the fastest graphics cards. In six months all of that hardware will be obsolete. but you will be using Motion for your short form stuff and, unlike After Effects, Motion requires massive GPU power. Since you are giving up the M100 codec (with its hardware supported alpha) you are going to be surprised at how much time all of your motion graphics and compositing will take regardless of the machine’s specs.
Listen, try not to spend any money for at least three months. You’ve really got to think this trough carefully on your own.
bogiesan
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