Olof Ekbergh
Forum Replies Created
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I just have “Unused Events and Project” folders on each drive and I move events and projects I don’t want FCPX to load in there.
Just quit the program before you do this, it also works with Archives.
Olof Ekbergh
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Are the clips in a project (timeline), clicking on a clip there and then looking at the properties will show the controls.
Olof Ekbergh
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What kind of MBP, how much RAM etc?
What codec material, have you tried working in proxy mode?
Often running DiskWarrior will fix wierd disc access problems.
Olof Ekbergh
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[Clint Wardlow] “I am curious, I have pretty much the same imac set-up which works fine with straight editing. However, since I have begun delving into AfterEffects over the last year I find it is often not enough machine when my effects start getting complicated. That is why I am looking to purchase more power.
Do you do a lot of effects compositing? I admit I am kind of green at this and may be doing something wrong. However, I am longing for something that takes more advantage of cuda and the mercury engine.”
I do mostly simple editing but I do use AE and Motion for some compositing as well as Boris RED.
AE has always been my favourite and it still is. It has never been a real time full res tool for me, but I enjoy working in it anyway. It is very easy to use and powerful.
Photoshop, Illustrator and AE are essential tolls for me. I find they run faster on my new iMac than my 8core MP.
If I spent all day in AE with hundreds of layers or if I did a lot of 3D etc, then I would definitely be looking for a more powerful workstation and render farm. And I think if that is what you really need Macs probably are not in your future. But for me maybe 5% of what I do requires AE. I just like to tell stories and most of that is really just plain A/B cuts and audio editing.
We often use AE graphic packages from designers that we then use them in our projects compositing in AE. So for “light” AE I think the iMac is great.
When I first started authoring DVD’s back in the 90’s I bought 2 Windows systems for that and neither worked very well. I ended up coming back to the Mac and I have not used Windows since then for Video. I would buy whatever machine is necessary for my business I really don’t care about the brand. I am just much more comfortable with Macs, so as log as they do what I need I will buy them. And currently they work perfectly for me.
Olof Ekbergh
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[Chris Harlan] “Can’t be easily upgraded? It can’t be upgraded at all. But that is not the issue. The issue is that if any part fails, the entire unit fails. Considering that this unit is nearly 3 to 4 grand in a useable configuration, that seems to me to be a point worth discussing. I don’t think anyone has called this unit “crappy,” but don’t you think this is a potential pitfall that people should know about when they put their money down? Or is even mumbling about potential Apple downsides taboo?”
With Apple care you have 3 year warranty. And if you drop it or it is otherwise damaged insurance will pay for the replacement.
Who cares what has to be done to repair a broken tool. My guess is that Apple will do some component repair at factory rebuild sites, not just replace the whole computer. But even if they just recycle it and give you a new one, then that is fine with me.
If it breaks after 3 years you probably want a new one anyway.
Olof Ekbergh
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[Clint Wardlow] “I think the fear is not so much in the laptop arena, but that Apple will start applying this model to their desktops. I mean does anyone really buy an imac or macpro with max ram from Apple? It is sooo much cheaper to get minimum ram and upgrade from a third party. Or also the idea that if a ram chip fails or some such you have to replace the whole motherboard.
The idea that someone would really spend like $8,000 for a tricked out Mac Pro that couldn’t be upgraded seems ludicrous. But maybe this isn’t the future of MAC desktops. We won’t really know until Apple plays its desktop cards 6 to 16 months from now.”
I just replaced my main editing MP 4 year old 8core, with maxed out iMac. It runs circles around my MP. And it is quiet. I still have the 8core system with its 12 drive promise SAS raid that sounds like a jet taking off and is banished to another room. My new 6TB raid is tiny and just as fast and it is quiet.
The cost of the system was $2,600.00 2GB Vram and 16GB Ram 2TB internal. The LaCie 6TB RAID $700.00. The speed of the raid is about the same as the old ATTO 380 PCIe setup that cost over $4,000.00.
I can’t remember exactly how much the MP and 30″ screen was, but it was much more than the iMac and the iMac is way faster. It works perfectly for what I do FCPX with a MX02 for SDI monitoring.
The MP is still running fine as a M100/FCP7 suite with AJA LHe (also EOL’d). And I will use it for years to come, but the new iMac is now my fastest and main edit suite.
So for me the 8core MP my third one will probably be my last tower. I look forward to see what Apple has in store for us.
I really like quiet without a lot of extra architecture.
Olof Ekbergh
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They are made to be recycled not repaired.
That is the industry trend.
I seem to drop my MBP hard every 3-4 years and my insurance always pays for a new one. So this is not such a bad thing. Sometimes earlier, or they are stolen.
I remember when we changed points and condensers in cars and used timing lights and dwell meters to tune cars. Now just replace the ignition unit, no adjustments. And you have to have a specialized computer to even begin to work on them.
I also used to replace all kinds of parts in computers, but now I just buy new ones because every 3-5 years you need a whole new system to keep up with current SW.
I think things are only going to change more, smaller, faster, no moving parts at all. Possible recover heat as power not waste it by having to use a fan to cool.
I still have a Mac from the 90’s that run as a SD edit suite perfectly, and I still use it from time to time. And I have a 22 year old MC that runs as well.
But I change my cars every 5 years or so and they almost never need repairs.
I like the look and utility of the new MBPr and when I need a new MBP I will buy it. But my current 5,1 is running great with a 1TB internal HD.
I really don’t see a problem using a smallish internal SSD as a system drive and TB externals for editing in the field. Seems ideal to me, have 2 TB compact drives with you at all times. I do that now with FW800’s for editing and file transfers from memory card cams.
I also love the way I don’t have to deal with tape any more. SSD’s and memory cards are great. I have not had to send a camera in for cleaning or head replacement in the last five years.
I think things are changing for the better. It is very efficient to recycle aluminum, and the boards, glass etc are also recycled. It is just the way of the future.
Olof Ekbergh
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I got the most tricked out IMac. And it is serving me very well.
It makes FCPX a joy to use, and it is fast for what I do in AE. It is hooked up to a Matrox MX02, and the hdsdi is perfect. It plays back pretty much everything w/o rendering. But I still let it render in the bg.
I still have 2 older mpro’s with AJA hardware and they still run fine with M100 and fcp7.
So I am all set for a year or two now. I really like the quiter smaller iMac ( it is the 27″) but it is still much smaller than the aluminum monster and it’s 12 drive promise raid that sounds like a jet departing and has to be banished to another room. I use a TB 6 TB raid and it is quiet and small but plenty fast enough for my work.
So if apple comes out with a new box in the next year or two, that is perfect for me. I expect it to be smaller quiter and faster, just like my iMac.
I still use my 2 year old mbp a lot. And I will probably replace that with a new mbp when I drop this one. It seems to happen every 3-4 years or so.
Olof Ekbergh
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This is very similar to my findings.
FCPX seems to really depend on new hardware to work well. I was really disappointed with how FCPX ran on my 2009 8core, this station runs FCP7 and M100 very well. But really stutters playback and has frequent beach balls from Hell when running FCPX.
Using the new iMac i7 maxed out with a TB RAID, it works very well using Matrox MX02. It helped make me start to use FCPX instead of just “testing” it.
Olof Ekbergh
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Does anyone remember Radius Mac Clones and their Radius Telecast.
That was my first system, you used an early version of Premier that could not keep audio sync for more than 3 minutes at a time. You had to render 3 minute clips and then write a script to play them in sequence to record to tape, it sometimes worked and sometimes not.
This system was a nightmare, and I got a M100 in 97. It still is my main system now using Kona cards and my oldest Vincent board system still runs as does a “Huge” RAID. I sold a few of the systems over the years, usually for 10% of what they cost me, just to make room for new gear.
It gives me a head ache to think of the more than multiple six figurs I spent on upgrades, platinum contracts, Ram, Raids etc.
Olof Ekbergh