Best platform for Avid
- Thread starter drjrt
- Start date
krestofre
Knight of the Holy Order
Not getting into the Mac-PC war, one simple fact is that Xpress Pro on the PC has been developed faster than Xpress Pro on Mac. Xpress Pro on PC is version 5.1.5. Xpress Pro on the Mac is 4.6.2 (or something like that). Also Xpress pro on Mac isn't qualified for Tiger yet, so if you buy a new Mac you'll be waiting for the Tiger update.
Avid has made statements that would indicate that the development gap between Mac and PC is closing, and honesly, I hope it does.
Hope that helps.
Chris
Avid has made statements that would indicate that the development gap between Mac and PC is closing, and honesly, I hope it does.
Hope that helps.
Chris
drjrt,
Lets remember, way back when Avid was only an off-line tool, and there was only three choices of resolution. (AVR 1,2,or3). It first came out only on a mac. I have been with Avid (editing) that long. I now have AXP on a Powerbook 17", w/ mojo, I think it runs just as good if not better than the Avids I have at work, (CBS Denver).
Lets remember, way back when Avid was only an off-line tool, and there was only three choices of resolution. (AVR 1,2,or3). It first came out only on a mac. I have been with Avid (editing) that long. I now have AXP on a Powerbook 17", w/ mojo, I think it runs just as good if not better than the Avids I have at work, (CBS Denver).
krestofre
Knight of the Holy Order
Except that it can't work with HD resolutions, capture DV50 over firewire, use Aivd Marquee, output 23.976 projects to tape without Mojo. Etc.
Don't take that wrong. I love Mac as a platform, and if development of Xpress Pro were equal on both platforms I'd be cutting on Mac, but the gap is too large for me right now which, in my opinion, is a huge selling point for PC. I don't really see stability as an issue, the software has always been rock solid regardless of the underlaying platform.
My two cents.
Chris
Thanks. I've always been a PC user but am tired of crashes with our current NLE software. I realize that users with the corrrect PC platform and Avid have enjoyed a stable environment but I'm worried about investing many thousands of dollars in a PC/Avid combo to find that there is some subtle incompatibility that gets me in the end. I purchased the "appropriate" motherboard, Video card with my last software and it didn't help much.
I'm willing to give Mac a try and then if I want, I can always do FCP...
It's just hard to change!!!!
I'm willing to give Mac a try and then if I want, I can always do FCP...
It's just hard to change!!!!
FatDaddy
Veteran
My two macs run very stable (had three but my 2nd PB in 2 1/2 years was stolen two months ago). Like krestofre said, it is hard to wait (and now trust) Avid for their development on the mac. I'm sticking with them until the nex HVX and then I will see if they have come through and go from there.
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
It's been my experience (Both on Xpress Pro studio and Adrenaline), that the qualified HP XW8000/8200 workstations are rock solid.
Tim Miller
Well-known member
I have worked with Avid for the last 3 years. The first machine that I worked on was on a old Mac 9600, old Avid Media Composer. Now we have upgraded to a Avid Adrenaline running on a HP xw8000 w/ 2Gb of ram and plenty of storage space.
And I will tell you what. I have more problems with the PC in the short amount of time I have been editing on this Adrenaline system then I did with that old Mac 9600.
Do keep in mind that the Adrenaline is faster and has more "bell and whistles" but seriously...sometimes it just gets ridiculous. I guess I am at Mac guy at heart. In the end, get what is the best device for the best price. You can always upgrade!
And I will tell you what. I have more problems with the PC in the short amount of time I have been editing on this Adrenaline system then I did with that old Mac 9600.
Do keep in mind that the Adrenaline is faster and has more "bell and whistles" but seriously...sometimes it just gets ridiculous. I guess I am at Mac guy at heart. In the end, get what is the best device for the best price. You can always upgrade!
I faced the same question and have decided to go the PC route.
The final determination was Apple's announcement to switch cpu's.
If you buy a Mac G5 and Avid HD (4.6 whatever) it does work right now. However, there is the catch up to the PC side (version wise) - they are discontinuing the Studio HD package for Apples (perhaps the first sign of withdrawal of total support), and then there is the new CPU version updates (which willl have to run through a second software code - "Rosetta" - possibly affecting performance).
Even when I was talking to an Apple rep, he admitted that there are BIG questions about how "Rosetta" will perform in conjunction with the Avid updates. Add on top of that Avid's lack of R&D support for new versions of their Avid - Apple hardware, and it doesn't look good IMO.
Yet---None of that really matters if you are planning on replacing your system in 3-4 years.
Some may say - yeah but Longhorn is going to need Avid revisions. Yes, but Avid has a better ratio of R&D on the PC side.
Finally, take my advice with a grain of salt. I don't have the vast experience some of the other chaps have here.
Cheers.
The final determination was Apple's announcement to switch cpu's.
If you buy a Mac G5 and Avid HD (4.6 whatever) it does work right now. However, there is the catch up to the PC side (version wise) - they are discontinuing the Studio HD package for Apples (perhaps the first sign of withdrawal of total support), and then there is the new CPU version updates (which willl have to run through a second software code - "Rosetta" - possibly affecting performance).
Even when I was talking to an Apple rep, he admitted that there are BIG questions about how "Rosetta" will perform in conjunction with the Avid updates. Add on top of that Avid's lack of R&D support for new versions of their Avid - Apple hardware, and it doesn't look good IMO.
Yet---None of that really matters if you are planning on replacing your system in 3-4 years.
Some may say - yeah but Longhorn is going to need Avid revisions. Yes, but Avid has a better ratio of R&D on the PC side.
Finally, take my advice with a grain of salt. I don't have the vast experience some of the other chaps have here.
Cheers.
krestofre
Knight of the Holy Order
Well thought-out reasons D and G, and I'm not trying to sway you one way or another, but with Apple using Intel processors then it's possible that just the opposite will happen, that it will actually make Avid's job easier in developing for both platforms. I know nothing about programming, so I may be 100% wrong here, but a bump in the road now may make way for smooth sailing in the future.
Regardless I think everyone can agree that both platforms should be supported identically. In a perfect world I guess. Here's to hoping. :beer:
Chris
Regardless I think everyone can agree that both platforms should be supported identically. In a perfect world I guess. Here's to hoping. :beer:
Chris
Tim Miller
Well-known member
Yes, in a perfect world both platforms would be treated identical. Earlier this year I went to a Avid seminar talking about the integration of HD and HDV, they basically said that Mac will be behind PC as far as updates and software.
My friend just ordered a beast of a system from apple (dual 2.7, 4GB, etc) and he was concerned about the move to Intel. The sales person there said that it won't be for a year or two and right now they are having trouble getting the Intel processor up to the speed of the current one. So he got one now, but that was a sales person, doing their job.
A friend I have working out in California said a couple years back that AVID had talks making their platform PC specific, and from what he said people were up in arms. Threatening to not use AVID at all. Thats just what I heard, I don't even know if it was true. I was out there two years ago interning for a production house and they were getting scared about FCP taking over anyways. So, its always up in the air.
My friend just ordered a beast of a system from apple (dual 2.7, 4GB, etc) and he was concerned about the move to Intel. The sales person there said that it won't be for a year or two and right now they are having trouble getting the Intel processor up to the speed of the current one. So he got one now, but that was a sales person, doing their job.
A friend I have working out in California said a couple years back that AVID had talks making their platform PC specific, and from what he said people were up in arms. Threatening to not use AVID at all. Thats just what I heard, I don't even know if it was true. I was out there two years ago interning for a production house and they were getting scared about FCP taking over anyways. So, its always up in the air.
LUXGAP
Active member
AVID on WINDOWS XP PRO
AVID on WINDOWS XP PRO
My thoughts:
I have been running Xpress PRO HD at home on my self-built Dual Xeon, WINXP Pro and it flies sweetly.
At work I use an Adrenaline, also XP Pro with single Xeon and it flies just as solid. If you want to spend xtra money for the mystique of running Avid on a "superior" platform then listen to the hype of Mac users in general and be "cool".
AVID on WINDOWS XP PRO
My thoughts:
I have been running Xpress PRO HD at home on my self-built Dual Xeon, WINXP Pro and it flies sweetly.
At work I use an Adrenaline, also XP Pro with single Xeon and it flies just as solid. If you want to spend xtra money for the mystique of running Avid on a "superior" platform then listen to the hype of Mac users in general and be "cool".
Tim Miller
Well-known member
LUXGAP said:
I don't know what that means. :huh:
Tim Miller
Well-known member
Well put!
Zack Birlew
Veteran
FCP is a tough app to turn down. I hear a lot about AVID bugs, but that's on all sides and for different reasons so the PC vs. Mac debate is useless. I myself know more about PC's so if I were going AVID, I would use a PC. But, if I made the decision to, I could go with all the other current movie pioneers and do FCP on a Mac. I've tried to make sure I'm decent with both OS's, although I fail miserably at Linux so no Shrek movies for me! ^_^
Stick with what you know and know what you're sticking to.
Stick with what you know and know what you're sticking to.
Well, don't tell me to stick with what I know, because what I know is that my current PC-software combo drive me crazy!
I'm getting the sysem for my 15yr son who has pushed Pinnacle Studio to the limit. He is 100% into movie making and I'm sure that is where he will end up as a career, so I want to get him started on an NLE that will provide him a saleable skill. Ultimately, though, I'm the one that is up at 2am trying to figure out why the system won't burn the DVD, etc. and I really want to avoid that this time around.
So, what I'm looking for is an industry-accepted system that is stable!!! It sounds as though Avid-PC (with an approved system) or FCP-Mac will both fit our needs.
And, yes, I want the system to last 3+years (at least until he goes off to college!).
I'm getting the sysem for my 15yr son who has pushed Pinnacle Studio to the limit. He is 100% into movie making and I'm sure that is where he will end up as a career, so I want to get him started on an NLE that will provide him a saleable skill. Ultimately, though, I'm the one that is up at 2am trying to figure out why the system won't burn the DVD, etc. and I really want to avoid that this time around.
So, what I'm looking for is an industry-accepted system that is stable!!! It sounds as though Avid-PC (with an approved system) or FCP-Mac will both fit our needs.
And, yes, I want the system to last 3+years (at least until he goes off to college!).