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New Mac for feature doc on Premiere?
Hi All,
I’m an independent filmmaker about to start editing my first feature documentary.
A lot of the material is 4K though delivery will be 1080.
For a short project I just cut, I’ve been loving editing in ProRes Proxy UHD, 3840×2160, so that I can scale. I’d like to be able to do the same on the feature.
However – Adobe is SLOW on the aforementioned short project.
I’m running an older MacBook Pro. Specs: OSX Version 10.9.5/ Processor: 2.3 GHz Intel Core 7, Memory 8 GB, Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 670M 1024 MB.and it’s the first time I’ve got into real trouble.
I went to the Apple store twice this week and couldn’t believe they basically talked me out of getting a new Mac. Said this one should do fine. That I should wipe half of what’s stored on the local hard drive, and see if that fixes the slowness.
Sure – – – I’d love to not have to buy a new Mac – but am I doing myself a disservice? Do they know something about a new upgrade so they were kind enough to discourage me?
If I should upgrade, what system would you recommend? I love the portability of the laptop, but should I get a tower?
Your advice sincerely appreciated.
Regards,
Emmanuelle Antolin -
8 Replies
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Some Apple computers have the RAM soldered on the motherboard so you cannot upgrade. Having said that have you thought about a PC with a Coffee Lake CPU and a GTX 1080 Ti? The AMD Ryzen CPUs are also a good option and the AMD Vega graphics card will be here soon.
The Coffee Lake CPUs are supposed to be here the end of August. You should be able to get a custom built computer with a Coffee Lake CPU, GTX 1080 Ti GPU with 32 GB of RAM and good SSD and several HDs in a RAID for about $2200.00 depending on the monitor. The computer below does not have a monitor or RAID system but you can get a good monitor for $200.00 and six 3TB hard drives (18 TB) for about $500.00. I am not sure how much hard drive space you are going to need but the Mac will require an expensive external RAID system. I image an iMac with specs of the computer below will be will over $4,000.00.
You could save about $700.00 by getting a GTX 1070, 16 GB of RAM and four 3TB hard drives in a RAID but the GTX 1080 Ti would be money well spent for editing 4K. The Newegg computer is for reference purpose only although you could buy it. Getting a custom built online or at a local computer shop would be the better way to go.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883102287
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Unfortunately your current laptop is really not adequate for editing 4K. Not sure why the folks at Apple thought it would be good enough. I also recommend a PC with a robust graphics card and lots of RAM. You can be more selective on what you want and can upgrade it over time.
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What year is the MBP you are using? It sounds like a 2011 model (the 670m is an Nvidia card, did you mean 6770m?).
You can try upgrading the RAM to 16, replacing the factory HDD with an SSD and setting your playback resolution to 1/4 (which equates to 1080p when working with 4K), but it’s still a nearly 6yr old machine so editing 4K smoothly on it just might not be realistic.
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I’m really into this idea.
So just to clarify – I’m not doing color on this project. Just offline. And I’m ok with transferring to prores or a windows equivalent (have no idea what that is. do PC’s use prores?) and then having whoever finishes relink to the 4K.
But I’d like to edit in the dimensions of 4K.
That being said, a fast computer will probably be good for that work.
I think I’ll get a PC….
Thank you!
Emmanuelle -
As I mentioned to Andy above, I don’t necessarily need to edit in 4k – I can edit in prores – but even in prores in 4k dimensions it stutters, etc. even at 1/4.
So i think I’m better off anyway getting a robust PC.
Yikes – haven’t used one in ages!
thank you : )Emmanuelle Antolin
Film & Video Director / Editor
☎ 415.786.0804http://www.vimeo.com/emmanuelleantolin
http://www.instagram.com/emmanuelleantolin
http://www.facebook.com/emmanuelle.antolin.7 -
What year is the MBP you are using?
>>It is a 2011 model (the 670m is an Nvidia card, did you mean 6770m?).
>> I meant 6750M Nvidia card.
“You can try upgrading the RAM to 16, replacing the factory HDD with an SSD and setting your playback resolution to 1/4 (which equates to 1080p when working with 4K), but it’s still a nearly 6yr old machine so editing 4K smoothly on it just might not be realistic. ”
>> I have heard it can be great value to go PC – powerful and less expensive. Now that Final Cut 7 is out …
Emmanuelle Antolin
Film & Video Director / Editor
☎ 415.786.0804http://www.vimeo.com/emmanuelleantolin
http://www.instagram.com/emmanuelleantolin
http://www.facebook.com/emmanuelle.antolin.7 -
If you use Premiere Pro then a PC can offer better performance for less money than a Mac.
You could get a 16 GB Core i7 Quad Core laptop with GTX 1070 and SSD if you go PC.
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Also, for some PPro doesn’t seem to playback 4K very well on anything but the fastest Mac Pros, well not in my experience anyway. However I’ve found the same Macs will playback 4K very smoothly in FCPX even with CC applied.
Might be easier to get a PC
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