FCP with an 8-core….configure?

[Andrew Commiskey]

The best setup involves Final Cut Studio 2. Even then Final Cut Will only use 2 to 4 processors.
Drew

Chaos is the beginning of everything.

[Adrian Scherger]

I’m sorry…my bad. I’m using Studio 2 with FCP 6! 6Gb RAM

However it is barely using any. It there a configuration in the User Settings or System Settings that will get the most out of my processors?

Adrian

[Margus Voll]

Hi.

I bet the code is not optimized to go on 8 cores or more.

We probably have to wait for FCP update or new release.

—

Margus

https://iconstudios.eu

[Mark Maness]

Ah hah….

There’s your answer…

[Adrian Scherger] “I’m using Studio 2 with FCP 6! 6Gb RAM”

When using a Quad Mac Pro or ANY Mac Pro and FCP, you really must stay with the memory requirement of 4 gig, 8 gig, or 16 gig. Anything else will slow down your performance tremendously.

Just try this, take out 2 gig of your RAM and see what happens. Optimally, with a Quad core Mac Pro, you should have a minimum of 8 gig of RAM – one gig per core.

This has been documented by Apple Support BUT no widely distributed.

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
https://web.mac.com/schazamproductions
schazamproductions@mac.com

[Alex Elkins]

[Wayne Carey] “When using a Quad Mac Pro or ANY Mac Pro and FCP, you really must stay with the memory requirement of 4 gig, 8 gig, or 16 gig. Anything else will slow down your performance tremendously.”

Hi Wayne. That’s an interesting bit of information I wasn’t aware of. Could you explain why that is, or perhaps link to the Apple support page that does?

Many thanks,
Alex

[Mike Weber]

I was experiencing performance problems with my brand new Mac Pro where I was having to render things that I didn’t on my G5 or iMac even.

I began to suspect my RAM. As it turned out, I had enough RAM (Two 2 GIg modules = 4 GB total), but this did not match Apple’s recommended configuration. Take a quick look at this Apple document:

https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1957?viewlocale=en_US

The Mac Pros have 2 “risers” inside, and Apple is recommending that each riser has either 2 or 4 DIMMs, for a total of 4 or 8 DIMMS, all of equal size. I installed four 2 DIMMS, two on each riser, and suddenly it’s like my hands were untied, and my performance improved immensely. I now have 8 Gig of RAM, though I suspect if I had four 1 Gig modules installed, for a total of 4 Gig, my problem would’ve gone away as well.

So I don’t know if this helps your situation, but something to look at.

Mike

[Mark Maness]

There you go, Mike!

That’s the answer, Adrian. Mike hit it right on the nose. This is something that Apple or your VAR won’t necessarily tell you about but its a fact.

Why this happens is a real mystery but it does… I imagine this has something to do with all of the old programming being ported into the new Intel programming.

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
https://web.mac.com/schazamproductions
schazamproductions@mac.com

[Rob Bruce]

!!Warning this reply contains bitchy comments towards Apple!!

FCP can’t use your multi-core processor.

One workaround would be to use QMaster and setup a virtual cluster but has been broken for 2+ years.

This is no apparent way to export a FCP time line using multi-core systems.

The so called workaround is to first export the time line and then use compressor and send to a virtual cluster. I personally don’t see how that is a workaround and takes just as much time to get the job done. HD footage is a big problem, SD not so much.

I’ve given up waiting for apple to fix this issue. Maybe Snow Leopards “Grand Central” will fix this but that means play more money for software I don’t trust Apple to maintain at a respectable level.

[Mark Maness]

[Rob Bruce] “!!Warning this reply contains bitchy comments towards Apple!! “

Wow… You weren’t kidding…

Can I ask what computer you are using? I ask this because I have seen any of these issues on our three Mac computers- two of which are Mac Pros.

[Rob Bruce] “FCP can’t use your multi-core processor. “

The reason for this is the fact that FCP was written long ago for the everyday computer, not just the powerhouses. I will admit there are times when this would be nice. BUt FCP does use some of the multi-cores now, just not all of it or any way to select which to use like in QMaster.

[Rob Bruce] “One workaround would be to use QMaster and setup a virtual cluster but has been broken for 2+ years.”

Again, mine works on all of our systems – a Dual G5, Quad Mac Pro and an Octo-Core Mac Pro.

[Rob Bruce] “This is no apparent way to export a FCP time line using multi-core systems.”

I do this every single day without issue.

[Rob Bruce] “The so called workaround is to first export the time line and then use compressor and send to a virtual cluster. I personally don’t see how that is a workaround and takes just as much time to get the job done. HD footage is a big problem, SD not so much.”

Ok, I’ll give you this one. This does need work, Apple.

As for all these problems you are having, Rob. I’ll admit that setting up QMaster isn’t the easiest thing or the most documented feature but it can be done and it does work.

Are you setting up QMaster to work with other computers in your shop or just your computer? Can you tell me how you set it up?

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
https://web.mac.com/schazamproductions
schazamproductions@mac.com

[Rob Bruce]

I wrote that before my first coffee so maybe now I’ll be a bit less bitchy. 😉

Qmaster works fine but my point is that you still need to wait for the full time line export before you can take advantage of it doubling the time needed to get the job done. Example… I would like to create a regular DVD from a 1 hour HD time line. If things were working bug free I should be able to use “Export using compressor” choose my DVD preset and submit via my virtual cluster to take advantage of my 8 core Mac. I would have the DVD in less then one hour. In reality I need to export the time line as a quicktime first, that takes 1 hour. Then put that QT into compressor pick my DVD presets and then submit using virtual cluster and that add one more hour. This is a big problem because our clients often request DVD for approving projects. This of course is not the only problem but just one example of how this bug gets in my way on a daily basis.

Rob Bruce] “The so called workaround is to first export the time line and then use compressor and send to a virtual cluster. I personally don’t see how that is a workaround and takes just as much time to get the job done. HD footage is a big problem, SD not so much.”

Ok, I’ll give you this one. This does need work, Apple.

As for all these problems you are having, Rob. I’ll admit that setting up QMaster isn’t the easiest thing or the most documented feature but it can be done and it does work.

Are you setting up QMaster to work with other computers in your shop or just your computer? Can you tell me how you set it up?