Avid best with Mac or PC?

P

pld

Member
Hi!

I'm going to buy a new computer for editing and are thinking between Apple Mac Pro and HP xw4400 but which one of them works best with Avid, Mac or PC? When I bought my Avid Xpress Pro I got one version for PC who was version 5.2 an one for Mac who was version 4.8.1, does this mean what Avid makes their programs/versions moust for PC?


/Jesper
 
I much prefer using Avid on a Mac as opposed to a PC. The PC doesn't give you as many keyboard shortcuts as the Mac does. On the Mac, you have 3 modifier keys and all of the function keys available for use in your keyboard settings. The PC only gives you 2 modifier keys and only a few function keys to use for your settings. For someone used to Mac shortcuts, having to work on a PC Avid is torture.
 
Jim2000 said:
I much prefer using Avid on a Mac as opposed to a PC. The PC doesn't give you as many keyboard shortcuts as the Mac does. On the Mac, you have 3 modifier keys and all of the function keys available for use in your keyboard settings. The PC only gives you 2 modifier keys and only a few function keys to use for your settings. For someone used to Mac shortcuts, having to work on a PC Avid is torture.
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Umm, what do you need three modifier keys for? There are only so many keyboard commands in Avid.
 
pdsage10 said:
Umm, what do you need three modifier keys for? There are only so many keyboard commands in Avid.
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Well, for example, when you are editing in segment mode on the timeline, holding down the option key or the command key or the control key or various combinations will allow you to quickly snap the clip you are dragging to the end of a cut or the beginning of a cut or to another track.

As any Mac user will tell you, there are many Macintosh keyboard shortcuts based around the various modifier keys, and these shortcuts can be used within the Avid program.
 
Under Help in Avid you will find all of the short cuts, PC and Mac have an equal amount of short cuts listed. So like I said, there are only so many short cuts and neither system employees more than the other.
 
pdsage10 said:
Under Help in Avid you will find all of the short cuts, PC and Mac have an equal amount of short cuts listed. So like I said, there are only so many short cuts and neither system employees more than the other.
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I'm not saying that an Avid running on PC can't do everything an Avid running on Mac can. I make a living as an editor and for the last 14 years, I've worked on all forms of Avid, from AVBV systems, to Meridian, Symphony, Nitrus, Adrenaline, and Express Pro. I just happen to prefer the Macintosh operating system to the Windows operating system. With my customized user settings, I make use of all 13 function keys at the top of the keyboard. When I have to use a PC Avid, I can't use some of my user settings and that annoys me. That said, I'd rather work on a PC Avid than a Mac Final Cut Pro.

Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preferences.
 
Jim2000 said:
With my customized user settings, I make use of all 13 function keys at the top of the keyboard. When I have to use a PC Avid, I can't use some of my user settings and that annoys me.
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Yeah, when I moved from Composer on a Mac to Composer on a PC I had a considerable amount of frustration. Mostly because I had mapped add edit to F1. Hitting F1 was a subconscious task, I thought it and it happened. Except on a PC I thought "add edit" and the help menu popped up - bummer. I over it now.

I used to prefer cutting on a Mac and then switched to PC which I prefer now. But this is only because I've been using Composer on a PC for many years now. The mental mapping is set in place. The initial transition from one platform to another can be frustrating at first but once you settle in it's all good.
 
Thanks for all answers!

Some questions:
- Is there any DVDsoftware I can use on mac?
If I buy PC I will buy Roxio DVDit Pro HD but the only dvdsoftware I have found to mac i DVD Studio Pro 4 but ca i buy it separate from Final Cut Studio?
- If I buy mac is it best to buy monitor from Apple like theirs Cinema HD Display or should I buy for exempel Nec SpectraView 2090?
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]

I think I will go to the nearest seller on Friday and check what they have to offer.

/Jesper
 
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Avid on Mac vs. PC

Avid on Mac vs. PC

I've been using Avid for about a year and a half on PC and for almost a year now on Mac. I use Media Composer, and I'll say that I've found it to be a better experience on Mac. When editing on my PC I always have deck communication errors and other unexplainable errors. I have yet to have problems with it on my Mac.
 
I just upgraded to Media Copmpser 2.8 Adreneline on a pc and haven't had any problems yet. They are both at the point if you like mac's buy that version and if you like PC's buy that version... The PC version does run faster on a similar processor computer with the same ram... I run mine on a PC supported HP workstation vith no problems.
 
All my 1394 ports are Avid certified, no problems yet but I will update (the board and hopefully not the software again:)) if anything strange comes up.
 
There are presently some P2 import issues with the MAC version of Avid.
P2 media is not showing up on the 2.8 version of Media Composer on the MAC.

See the avid forums for more info.
 
I believe this bug also affects Intel MACS--though I'm not sure. I'm on a G5.

Presently the new 2.8 version of Avid (MAC only) does not recognize P2 cards media (It recognizes the Cards-not Media) or Hard drive media when using the import function on Avid. It's a bug in the Avid software .

More Here http://www.avid.com/exchange/forums/thread/309934.aspx


Avid is aware of it and is working to fix it. I usually always Edit on Avid and find it to be more "user Friendly" but they screwed up the P2 card import function on the latest update so I had to use FCP to do a job.

Remember, If you use a MAC, you can also use FCP Studio which has some benefits. (P2 import on FCP is very slick/ Not to mention They are developing for RED and for the Sony EX)--just keep your options open :)

Nowadays it's good to know both Avid and FCP.

Goodluck!
 
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yep got both, avid on PC and FCP for mac, but had some problems with the avid install to the mac and had heard rumors they were incompadable

Thanks
 
I'm running both FCP and AVID on Mac G5. As long as I unplugged MOJO, everything works fine on FCP. Must admit the new FCP 6 is prestty slick.
I'm still have problems with AVID and P2 media. Hope the get it fixed
soon. (Avid 2.8 will not read FAT 32 files from what I hear)
 
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