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FCP6… G4 graphic cards…
Gotta love Apple.. We recently did upgrades to our editing suites at our station. We had G4 Macs running Panther and Final Cut Pro 4. We bought two new MacPro towers with Leopard and retired all but two of our G4’s.
Before I put together a purchase proposal, I saw that the minimum system requirements for Final Cut 6 was a 1.25 GHz. I wanted to keep the 2 G4’s just as simple standard-def, DV/Firewire-only cuts editing stations. But I still wanted project files to be compatible across the board between those
and our higher-end editing stations.I called Apple before I finalized my purchase proposal to confirm that those G4 machines would work with Final Cut Pro 6 as I was intending them. Ie. I couldn’t do a lot of intensive effects, but simple tagging, cutting and dissolves in SD DV would be possible. They confirmed this. I remember asking
if there were any other factors about those machines that I needed to consider that I wasn’t thinking of. They said no.I ordered four copies of Final Cut Studio 2. I just got around to upgrading the G4’s to Leopard and installing Final Cut Pro 6. Guess what. It’s complaining that the video card is below spec. It gives me the option to supposedly continue – saying that I won’t be able to access higher OpenGL features of the program – but the program ‘poofs’ closed as soon as it opens.
I talked to Apple and the rep gave me the ‘have you considered buying a new machine line’ but upon further pressing recommended adding this AGP card to the G4’s: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/ATI%20Technologies/100435068/
Wondering what opinions are on that..
I had to restore the machine back to Panther/FCP4 for now from a backup image. I am also wondering if the ‘poofing’ might be a coincidental matter of a corrupt install. Because I did have a problem that interrupted install of FCS2 where I had to start again from scratch. Opinions on that? Think it is worth trying again?
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16 Replies
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The two applications that really use the graphics cards are Motion and Color. If I were you, I would try only installing Final Cut 6, Compressor and DVD Studio Pro when you install. Then see how it runs.
-Russ
Russell Lasson
Kaleidoscope Pictures
Provo, UT -
Jonathan,
I agree with Russell. We are running FCS2 on a dual 1G G4 without any problems. While it’s not as fast as our Intel systems, it still gets the job done. We do limit it to DV work using FCP, Compressor & DVDSP. But it does allow us to move projects between systems. I say give it another try, that old G4 has still got some work left in it!
Jeff Jones
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No deals.. I reinstalled Leopard again.. Installed FCP6 with just DVDSP and Compressor. DVDSP opens, but when I open FCP6, I get the OpenGL warning, click continue, see the Final Cut menu up top for a sec and then poof.
Calling Apple back Monday…
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Have you tried installing FCP on one of these G4s under Tiger? If not, try it out & see if it works then.
Arnie
Now in post: Peristroika, a film by Slava Tsukerman
https://www.arniepix.com/blog -
Yes, I agree with trying Tiger, if you don’t need the little extras that you get with Leopard, why bother. Switch the G4 back to Tiger, FCP 6 will run just fine on that. I have a dual 2.3GHZ G5 and I am thinking of switching back, it feels like molasses when editing now.
G5 Dual 2.3GHZ
2.5GB DDR SDRAM 400MHZ
Mac OS 10.5.1
2 x 20″ Apple Cinema Display
128MB ATI Graphics -
The thing is we went straight from Panther to Leopard on these machines. Is Tiger even still available for purchase?
Also would those of you that have FCP6 running on your G4’s mind noting what video cards you have in them?
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There are several functions with Final Cut Studio that require the G5 or Intel chip set to function properly. It was explained to me as a “squared root mathematics function” We have a G4 (1.42 dual) edit bay. I was warned not to take it past Tiger. Leopard’s memory requirements would push FCP into the mud. We did have the G4’s graphics card changed. I know it is the biggest ATI card the machine can take…but I can’t give you the model number right now. I’ll make a later post when I hit the office today.
What I have noticed with using Studio 2 on the G4
1. The suite round-tripping does not work well.
2. When using Motion it’s better to export a movie (for compositing) from motion, rather than using the motion file direct
3. Soundtrack Pro does not always hold on to it’s settings, and will not round-trip or export properly when you start hitting 20 plus layers of audio.
4. The “FX” plugs can get you into serious trouble.
5. Motion smoothing is something to leave running overnight.
6. HD Files are still a time consuming issue on a G4.
7. Color and Pro Res Codecs (pro res simply does not function right) are better left alone on this machine. Instead take into account render times, and use the color controls in FCP and enhance them with Nattress Filters.
(Even though Color is a cool program, there are a lot of things Nattress can do that Color can’t) Remember FCP is one heck of a compositing tool by itself. (Keyframe away!)Everyone says don’t let your creativity get mashed by technology. I agree, If you don’t have the coolest most up to date tech. Plan and execute your creativity.
The G4 is getting “long in the tooth” as a production weapon but it is still a weapon, and if you have them keep them working on the stuff they do well. And know it’s limits. It’s a great machine. Always was.
Tracy Smith
Black Hawk Entertainment Inc. -
I had the same problem. I was the one who brought this to Apple’s attention. I eventually bought a 9800 Pro card on eBay and the machine now rocks. Did a show in DVCProHD without a hiccup on a Dual 1.4.2 Ghz G4.
Warren
Warren Eig
O 310-470-0905email: warren@babyboompictures.com
website: https://www.babyboompictures.comhttps://www.atomfilms.com/af/content/knitwits
https://www.atomfilms.com/film/family_xmas.jsp -
So Warren,
Just to confirm.. You had Final Cut Pro ‘poofing’ right after opening it? Then you bought that new card and it went away? Also, are you running Tiger or Leopard on the G4?
I just want to triple-confirm that the video card is the solution.
Thanks!
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[Jonathan Capra] “So Warren,
Just to confirm.. You had Final Cut Pro ‘poofing’ right after opening it? Then you bought that new card and it went away? Also, are you running Tiger or Leopard on the G4?
I just want to triple-confirm that the video card is the solution.
Thanks!
“Yes, FCP would crash and not open. The splash screen would come up and then go away and quit. The second time I’d open it, I wouldn’t get the splash screen, it just quit.
I’m running it now in Leopard but also have a second drive with Tiger 10.4.11 and with the 9800 Pro, FCP works on both system drives. Color even works on the G4, albeit slow.
Warren
Warren Eig
O 310-470-0905email: warren@babyboompictures.com
website: https://www.babyboompictures.comhttps://www.atomfilms.com/af/content/knitwits
https://www.atomfilms.com/film/family_xmas.jsp
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