Avid – Mac or PC?

[David Braswell]

I’ve never ran Avid on Mac, so saying the platform wars are over may be a bit shortsighted. With that disclaimer, the platform wars are over 🙂 Consider your graphics, audio, and DVD authoring workflow first. Do you have thousands of dollars invested in software for one platform? Of course, there is Bootcamp for Mac to run Windows apps. Are you wedded to Adobe Encore for DVD authoring? Or DVD Studio? If you have a strong preference for one OS over the other factor that as well. And make sure you give HP’s new “Z” line a hard look before jumping.

[Ed Cilley]

[Antony Christie] “I have just upgraded to Media Composer v4”

So what platform are you on now if you are upgrading? Like the last post said, you may already have software for a particular platform. I have cut with Avid on both PC and Mac and both work very well. The new Z line from HP is really fast and worth a look. Personally, I own a Mac because they just work. I have had fewer problems and that means more “up-time” and actual work – rather than debugging.

[Antony Christie] “even though it seems it was historically associated with PC”
Acutally, Avid was very popular on the Mac back in the 90’s, but Apple made some decisions that pushed a lot of people to run Avid on a PC. Also, I think IT professionals and corporations were more comfortable with PC’s on their networks. But that’s another discussion.

As far as Mac Pro verus MacBook Pro – what are your dynamics? Are you traveling or taking products to clients for review/edits? Then the laptop will work just fine. Are you doing full HD? Then the desktop could be better outfitted for your needs.

Hope that helps a little.

Ed

Avid and FCP Preditor
_________________________________________________
Anything worth doing at all, is worth doing well.
– Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield

[Antony Christie]

Thanks David

I do use Adobe software (DW, PS & AE) frequently but on a different machine to my Avid – I keep my Avid PC solely for MC, Sorenson, Avid FX, Boris, by Sonic and SmartSound, and when I upgrade my machine I’ll probably put my ProTools LE on it too. I only have Windows background at present…although, I’m still using XP and switching to Vista or W7 can’t be that different from jumping to OSX?

However, I though it was interesting how in this recent Avid promotional video ‘Robin Buday – Story of a switcher’ (at https://www.avid.com/mediacomposer4/index.asp) the studio they’ve shot Robin in (which I’d say is obviously a video set and not his own studio), uses a MacPro. This could just be ’cause they look sexy and shiny but Avid are clearly suggesting ‘This is how the pro’s do it’.

Any pro editors out there wanna fight Apple’s corner? I guess I’m hoping someone will…

Sony HVR-Z5, Avid Media Composer v3

[Antony Christie]

Thanks Ed

I’m on XP at present. The new machine would be purely for video editing and outputting so no other software issues really (I use AE/PS on a separate PC), I will look at the HP Z line (David suggested that too!). When you order Avid MC the install disc has both PC and Mac so I’m assuming I can put my new MCv4 over the top of my MCv3 and then jump to Mac later? (I’ll install for use with dongle – Still; you know what they say about the word ASS-U-ME!)

I’m shooting/cutting HDV at the moment (got a Z5), and long term I think I can see myself using a dongle between a MacPro at home, and a MacBookPro in the field and for taking to work to edit there.

I like the, “they just work”

Thanks for your time!

Sony HVR-Z5, Avid Media Composer v3

[Shane Ross]

To say that historically Avid is associated with PC seems odd. I have cut on Avid for over 15 years, and in all shows but TWO, I was on a Mac. Avid MC 5.5 back in 1994…on a Mac Quadra. Then on Powermac 9600s, then on G3’s, then G4’s with the Meridians. The only cases I used Avid on PC was Avid version 10 (before Meridian) and that was a disaster…and Avid Adrenaline…also, a disaster. So I will be biased in saying that I prefer Avid on Macs…

Never gone wrong with that…never.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Scott Cumbo]

these days Avid runs great on both platforms, so it’s really which you like to work on, mac or PC.
I prefer PC, just because the mac OS annoys me.

by the way if you’ve been working on XP once you get to vista/windows 7 or a mac with whatever os they have these days..alley cat? snow kitten?… you’ll be amazed at how avid flys.

Scott Cumbo
Editor
Broadway Video, NYC

[Shane Ross]

Avid 4.0 is only supported on Leopard print…Snow Kitty is a no no.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Baz Leffler]

FWIW – I have a Mojo SDI/MC 3.1.2 which I use on both MacBookPro and a Vista Quad core system. It runs more reliably (and I think faster) on the Mac but I haven’t really done the tests; just a feeling.
But I have been a PC user most my life and have really had enough of Gates’s flawed OS and once I got use to Mac’s Leopard I was hooked. So maybe I too am a little biased.

Baz

What would I do without the ‘UNDO’ button!!!!

[Ed Cilley]

[Baz Leffler] “So maybe I too am a little biased.”

Isn’t that what this is all about? 🙂

That’s what Anthony is looking for – your biased opinion. Go ahead, buy the Mac and enjoy using Leopard print or Snow kitty (once Avid approves it).

Avid and FCP Preditor
_________________________________________________
Anything worth doing at all, is worth doing well.
– Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield

[Antony Christie]

Ed’s right; that’s exactly wot I’m looking for!

Thanks Scott, Baz, Shane, Ed and David – time to get myself a book on OSX and start preparing for the change!!!

Sony HVR-Z5, Avid Media Composer v3