New MacBook- FW and USB2 questions/confusion w/FCP

[Zane Barker]

[fred poisson] “but if I can get USB video in and edit it then I’m still aliv”

Perhaps you did not read my entire message so I will quote it to you.

[Zane Barker] “First ALWAYS store the media that you are working with on an external drive, the system drive has enough to do already. “

[Zane Barker] “Because video has high data rates, to work with it properly, your media drive needs to be able to sustain a constant data rate. USB cannot provide a constant data speed like FireWire can because USB uses bursts of data.”

So even if you do get video off a USB camera you still should be keeping that video on an external FireWire drive to edit. And you CANNOT do that on your MacBook.

There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!

[Kevin Monahan]

Agree with Zane. You bought the wrong computer. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Kevin Monahan
http://www.fcpworld.com
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro

[Fred Poisson]

Thanks guys. In the past I used to edit on my ibook that had the FW in and I would capture from my MiniDV. I didn’t realize that the newer MacBooks can’t handle FCP, the system and edit at the same time.

Anywho, probably going to send this back. Apple said I was going to have to give up 10% since I opened and used the machine. I stated that the phone person told me I would be able to use FCP and clearly I can’t so they backed off and said I’d get a full refund. When I googled the problem there are TONS of unhappy folks out there. It’s obviously to force people into a MBP.

Thanks again to all. Very helpful.

happy as a clam in a mud flat at high tide.

[Walter Biscardi]

[fred poisson] “So to my horror there is no firewire on the new macbook.”

No, and that is listed in the specs of the machine.

[fred poisson] “How is the quality of USB2 captured video? My guess is that since USB was too slow then USB2 probably is as well. “

USB is not recommended in any fashion for video editing. Nor is the MacBook recommended for video editing. You want a Macbook Pro for video editing at minimum. An iMac would be better than the MacBook.

In short, you have the wrong machine for video editing with Final Cut Express or Final Cut Pro.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

Read my Blog!

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[Fred Poisson]

yeah, i posted that it was my own fault for not catching that.

happy as a clam in a mud flat at high tide.

[Tim Irwin]

Everyone,

Apple still makes a Macbook (not pro) that has a firewire port. It’s the white 2.0ghz one. 1 firewire, 2 usb. You can get a refurbed one for $849 right now on apples site. New ones are 999. Be very careful though, there are two models that appear the same but with one MAJOR difference, one has intel graphics chip, one has Nvidia. if you want to run FCP you need the nvidia graphics. I have this machine and have used it in the field shooting red and transcoding to pro-res to edit. It’s quite a capable machine.
The issue for me was size, I hate the size of the 15″, Even the 13″ is too big for my taste, I long for the form factor of the old 12″ powerbooks. So when they finally put the nvidia graphics in the white 13″ with the firewire I jumped.

-Tim

[Chris Poisson]

Hey Fred, it’s not everyday I find another Poisson! Welcome to the pasture.

Have a wonderful day.