OK, After months of researching what type of HD camera to invest in I have finally decided that the HVX is the way to go. I have one question though. I just took delivery of a new 24" iMac/2.33ghz intel C2D/2gb ram and a 500gb G-Tech 500gb Graid2 external hard drive connected via FW800. I have only edited using DVCAM footage and am wondering if anyone has experience editing DVCPRO HD footage on a simular iMac system. My only concern is because the format has 4 times the information to process, I may need to look at stepping up to the macpro, Editing DV on the new iMac is a blast I mean the system just screams. It would be very fustrating after importing an HD project that my new iMac starts feeling like a G3 ibook. Anyway I just want to make sure my hardware is ready for HD. Your thoughts, thanks
Editing DVCPRO HD on an iMAC
- Thread starter maynet
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fantasticfilm
Active member
The new 24" iMac will be fine with the HD footage from the HVX. It will probably perform very similar to the MacPro up to a certain level - ie. it can only run 3 gigs of ram.
If you start piling on heavy workloads in your timelines (multiple video streams) and perhaps want do some compositing on it like shake etc. it will probably perform very well up until a point.
The performance is unbeatable for the money and out of the box it is actually shown to be quicker than a MacPro (Macworld Test) but it cannot adapt like the MacPro with extra video cards(BlackMagic etc.) or HArdDrives (You can stuff 3TB into a MacPro)
So basically :-
- Your hardware is VERY ready for HD and I doubt you will gain anything much by upgrading what is already a storming fast machine.
- If you are working with the HVX you will have no problems with the additional P2 readers etc if you want to add those at a later date
- Your 24" will blaze through most HD footage unless you start bringing in uncompressed HD data - in which case you would be ready for a very high end
MacPro with all the trimmings and price tag that would eat 5 of your 24" iMac's in one gulp.
So enjoy the iMac and don't worry about it's performance until you see smoke coming out of it while you are working on the next Batman Movie - in which case you can go out and buy a well priced OctaCore MacPro ;-)
If you start piling on heavy workloads in your timelines (multiple video streams) and perhaps want do some compositing on it like shake etc. it will probably perform very well up until a point.
The performance is unbeatable for the money and out of the box it is actually shown to be quicker than a MacPro (Macworld Test) but it cannot adapt like the MacPro with extra video cards(BlackMagic etc.) or HArdDrives (You can stuff 3TB into a MacPro)
So basically :-
- Your hardware is VERY ready for HD and I doubt you will gain anything much by upgrading what is already a storming fast machine.
- If you are working with the HVX you will have no problems with the additional P2 readers etc if you want to add those at a later date
- Your 24" will blaze through most HD footage unless you start bringing in uncompressed HD data - in which case you would be ready for a very high end
MacPro with all the trimmings and price tag that would eat 5 of your 24" iMac's in one gulp.
So enjoy the iMac and don't worry about it's performance until you see smoke coming out of it while you are working on the next Batman Movie - in which case you can go out and buy a well priced OctaCore MacPro ;-)
While the iMac may be speedy enough for your workflow, a 2.66 Ghz MacPro with four drive bays is sweet.
It also provides redundant back up option including two optical bay drives.
It's what I prefer, but it's your call.
It also provides redundant back up option including two optical bay drives.
It's what I prefer, but it's your call.
rapsucks
Well-known member
I've edited 1080 DVCPRO HD on an older 20", 2Ghz, 2GB RAM iMac. It's definitly not as fast as editing DV, but it'll get the job done. As long as the job isn't too complex, that is. If you are editing a short piece, it should be just fine.
If you are editing a longer piece, there is always the option of creating an offline edit where you work with footage downrezzed to 320x116 or whatever (often I downrez to DV as a comfortable medium--my computer can handle it well, and I can still stand to look at it) and then apply the edits to a batch of HD footage. I work this way so I can work out of the comfort of my home, then move to the big daddy MacPro Quad for the final work.
There's also the added bonus of watching your footage for days in DV or worse, then all of a sudden seeing it all edited together in breathtaking HD. It's an ego boost that often comes in handy during those long days of editing.
If you are editing a longer piece, there is always the option of creating an offline edit where you work with footage downrezzed to 320x116 or whatever (often I downrez to DV as a comfortable medium--my computer can handle it well, and I can still stand to look at it) and then apply the edits to a batch of HD footage. I work this way so I can work out of the comfort of my home, then move to the big daddy MacPro Quad for the final work.
There's also the added bonus of watching your footage for days in DV or worse, then all of a sudden seeing it all edited together in breathtaking HD. It's an ego boost that often comes in handy during those long days of editing.