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RedShark News: Opinion: Which are the best NLEs right now?
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Having done more research — and I’ll be the first to admit I still have a long way to go — I’m now considering going way, way over to the dark side.
See my blog post here:
https://herefortheweather.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/resolve-11-diy-windows-pc-build-for-4k-video/I haven’t made a final decision yet. Thanks again all for a helpful discussion!
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Wow that sounds like a major unsupported hassle.
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[James Ewart] “Wow that sounds like a major unsupported hassle.”
Unsupported? In what way?
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https://www.peterdv.com
Blog: https://herefortheweather.wordpress.com -
You build that thing from scratch and it doesn’t work ? What then? Can you take it back to the shop? Doing something like ta is so far beyond me the very notion terrifies me!
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[James Ewart] “You build that thing from scratch and it doesn’t work ? What then? Can you take it back to the shop?”
It’s even worse than that. You build it, it works, but then it has problems with stability! The problem with building your own PC is that you can’t trust the specs on paper. For example, you buy memory that matches the specifications but the computer randomly reboots because of some unknown incompatibility.
I built my own PC’s for years. Two years ago I got tired of it and switched to Mac and I don’t regret it al all. Having taken my 2008 Mac Pro apart to clean it, I can tell you that the build quality of a Mac is incredible! I’ve never seen a commercial PC built as well. You really get what you pay for.
I can’t see why anyone would spend $2900 to build their own PC and have no support when they could get an iMac 5K for the same price and have Apple stability and support. But someone people just like to tinker. (not me, not anymore)
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Ah, now I understand. Everyone’s comfort level is different.
I’ve built PCs previously, and I’ve had need to disassembled and reassembled my MBP-17 & other Macs several times over the years.
I actually enjoy messing with hardware when the cost/benefit ratio is in my favor. Building a PC appropriate to run Resolve 11 might be such a case, at least for me.
Concerning support:
Apple products’ typical reliability and support of their own-branded hardware, OS, and application is a great benefit, which is why I’ve used their products as my primary computer system since 1984. However, Apple doesn’t offer a computer & software solution appropriate for every task, user preference, and budget. That’s what’s brought me to this current decision point.
Generally I’ve found that if I build a PC carefully, taking things one step at a time, insure that appropriate components are selected, and keep software up-to-date, this usually results in a smooth-running system. When problems arise — as they always do with both Mac & Windows systems — basic troubleshooting typically results in an easy fix. It goes without saying that many thousands (millions?) of working professionals rely on Windows based systems, including on custom self-built PCs. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s not rocket science either.
Meanwhile, I’ll continue using my old MBP-17 to surf the web, etc., and plan to use the new custom PC primarily for Resolve 11 and nothing else. Keeping things simple should help improve reliability.
Cheers.
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https://www.peterdv.com
Blog: https://herefortheweather.wordpress.com -
[John Rofrano] “I can’t see why anyone would spend $2900 to build their own PC and have no support when they could get an iMac 5K for the same price and have Apple stability and support.”
In my case, it’s because Apple currently doesn’t offer a solution appropriate to my needs, preferences, and budget. Not this time.
For example, if I were “only” editing 4K ProRes, a new iMac 5K Retina running FCPX might be a great solution.
But my camera also shoots CinemaDNG 4K RAW (in addition to ProRes), and even a maxed-out iMac 5K Retina can’t really handle that in Resolve, let alone in FCPX.
A maxed-out new Mac Pro can choke on 4K RAW in Resolve 11, too, but I suspect that’s a temporary issue that Blackmagic & Apple will hopefully fix soon. Regardless, a Mac Pro is beyond my budget.
Building a custom PC using compatible components for editing/grading 4K in Resolve 11 is an approach I may take, and one I can afford.
Cheers.
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https://www.peterdv.com
Blog: https://herefortheweather.wordpress.com -
[John Rofrano] “Having taken my 2008 Mac Pro apart to clean it, I can tell you that the build quality of a Mac is incredible! I’ve never seen a commercial PC built as well. You really get what you pay for. “
Have you ever worked on an HP Z800-series workstation? They have some plastic baffles and cowls which are admittedly not as shiny as that all-metal Apple construction, but in terms of actual serviceability, I think the design is superior. That old Apple chassis is “less tool” where as HP’s is actually “tool-less.”
[John Rofrano] “I can’t see why anyone would spend $2900 to build their own PC and have no support when they could get an iMac 5K for the same price and have Apple stability and support. But someone people just like to tinker. (not me, not anymore)”
Ask some new Mac Pro users running Resolve about Apple stability and support…
Also, having had to use both, I’d say that HP support trumps Apple’s. I had a problem with an HP laptop motherboard a year or two ago and they had a technician in my office to fix it the next day. The last time I had a problem with an Apple laptop motherboard, it had to get shipped out, repaired, and shipped back, after I had to lug it to the mall.
(Full disclosure: my first experiences with HP were from a a Z800 they sent me testing a while back. However, I liked it enough that I’ve since bought several HP workstations, which was quite a surprise for everyone who knows me and my prior preferences for Apple solutions.)
Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive | RenderBreak [blog] | Profile [LinkedIn] -
Building a custom PC is a viable solution for some, but for the faint of heart, there are outstanding workstations made by HP, though not cheap either. Regarding Resolve and the nMP, a number of folks have posted on the BMD forums that they’ve actually had better results using the nMP with Windows and running Resolve for Windows. This is to specifically get around the problem some users are having with Resolve and the GPUs in the nMP.
Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
[Peter J. DeCrescenzo] “Building a custom PC using compatible components for editing/grading 4K in Resolve 11 is an approach I may take, and one I can afford.
“So do you plan to use Resolve as your only NLE?
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