FCPX comparison ’17 Quad iMac to Octo Core iMac Pro

[Andy Patterson]

[Neil Goodman] “[andy patterson] “I agree except you don’t see Premiere Pro user saying FCPX uses old laggy coding.”

But you said that it cant. now you agree? OK.”

In the video below (at 16:45) Max Yuryev states that the 2017 iMac cannot playback the 4.5K clip at full resolution without dropping frames. That is not to say a more expensive 2017 iMac could not play it back without dropping frames. I took your word for it that some 2017 iMacs can play it back without dropping frames.

OK? : )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLF3g2zF3qs

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[Andy Patterson]

[Tom Sefton] “This isn’t an fcpx vs premiere debate. This post is a look at Apple hardware. The forum isn’t fcpx vs Adobe.”

This is the Apple Final Cut Pro X Debates forum. Anything computer related gets discussed in this forum. Having said that what kind of post would you expect in a forum call Apple Final Cut Pro X Debates? Should we post about breast feeding or how to change a spark plug? What are you expecting in a forum called Apple Final Cut Pro X Debates?

There is a person ranting about Windows in another post in this forum. Is ranting about Windows OK? Are you bothered to hear what the PC side has to offer? The fact that a $1,800.00 gaming PC running Premiere Pro can out perform FCPX using a $2,800.00 iMac is good info for anyone contemplating between FCPX, Avid or Premiere Pro? For the record that kind of information is exactly what should be posted in this forum. No one is saying FCPX has old and laggy code like they have said about Premiere Pro. The post is about the new iMac Pro but this forum is open to debate. Learn to deal with it.

[Claude Lyneis]

The discussion of using Proxies to edit 4k projects in FCPX is especially relevant for me. I have a new CANON XF400 camera which has a 4 k 150 Mb/s mode. I did a few sample projects using proxies and FCPX and it basically works using my Mid 11 27 inch mac. I am planning to go up to a loaded iMac, but probably not to an IMac Pro. This would give me a 5k screen, faster graphics and processor, USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports, although not as many as the iMac Pro supports.

I did a 50 second 4k project with my old iMac and was surprised to see that to compress it to 1080 p for the internet took about 25 minutes. This process was only using one core as far as I could see.

Do you think I will be OK with a loaded 27 inch iMac?

[Neil Sadwelkar]

This debate on proxy or not, seems based on shooting certain camera types. If your shoot is Arriraw, and its a feature length project (50-100 TB original media) then proxy is not an option, its compulsory.

Also, one of the lesser known features of FCP X 10.4 is that it can work with proxies generated by another app. Just came across this in an article (‘Some of the Lesser-Known New Features in Final Cut Pro 10.4’) on fcp dot co.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Scott Witthaus]

[Neil Sadwelkar] “Also, one of the lesser known features of FCP X 10.4 is that it can work with proxies generated by another app. Just came across this in an article (‘Some of the Lesser-Known New Features in Final Cut Pro 10.4’) on fcp dot co.”

Here is the link: https://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/news/2027-some-of-the-lesserknown-new-featu...

I posted this on the general FCPX forum.

Scott Witthaus
Senior Editor/Visual Storyteller
Managing Partner, Low Country Creative LLC
Professor, VCU Brandcenter

[Claude Lyneis]

[greg janza] “When you factor in that most raids now are large enough to handle multiple 4k projects, it’s much easier to copy the raw media to a raid and then start working instead of adding in the time consuming extra step of proxy creation. The one caveat being that your system needs to be fast enough to handle 4k full res playback.”

Since 4k is where I am going, is there a good way to know how to configure a new 27″ iMac to meet the 4k full res playback criterion?

[Oliver Peters]

[Claude Lyneis] “Since 4k is where I am going, is there a good way to know how to configure a new 27″ iMac to meet the 4k full res playback criterion?”

Depends on the media format (codec), what type of storage and how it’s connected. Do you intend to optimize or work with proxies? Generally get the top of the line of everything, except you can stick with a 1TB SSD and use other storage for media and docs.

– Oliver

Oliver Peters – oliverpeters.com

[Greg Janza]

Claude, I can only tell you what has worked well for me. I primarily work with Sony FS7 XAVC files at 240mbps.

On my PC system, I’m using an Nvidia GeForce GTX 970, an i7-5820k CPU with 32 gigs ram. My media lives on an OWC Thunderbay Thunderbolt2 raid which connects to my PC through an Akitio TB2 to TB3 adapter. With this setup I am able to work without issue in full res with Luts attached with all of my 4k media.

I guess with your imac you’ll need to know what the data rate is for your media and then determine if your media drives are fast enough. in addition you’ll need to determine if your graphics card is powerful enough to make use of OpenGL. All of this may require doing some tests on your system with 4k footage.

If you have the right components there’s no reason why you can’t work smoothly with 4k media and avoid the very time-consuming proxy creation workflow.

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