Mac Editing requirements

Elmy

Elmy

Well-known member
Hello, I've read up a lot on the requirements to edit the AVCHD codec, but i was wondering if anyone has tried it with the exact computer I have and can tell me how hard/easy it is for them. I didn't think it would be a problem as I heard mac's can deal with it better then PC's but then I started worrying a little and thought I'd ask for other's opinions.

Its a MBP and I ordered it last year. here's the specs from apples website:
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
MacBook Pro 15-inch Widescreen
2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x1GB
200GB Serial ATA @ 7200 rpm
SuperDrive 8x DL
No iWork Preinstalled
No Final Cut Exp Preinstalled
No Aperture Preinstalled
No Logic Exp Preinstalled
KYBD/User's Guide
Country Kit

I have 4gb of RAM now though instead of the 2gb it came with. I also will most likely be getting 1tb+ in external hard drive to store the files, as I only have about 50gb left on my hard drive.
 
If it's an Intel Mac and you have FCP 6.0.5, then the AVCHD footage needs to be converted to pro res or AIC.

Use a 7200 FW800 external as a media drive and the only issue is ingest speeds.

BTW, what does "preinstalled" mean? Would it just be "installed?" :)
 
I believe you can elect to have software pre-installed for you when you build/order your computer and purchase software from Apple. I have a similar MBP as the OP, with the exception I installed a 320GB 7200RPM drive. I have my reservations about editing natively in AVCHD, with this computer, if and when that's made available in FCP, but I just got the latest version of Avid Media Composer, 3.5, and supposedly it supports native AVCHD, but I have yet to try it out, having been pleased with the results from Cineform's Neo Scene.
 
It is an intel Mac and I do have the latest FCP which is I believe 6.0.5, My only question with External Hard drives is, is there really a difference with External Hard drives not specified for macs and ones specified for macs? Will the one's not specified work the same? Reason I ask is I order my Computer stuff from newegg and they have a section for External Hard Drives and a seperate section for Apple Extrernal Hard drives, the ones under PC hardware are cheaper then the ones "specified" for macs and if I can use those I'd rather purchase them instead.

And Ya I just copied the whole specs sheet I was sent. You can have those things pre-installed before you get the mac, but I get what your saying :D. I will probably try to get the new IMac within this year anyways however for now I will use my MBP and so I just want to make sure I'll be semi-fine, I know about the whole process of converting the codec.
 
Are you sure about Avid Composer 3.5 supporting AVCHD natively ? I have Avid Composer Version 3.0 and I can't find any info on 3.5 editing AVCHD natively . As far as I can tell there is still the need to transcode . Where did you find the info?

Dave
 
pd17 said:
Are you sure about Avid Composer 3.5 supporting AVCHD natively ? I have Avid Composer Version 3.0 and I can't find any info on 3.5 editing AVCHD natively . As far as I can tell there is still the need to transcode . Where did you find the info?

Dave
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I'm just basing this from my instructor who made a reference that the new feature, Avid Media Access, will accommodate the AVCHD file structure. Looking at Avid's website, it only references Sony's XDCAM format. I'll do some testing at the end of the week; Pretty swamped here.
 
Elmy said:
It is an intel Mac and I do have the latest FCP which is I believe 6.0.5, My only question with External Hard drives is, is there really a difference with External Hard drives not specified for macs and ones specified for macs? Will the one's not specified work the same? Reason I ask is I order my Computer stuff from newegg and they have a section for External Hard Drives and a seperate section for Apple Extrernal Hard drives, the ones under PC hardware are cheaper then the ones "specified" for macs and if I can use those I'd rather purchase them instead.

And Ya I just copied the whole specs sheet I was sent. You can have those things pre-installed before you get the mac, but I get what your saying :D. I will probably try to get the new IMac within this year anyways however for now I will use my MBP and so I just want to make sure I'll be semi-fine, I know about the whole process of converting the codec.
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i use 2 seagate drives in a mcally case with my mac.
 
what drives are they? I was going to order an extra battery when I order my camera but I think I'd rather get an external hard drive since I cant do much if I cant take the files off my camera =P
 
I have two 1 Terabyte Western Digital "Caviar Black" Sata drives in an external Firmtek case . They are 7200 rpm drives in a Raid 0 configuration .These are not Mac specific . They are attached to a 2.5 GHz MBP early 2008 . The external case is attached with a Seritek Express SATA card . Works fine . I have never bought Mac "specific" SATA drives . I also have a 2.0 GHz Mac G5 and I have replaced the internal drives a couple of times with SATA drives , nothing Mac "specific" about those either. You might want to do a Google search on the drives that you decide on just in case there is an issue with some SATA drives and Macs . I haven't heard of any ,but anything is possible with computer equipment.

Dave
 
forgive me, im sick and its late for me kind of so my brain isn't working right, but how are you connecting the hard drives via sata to the MBP? =P
 
The drives are connected via a Seritek/2sm2-e express card . The express card is inserted in the MBPs' express card slot and then connected to the Firmtek external hard drive case with 2 SATA cables . Check out this website . http://www.firmtek.com/ . Using two drives in a Raid 0 configuration gives you faster throughput . However if one drive fails you lose all of your media since the media is distributed on the two drives with no redundancy .

Dave
 
hmm seems a bit expensive but I get it, Ive found a pretty good esata express card for 20-40$, but Ill research the difference in prices
 
Expensive is relative when it comes to computer equipment in today's world . I was able to get two Terabytes of storage for $500 . This includes 2 drives , an external enclosure , SATA Express card and two cables . I remember 10 years ago when 72 Gigs of storage cost over $3000.00 . So for $500 today I get 25 times the storage capacity . The external enclosure has 2 trays inside so I can replace the drives with larger capacity drives when they are available . As far as the really inexpensive SATA cards , make sure you read reviews about their reliability . The money that you save now will be lost in downtime later if the equipment malfunctions .

Dave
 
I have discovered that after owning many drives, Seagate, Western Digital and a few other name brands. They all failed way before they should have. I researched the hell out of it and discovered that G-Drive which you can purchase from B & H photo is damn great. I am sure there are a few other one's out there that are great, but I will never buy anything from Seagate, Western Digital, Fujitsu, Quantum, LeCie.
 
i've never had a problem with seagate or western digital drives. maxtor has crapped out left and right. i'd say i'm a seagate guy.
 
G-Drive does not make it's own drives . It makes external cases to put raw drives into . The same goes for Lacie .There are only a handful of hard disks manufacturers in the world. If you don't use any of the drives that you mentioned you may not have much choice left .

Dave
 
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