[Craig Alan]

I would clone my system to another drive. Wipe the drive clean. Do a fresh install or OS and then apps. Then instead of putting the ole user account back into the new install wholesale, drag the stuff you need into the right locations such as documents and so forth. For mail and and other library stuff its an easy google search to find out the files and where they are stored and drag them into the new set up. Its a bit of a pain but you’ll have a clean system.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Hey Brian,
I have a related question.

I use a Sennheiser plug-in transmitter with a Hypercardioid mike on some shoots and it burns through the AA batteries much faster than all the other gear. I’m often left with only one bar after 1 1/2 hours where as the rest of the T/R and mixer are still at 3 or 2 bars. Though I haven’t lost the feed on any shoot it makes me nervous.
Is there a battery that can give me a longer charge than regular AAs.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

No not a pro MIX. Though we do use them with FCP X in a multi station edit lab without the benefit of a sound treated room with one pro editor using high end monitors and mixer.

I also understand what you are saying in the field but I have found the sony 7506 gives you a better take on the sound you are actually recording. It’s true that the field mixers are mainly about setting gain and making sure the sound reaches the recoding device and isn’t picking up interference. However, you are also working with talent and placing the mikes to get the best sound possible from a given set up and voice quality. And I need headphones that are durable — being lent to students and get a lot of use.

I’d appreciate any feedback on this model compared to the sony and the previous version of the AT.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

I agree. However my concern is an exit strategy. How can I opt out to move to another software if at ANY time in the future I decide to not renew my subscription?

For media creators we are talking massive libraries of data. I still have a way to play my projects from 10 years ago. Will I be able to do this if I cancel CC?

The rest is just money. Do I want to spend x amount for so and so. I think FCP X has been a great bargain but with the need to only use Apple Hardware which does have some concerns like not having a modular system that has been kept current (MacPro is getting old in the tooth). Adobe software however is just scary for me to consider cause I don’t see the long term ownership of my own media.

Kinda like if the only road leading to your home was a privately owned toll road.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

[Tangier Clarke] “Haven’t had any issues using managed libraries”

Yes its easier to “share” a project if all is in the library. Though I think it makes sense to have Card copies elsewhere and the FCBackups elsewhere, even if imported media stays in library. An advantage to your way is backups of the library won’t need to relink media the way a clone does if the media now resides on a different drive.

Do you know if a project can be recreated from just the card copies and a FCback up file?

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

if he not going to do any editing then highlight the timeline and export.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Some but not much rigor involved.

Create a folder in the finder on your media raid with the same NAME AS LIBRARY.
Put labeled folders in this “same NAME AS LIBRARY” folder:

FC BACKUPS
MEDIA
CAMERA CARDS (or whatever the original media files are called)
RENDER

In FCP X highlight the library
in the inspector click modify settings and chose the above folders.

done.

I keep a folder on my desktop with the above named folders and drag them into the NAME AS LIBRARY folder when I create a new library.

All components of each project is now stored in one folder and can easily be backed up.

EXAMPLE: inside finder folder called CAMAREE 8-15-15

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

True but 4 grand for a non update able computer which will be old in three years seems a bit pricey. And unlike with a Mac Pro, the monitor goes down with it. Is there one configuration that is the relative best bang for the buck?

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Yes we still have target disk mode and works with thunderbolt as well as FireWire.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Any iMac will run FCP X.

you’ll get more life out of the more expensive models and the upgrade to i7 is worth it.

USE OWC to max out ram and save the original ram for warranty issues and as trouble shooting back ups.

Get a thunderbolt raid for a media drive and a dock for bare hard drives for back ups.

The retina display is a great monitor regardless of using 4K footage or not.

Upgrading to a SSD drive will speed up booting and opening stuff.

You get what you pay for.

But any of the models will run FCP X.

Better models remain current longer.

The longer you keep your current one, the better the tech becomes. Always a new faster machine around the corner. Rumor has it Intel’s new CPU chips will arrive in Macs next year. And Thunderbolt/USB-C will be much faster.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.