Ben Holmes
Forum Replies Created
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[walter biscardi] “This is what I would expect. Only Universal Apps will take advantage of the extra speed on the Mac Pro”
The author used the universal version of FCP for the test – and the 3.0ghz Intel Mac only beat the Quad 2.5Ghz by a handful of seconds (154 to 167). The Quad 2.66 Intel Mac took EXACTLY the same time.
I must admit, I was expecting more of a speedup from these new systems. When will Apple stop using 2x, 3x multiplier figures to sell new Intel kit, when it never plays out on Pro Apps? I’ve been listening to keynotes for long enough to ignore the hype – but I guess Steve J. standing there and saying “hey – it’s just as fast as the old one” doesn’t play too good. I’m a little weary now of people telling me “yeah – but wait til they get the software OPTIMISED for the new hardware”. Oh yeah? Think from now on I’ll believe it when I see it.
I’m sure, however, that if you use software that uses the GPU heavily, these new Mac Pros are just great – As Walter points out.
Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh – after all, I don’t run a G5 quad either, but I just might pick one up after reading this….
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.Producer/Director “The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
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Defiinitely a setup issue – like Shane says, check the formatting on the drive.
Also check your SATA interface and drivers, and run a disk speed check on it – AJA have an excellent one for free on their website.
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.Producer/Director “The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
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Don’t have one, but there has been considerable coverage on the running temperature of all Core Duo laptops. In fact, I understand Apple don’t call them laptops any more because they have to warn people not to use them on their laps in case they get burnt!
The hinge on my G4 Powerbook gets hot when the processor is going, so I woud imagine the MBPs are hotter than that. I think the screen hinge is used as a kind of heat sink – the MacBooks have cooling vents next to them, some of which had a plastic strip left in place from the manufacturing process. This fault was never reported on MBPs, but caused excessive heat if left in place.
This heat is common with every manufacturers Core Duo’s, and perhaps is more obvious on an Aluminium hinge. I know it won’t please you to hear it, but the Core Duo 2’s (probably due in the next couple of months) are supposed to run cooler (and use 40% less power).
Do a search on this on Google. You can find temperature widgets on Apple’s site, and graphs of normal operating temperatures all over the Mac web. You may even find a particularly funny photo of someone ACTUALLY frying an egg on the base of a MacBook!
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.Producer/Director “The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
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Now THAT sounds like fun. OMG – Did I just say that?!
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.Producer/Director “The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
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Totally valid Jeremy, but he should at least see a RT approximation. I can achieve that on my Mac Mini.
Can you try something else – 3 way CC is realtime on my Powerbook. If that doesn’t work….
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.Producer/Director “The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
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Agreed Walter. Core animation is a toolset for developers to allow them to incorporate more animations into application GUIs and so on – the new Time Machine feature in Leopard for one. This differs from the use of open GL and SLI in apps like Motion (and future FCP I gather).
Could see some flashy new interfaces in future FCS releases I suppose! Viva la bloatware…
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.Producer/Director “The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
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If you are talking about an external firewire drive like the Lacie (easy to tip in my experience) check that the problem is not in the firewire interface rather than the disc itself – these tend to be quite flimsy and easy to break. You may be able to open the case and hold the firewire connector in place by hand whilst you transfer data (don’t scoff, I rescued 200Gb like that once – got terrible cramp).
If the drive is one in an enclosure, you may be able to buy another external drive (same size enclosure – doesn’t have to have as big drives, just the same number internally) and slot the drive into it. I’d really persue all the options on this level, and don’t give up on it – if it is firewire, it’s probably an IDE drive and pretty rugged internally. I’d be suprised if just tipping one over with your foot would totally fubar it – even if it was running.
Any process you embark on to ‘upsize’ your lower rez file will not recover the lost detail unfortunately.
Good luck and sympathies.
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.Producer/Director “The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
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Jack
The buzz is from your monitor? Could be an issue with the monitor – how are you feeding it? I’ve seen analogue signals cause audible buzz on badly setup/older monitors. Is it accompanied by visual interference? If you really want to isolate this problem you’ll have to a) put the Mac output through a scope to check the levels and b) try another monitor. Sorry if this all seems obvious, but I just wanted to avoid you spending a lot of time tweaking things on the mac.
As to the deck issue – I don’t use the M15, but in order to receive timecode info from the Mac to the deck you will need to use 422 control on the 9-pin you used with the Digi – firewire won’t do it to the best of my knowledge. Hope this helps and isn’t more stating the bleeding obvious…
Ben
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.Producer/Director “The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
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[Peter Wiggins] “I think you might be pushing the timescale somewhat. I’d rather rely on machines & software versions I know will work.
99% of it might work, but it could be that 1% that doesn’t get you on air. “Totally agree – I have a perfectly stable dual 2.7 system that works and works all week without a problem – I plan never to change any versions of anything on it…
Partially, it’s a desire to get those HD render times down. I think Walter has a Quad (don’t you?) and works in HD a lot – have you seen a great increase in performance?
Also, we NEED another system, as one is now permanently installed in our truck, and we are building another. I can’t quite bring myself to consider picking up a G5 quad with the MacPro out, but I know it’ll be a safer bet for compatability (Kona working now, not in 3 weeks etc., Sapphire on full release, not beta etc. etc.)
Bad timing I guess – and not really a good answer I would imagine. Thanks both for the thoughts – any to add?
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.Producer/Director “The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com
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Hmm. You should be able to achieve almost any transition in realtime, using DV on a Quad – can’t be sure about the ripple, but it sounds as if something is not set right.
Try opening a new sequence, if you didn’t do the easy setup before you created the current sequence, otherwise the new settings may not have taken.
Set the RT settings to unlimited RT, and the resolution and framerate settings to dynamic. You should at the very least see an orange bar above your timeline indicating that playback is at a reduced framerate/resolution.
To clarify one question of yours, whether all footage should be on your medea drive: Yes, with the possible exception of audio files, such as music. This includes stills etc. However, this will not effect the realtime capabilites of the processor, just the ability of your system to continue playing it – without a ‘dropped frames’ warning in other words. Make your only scratch disc the medea, and all your render files will go there as well.
Dropping CD audio (at 44.1khz) into a 48Khz DV timeline will always require rendering – taking less than a second probably on a quad!
Editec Broadcast Editing Ltd
EVS & FCP specialists for live OB operations.Producer/Director “The Supercar Run” now available for international distribution from http://www.electricsky.com