Mac Pro or MacBook Pro

berlinfool

berlinfool

Well-known member
I'm ready to spent some cash on my new editing system and I wanted to buy the Mac Pro - but since a Laptop is very usefull to record direct-to-disk on location, I was wandering if a MacBook Pro is powerful enough to edit the HD content from my HVX.
I'going to edit up to 20min Projects, no features yet.
 
I think you should be good using a Macbook Pro, I just got one in July and it works great for editing. I connect to an extra display when at home so I can edit much easier. I got the 2.4ghz one with 2gb of Ram, but I might buy 4gb eventually. I also plugged in a firewire800 external hard drive with 1tb of extra storage. Right now everything runs smooth and quick. But I am sure you would notice an increase in performance with one of those Quad-core big fancy MacPros.
 
I've had no problems with my 2.16ghz MBP and 3gb of RAM. I only have 128mb VRAM, too. If you're doing a lot of effects or a ton of tracks, the tower *might* be the way to go, but if you want portability, I don't think you'll have much to worry about with the MBP.
 
well the powerbook s fine and you should have no problem editing on it, BUT if you really want to buy an EDITING SYSTEM you should go with the mac pro... Logging on site is great, but that's a whole lot of money you re spending just for that... logging only can also be done with an old imac on location :)
 
The new Macbook Pro's are pleanty fast for editing...you may want another screen though for when you are back from location...up to you really if you need the space...the Mac Pro will really only be significantly faster when it comes to rendering...but then you don't have the Laptop on location...I say go with the Macbook Pro.
 
everything's true what kingsreignn said - i just feel that if you have your studio you might as well be able to get out all of it - motion on a macbook pro is just not as much fun as on a mac pro...

either way - you gonna love it
 
I am having the same trouble deciding between the two. The one deciding factor is whether you are able to capture uncompressed HD onto a macbook pro using an external device from blackmagic and if it will even be possible to edit uncompressed on a macbook pro vs a mac pro I am still researching but any help would be great.
 
I don't believe you can edit UNCOMPRESSED HD on a Macbook Pro.

To capture, edit and output uncompressed HD requires a Kona3 [which is an internal PCIe card, you cannot capture uncompressed over any device that transfers the data via firewire 800], and fiber channel disk array with at least a 2Gb HBA.

Although a Macbook Pro can edit compressed HD, unless there is a compelling need to edit on location the Mac Pro is the better choice. It provides you with a lot more flexibility to add and change components that are needed for different types of projects.
 
Agree with Chuck- my order of preference on FCP editing systems:

MacPro
MacBook Pro
new Imac
G5
Powerbook
MacBook
G4
 
I don't know how much RAM, what kind of graphics or I/O cards you could use in the new iMacs but I was playing with one at the Apple store and they are fast and sexy.

If the new iMac could at least be configured like the MacBook Pro I might make that my second choice.
 
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