Ron James
Forum Replies Created
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[Chris Poisson] “There’s a huge time difference, even with one-pass.”
Remember how everyone a year ago was saying to go straight from the timeline b/c you bypass rendering. I guess it depends what codec you’re using, etc.
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.1.1 -
[walter biscardi] “You can’t use the internal drive for video capture / playback as you will not get consistent playback off a single internal drive that runs the OS, Software and media. You MUST use a separate media drive for editing with Final Cut Pro. Add to all of that, your internal drive is probably a 5400 RPM drive, which is not sufficient for constant video editing.”
I *think* the iMac HD’s are all 7200 rpm.
I’ve used DV25 from an internal system drive on a Dual G5 and it worked MUCH better than from a FW drive.
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
supervideo…
To tell you the absolute truth, I would’ve gone lo-res with this workflow, b/c that’s what I’m used to. I haven’t yet cut HDV on the iMac, but I’ve seen it play back perfectly. Now you said you were getting stuttering from playback and I did NOT see that at all (and I notice any and every dropped frame).
I’ll check with someone I know who just cut a project on HDV and let you know what the story is.
What I personally love about the iMac is:
a) the display
b) the size
c) the lack of clutter
d) the Intel DUAL core processor
e) the amazing responsiveness, which just blows away single processor G5’s, from my experience.
f) the PRICE.
I’ve had decent experience with Mac’s and FCP (since v.1.0) and I can tell you this is the first iMac I even looked at with interest. And for some reason, I don’t think you’re getting the most out of it. But go read other threads, here and elsewhere, and you’ll see that people with Quads are getting dropped frames. There are so many variables.
‘Nuff said.
;O)
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
Do you mean a single processor? I’m done with those. I’m working on a single G5 right now and the spinning beachballs are driving me batty. I prefer the responsiveness of the iMac.
Until the Intel towers come along, I’m perfectly happy with lo-res cutting.
But I’m cutting, not onlining.
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
Walter…
Realistically, I think it comes down to what you’re using it for. I’ll tell you one thing: you can throw all the spec’s at me you want, but the iMac Intel does NOT feel anything like a laptop to me. And it blows away other G5’s I’m currently working on. And I don’t think anyone somewhat informed would be buying an iMac for expandibility.
It’s an amazing machine for a lower budget. Enough said. I think that should be supported and encouraged. Not everyone can afford to buy an new G5 every 6 months.
I have yet to hear anything bad about the iMac and FCS except when talking about expandibility. Not everyone needs that.
Cut lo-res if you need to. Problem solved. It’s the editing that matters in my world. Not the final polish.
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
[supervideo] “and like I also said I did try some clips comming from the internal drive as well and I had the same stuttering on playback as well”
There are so many factors that can contribute to this. Like I said, I watched HDV play beautifully on a 17″ iMac, without a hitch. And you definitely do not want to use a USB port.
Why not cut lo-res on your iMac. It’s been done for many, many years before and can’t see why it can’t work now (unless your currently colour correcting and/or performing key effects).
Try not to buy into the snob factor of editing (having the latest and greatest and being able say you can do this and that). Cutting is cutting. If you’re onlining tons of stuff, that’s a whole different budget anyway and a Quad PowerMac will probably be one of the cheaper things, I’m guessing.
I’ve been working on G5’s recently that are already feeling might long in the tooth. Everyone talks speed, but I find a sticky interface to be a very annoying thing that effects my editing more than what kind of video format I’m cutting. Give me the snappy interface of an iMac Intel over spinning beachballs, hangs, etc, of an older G5.
BTW, Beware of posterizing with HDV. I saw some stuff today in which the dark areas of the image were very badly posterized. Definitely want to shoot with a monitor on-set.
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
[walter biscardi] “The Intel “Core Duo” is a laptop quality processor, not a desktop quality processor. HDV takes a lot of processing power.”
Really? That’s funny, b/c I was just playing back HDV at an Apple Dealer on a 17″ and it was smooth as could be. Not one dropped frame.
I’m guessing the USB drive might have something to do with it.
Isn’t the Core Duo actually 2-processors on one chip?
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
Toast is a great tool to have, esp. version 7. You have full control over everything, like burn speeds, etc. Best of all, to me anyway, you can now archive over multiple discs. Say, for instance, you were backing up your precious FCS install discs. Well, unless you’re burning to dual layer discs, how can you back them up? Now, in Toast, you can divide it up over multiple discs, then rejoin them later.
Toast is worth every penny, for sure, IMO.
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
Yikes! I paid extra to make them trackable and Apple had the new ones back to me in less than two weeks (from US to Canada). I was impressed at how fast the turnaround was. I made sure, though, I crossed every t, etc and everything was obsessively legible.
Glad you got that sorted out, though! That’s enough to make you sweat.
;O)
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
[John Steventon] “Hmmm, the similarity between Apple and Avid is beginning to get closer…”
I prefer knowing legit customers are getting the upgrades and NOT the people using it for free. If it means mailing in my discs, I’m happy with that.
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4