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MB Air vs MBP with FCP X
Out of curiousity, I was wondering if anyone has a decent comparison of real world editing performance between a decked out MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro. This would be with FCP X using 1080p ProRes media from a USB3 or TBolt drive. How about with other apps, like Media Composer or Premiere Pro? I know the MBP will performance better, but how much more so? If cost is a factor, will the MBA perform at a good level, or is it better to get an older, refurbised MBP? Thoughts? Thanks.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
6 Replies
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Way out of date but maybe worth a read anyway
https://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/news/1209-real-life-editing-experiences-with-a-macbook-air-and-final-cut-pro-x -
This might be worth a read and is a bit more recent.
https://www.fcp.co/hardware-and-software/1190-so-how-well-does-a-top-of-the-range-macbook-air-run-final-cut-pro-x -
It’s not ideal- doable but not ideal. A MacPro in a backpack with a portable generator, that’s my favorite portable FCPX editing system. 🙂
Noah
FCPWORKS – FCPX Workflow
Call Box Training -
I’ve just set an encode job going on a MacBook Pro with 2 files that are 35 mins in length. Encoding from redcine x – they are 4K r3d files going to 4k ProRes 422. It’s a MacBook retina with i7 and 16GB. It’s going to take 12 hours. I’ve put 12 files of the same length and spec going to the same output file stored on an identical thunderbolt raid on a Mac pro 6 core with d700s. That job is taking 10hrs. Insane performance from the Mac pro compared to MacBook Pro and the mac air that a client brought can’t hope to keep up with that either. MacBook pro is happy with 4 streams of 4K ProRes vis thunderbolt storage in fcpx though.
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk -
FWIW, I have mid-2012 Air that I cut stuff on fairly regularly. Nothing crazy, but it does run X and Pr pretty well. MC will run OK, though I haven’t tested with 8.3. I use a TB drive for media. So… cutting works fine, though the screen is tiny. Encoding/sharing/exporting? Sloooow. Fans kick up to full blast and it heats up.It eventually gets it done, but I’d be leery of using it for a mission critical gig. I Mean, I would, but it’d make me nervous. 😉 Do the MBP given a choice…
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~”The function you just attempted is not yet implemented”~ -
It’s the GPU that’s the issue- the one on the MBA is the slowest/lowest memory of the laptops. Definitely you want an older powerful 2GB GPU MBP if portability at a decent price is what you want.
Noah
FCPWORKS – FCPX Workflow
Call Box Training
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