premiere pro machine: top of the line iMac vs. Mac Pro

[Tom Daigon]

I think Walter Biscardi talks about some of the things you are wondering about in his newest blog.

https://www.biscardicreative.com/blog/2012/12/workflow-update-imac-adobe-and-the-x-factor/

Tom Daigon
PrP / After Effects Editor
http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxPrG3WUyz8
(Best viewed at 1080P and full screen)
HP Z820 Dual 2687
64GB ram
Dulce DQg2 16TB raid

[Mark Fassett]

Thanks for the link, helpful… It actually helps push me more toward the tower!

[Walter Biscardi]

If you need a single machine to really scream fast, then the tower is the way to go.

If you want excellent performance at a great price, then the iMac is a great option.

If you need multiple machines in a group environment, which is what we have, then I love the iMacs in the edit suites with a 12 or 16 core machine in the machine room for final renders.

If you want an absolute beast of a machine to run Premiere Pro, well the ProMax ONE is scary fast. It’s Windows, not Mac, but if we can get the little kinks worked out in our Mac / PC hybrid workflow, this would definitely find a home in my machine room for final renders.

https://magazine.creativecow.net/article/promax-one-looking-at-the-hero

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
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[Walter Soyka]

[mark fassett] “I did a search but couldn’t find a good answer. Does anyone have a perspective on the just announced top of the line iMac 27″ vs. a Mac Pro, from a raw performance perspective…”

I’ll echo Walter B. here: if raw performance is what’s most important to you, you should consider a PC. There are performance options available to you on PCs that simply don’t exist on the Mac platform.

I say this as a long-time Mac user who has recently added PCs to my little operation. I now use both Macs and PCs.

What’s your workflow like? Do you have only one system, or do you have a group of several?

[mark fassett] “Yes, I know new mac pros are on the way and I cannot wait.”

If you order an iMac today, it won’t ship until January sometime. Since these machines aren’t out yet, we can only speculate as to how they will perform. Most folks are assuming the NVIDIA GPU will work well for CUDA acceleration via the Mercury Playback Engine.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
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[Mark Fassett]

“if we can get the little kinks worked out in our Mac / PC hybrid workflow”

Honestly, this is what I worry about most in an entirely mac shop. It’s great to buy a machine with awesome performance, but on the other hand if the performance gains are matched by workflow problems it’s not worth it.

Can you talk about your specific windows workflow problems? I’ve seen plugin and code issues, though I can’t say they are major.. but they do cause problems and slow down project exchanges.

[Mark Fassett]

Well, most of my editors are more familiar with working on the mac. Performance is ultimately not as important as a smooth workflow.

[Tom Daigon]

I have both a Mac Pro and z HP Z820. When Im working in CS6 its the same experience on both.

Tom Daigon
PrP / After Effects Editor
http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxPrG3WUyz8
(Best viewed at 1080P and full screen)
HP Z820 Dual 2687
64GB ram
Dulce DQg2 16TB raid

[Mark Fassett]

No workflow headaches in moving projects between win and osx in premiere pro?

[Tom Daigon]

I wouldnt know. I originally had CS6 on my 2008 Mac Pro. This past summer I decided to kick Apple to the curb and get an HP Z820, which now also has CS6. The Mac Pro is now relegated to email and the web since the Z blows it out of the water.

Tom Daigon
PrP / After Effects Editor
http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxPrG3WUyz8
(Best viewed at 1080P and full screen)
HP Z820 Dual 2687
64GB ram
Dulce DQg2 16TB raid