Limitations FCP and G4 dual 1.25 GHz

cordvision

cordvision

Well-known member
Hi,
I am probably going to buy a HVX200 this week. Is anybody using a 1.25 GHz dual processor Mac G4 for editing HVX200 footage. Is it fast enough? What exactly was the problem with editing in FCP? Some formats aren't supported yet right? So what are the limitations? (sorry, I know that it has been answered already but I just couldn't find the thread).

Thank you...
 
I have tried editing both 1080p25 and 720p25 on a Dual 1.25 G4. It's still pretty fluid when editing but rendering effects is pretty slow.

Only format not supported directly is the 720p50 based material, but this limitation can be overcome by importing thru P2 log.
 
FCP is fine...

FCP is fine...

FCP can edit HVX 200 footage fine. As long as you have the latest version there are no problems (5.0.4, the previous version had some form of render issue). So if you're on 5.1.1 then you can import the files and cut the footage just fine. From a software stand point that is.

In terms of your hardware, I don't know, but I wouldn't count on it. Maybe if its a small enough production with a low shooting ratio, but even then I'd be a bit skeptical. Last year in our office we had the same box and it was OK with offline resolution footage. But that was standard def and again, offline quality. Trying to push HD at full quality through that, lots of RAM or not, I personally don't think the box will take it. But you won't really know for sure until you try I suppose.

cheers.
 
You should be fine. I've edited Varicam HD footage on a 1.25 single processor Laptop before. Sure, it's a bit slow.. but will play smooth for the most part. 1080 stuff might tax the system a little bit, especially the graphics card. Best thing ya can do is get some fast HD's and atleast 2 gigs of RAM.

Personally, i'm on G5 dual 2 gighztz and it's pretty decent... except when I had to edit that aweful HDV footage. Man that sucked...


Good luck and let us know how it goes. Also, for 1200 bucks the Macbook runs FCP and handles HD very very very well. It's as fast as my G5 tower... and that was 3200 when it was new... Good deal on the Macbook!
 
Macbook FTW!!

I recently sold m Dual G4 1.25ghz system to upgrade to a Macbook Pro. I got a good deal on it. 1000 bucks is good for an old mac, but the guy i sold it to paid good for it because i drove through the only snow storm in recent memory in the Santa Cruz area, 3 hours to got 40 miles. LOL. Anyway, he wanted it because the Mac i had specifically was the very last Mac that nativly boots into OS 9. He was a collector of sorts.
 
Cynic821 said:
I recently sold m Dual G4 1.25ghz system to upgrade to a Macbook Pro.
Click to expand...

I'm about to do this upgrade too, when the Merom chips come out. How did the FCP performance compare between the G4 and the MBP?
 
David S. said:
If you are moving to the MBP, consider either an ExpressCard/34 FW card or eSATA card.
Click to expand...
What are you using these cards to connect to? Why not use the built in FW?
 
the upgrade was tremendous, i mean unbelievably outstandingly faster! its faster than my Dual G5 here at work with 2gb ram. Dual 2.0ghz G5. It isnt just slightly faster, it screams.
 
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