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Purchasing Final Cut System – iMac or Macbook Pro?
Hey forum! I’ve been an Avid editor since 2006 and just now switching over to Final Cut.
For the initial system i’m looking at either one of the new iMacs (dual or quad core) or a macbook pro. Or….even a mac pro.
Need some advice…I’ll be cutting HD material. First project was shot on the Panasonic HVX200 (P2 card / 720P). In Avid land I would have gotten a workstation with multiple drives to handle the I/O for HD. I’m assuming it would be the same for Final Cut? Or can I get away with a single drive setup like an iMac or Macbook Pro?
Also, how multi-threaded is Final Cut? If I got a quad core system and kicked off an intense render would it use one core or four cores?
Also, i’m assuming i should probably go with a 512MB video card? nVidia or ATI? Has anyone cut HD on a laptop vs. an iMac vs. a workstation?
Any advice most appreciated. THANK YOU!!!!
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kyler boudreau
theatereleven.com
ph.310.425.2231 -
6 Replies
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Hi Kyler,
I can not tell you by experience on the iMac, but I think most of the guys around would recommend you to go for the MBP.
The MBP is limited because is a Lap-top, the iMac have been designed limited and without hopes for upgrading.
I work since a couple of years with a MBP 17′. I cut Prores and very high data-rate MPEG-2 (280Mbps).
I don’t work much multi-layer, but I use a lot Color and use processor intensive de-noise and so.
Work great. You just need an external RAID connected by e-SATA. With the iMAc you are limited to FW 800 or jump to Ethernet.
But the 17″: Not the 15″.
About Video-card, put the best you can buy. GPU is as important as CPU for FCS. And about RAM, all that you can put in.
rafael -
I would say MacBook Pro but even more specific the 17″ MacBook Pro. For one reason, it has an express slot thus letting you use esata.
Hindsight is always 1080p
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Great point…didn’t know the 17″ had the express card slot.
Can anyone on the forum chime in about the I/O stuff for HD footage? I’m completely new to Final Cut and only used Avid in online/offline scenarios.
Is it worth jumping to a 17″ Macbook Pro over the new iMac just for the eSata connectivity?
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kyler boudreau
http://www.theatereleven.com
ph.310.425.2231 -
[kyler boudreau] “Is it worth jumping to a 17″ Macbook Pro over the new iMac just for the eSata connectivity?”
No-brainer between those two.
The 17″ MBP has a very decent GPU, the screen is a gorgeous 1920×1080, and the eSATA connection blows even FW800 out of the water. I use a FirmTek 2EN2 enclosure with this; compact, high performance and “unbreakable,” but there are other choices.
If you go MBP, make sure to get the matte screen, the glossy is great if you forgot to shave in the morning because you won’t have to look for a mirror.
I’ve seen these 17″ MBPs go for $1995 at MacMall recently, no reason to pay more.
The Mac Pro would be a better choice if you need to use internal cards for SDI capture etc. (the MBP can capture HD-SDI via AJA and Matrox boxes of course), or just need max. performance for heavy post work.
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[kyler boudreau] “Is it worth jumping to a 17” Macbook Pro over the new iMac just for the eSata connectivity? “
Yes.
The capability to connect an eSATA RAID is what makes this laptop a professional tool.[kyler boudreau] “Can anyone on the forum chime in about the I/O stuff for HD footage”
I have an AJA ioHD, but if I had to buy a new one, I would have a look to the Motu and the Matrox.
rafael -
thanks everyone. after careful consideration, we ditched the idea of iMac or Macbook Pro and got a shiny new Mac Pro with 8GB RAM.
if anyone as Avid to Final Cut guide advice, I’d be open.
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kyler boudreau
http://www.theatereleven.com
ph.310.425.2231
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