Anyone doing both music and video? Workstation help?

tkoind

tkoind

Active member
I do both video and music. I use both PC and Mac. The Mac is a bit old and slow and the PC is not what it could be. So I'm considering looking into a new machine to do both. But I would like to do this on a tight budget. So here are my questions.

1. PC: Can anyone doing both suggest a PC hardware recommendation for a machine using Vegas or PPRO for video and most likely Cubase and Reason on the audio production side. Any suggestions for motherboards, video cards and audio interfaces. A system strong enough to edit video and fast enough to avoid latency issues with audio. I'm ok to build it myself so I'd love to hear what others have put together.

2. Mac: I'd love to buy a G5 but the budget won't allow it. So I'm limited on this side to looking at either an Imac g5 or the top of the series Mac mini with external HDs and audio kit. Anyone using a less expensive Mac for Final Cut pro on the video side and Reason/Cubase on the audio side?

3. I'd also just love to hear if you have an off the shelf machine that is working well for you too.

Thanks in advance for your help.

TKOIND
 
i am a hard core audio guy professionally and do video as a hobby. i have several macs i use for both. at the studio i have a dual 2ghz g5 which is mainly a pro tools rig. i use it sometimes for video using FCP and it screams. at home i have an imac g5 2ghz. this is the machine i do most of my video stuff on. not as fast as the dual 2ghz but still very fast and reliable. i haven't had any recent experience with premiere or vegas so i can't help you there but FCP 5 runs like a champ on the imac.

for audio, the imac runs pro tools LE and reason very well so you can bet that cubase or whatever will do great.
 
Hi Tkoind,

Out of the box I like the Dual G5's better, good operating system, and matched hardware that has been tested. Great for someone who wants minimal fuss with the platform. The PC can be more of a pain just because of all the variable components (and drivers) from third party manufactures. Not that Apple doesn't use third party components too, but there is at least the baseline of the motherboard, and CPU that are standardized. If you are willing to undertake the trials and tribulations of building a PC though, you can build a good machine.

Really the first questions should be:

1) What is your budget
2) What software will you have to purchase to change systems?

-BitBuilder
 
Budget

Budget

My budget is pretty small at present. Max up to USD1800.

On the Mac side I have been considering the top line Mac mini. I have all the other gear and software for FCP4.5 or 5 and on audio Reason 3 and Cubase SX. Then upgrade the memory to max and already have two good large external drives. This was my hopeful cheap fix.

If not then I would be looking at the 17" Imac.

Anyone using Mac Mini units? I have one friend doing video on one here. He is getting pretty good performance overall. A bit slow on the render side, but his work flow and mine don't require rush solutions so time is a way to compromise a little with price. Still I've never used the mini w/FCP or with the audio solutions.
 
Have you thought about a used machine? I bet for $1800 you could get a good Dual G4, -and- applecare to cover your ass. I use a PB17(1.5ghz) for FCP and ProTools with nary a problem. I've recorded 16 tracks live and never missed a beat.

Something about the Mac Mini says "steer away" for your purposes.
 
The Mini uses laptop drives, not great for video.

I assume you already have serviceable displays from the gear you have now?

Find a used G5.
 
How about the current Imac?

How about the current Imac?

The new G5 Imacs are more than I'd really like to spend, but look promising. Anyone using the current G5 Imacs?
 
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