thinking about using fcp on MBP

J

jrmiller_entertainment

Well-known member
Hey guys,
I've started to hate my PC with premiere, it just seems to lag.

I am thinking about buying a MBP..here are the specs.

2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
320GB 7200RPM HDD
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
17" Display
I'd use G-tech externals to store video files.

Question is, how would a mac like this handle an hour and a half 720P DVCPROHD video? My pc crashes every time I try to render a video out longer than 30 minutes. It's a quad intel with 3gb ram.
 
It'll handle it grandly. I have a much lesser POWERBOOK that handles DVCRO HD fine. MBP will outshine my PB any day.
 
Agreed with Shane. Only thing I'd caution you on is using G-Tech externals for your files (or any hard drives, for that matter). Look into a RAID-based storage solution, like the FirewireVR from CalDigit. External hard drives work, but personally I think a removable-drive RAID setup is better. And they don't have to break the bank. Just do a Google search and quite a few come up, I just happen to like CalDigit.

--SM
 
True...G-Tech slipping lately. I like CalDigits a lot too...and even the cool Desktop Drives from Maxx Digital. Single drives, but Quad interface (eSATA included) so plenty fast. And no friggin power brick to worry about. Simply power cord.

And QUIET...
 
I'll have to check those out, Shane.

In any case, storing HD files always seems like the forgotten aspect of working with high-def digital media. And it's better to have a strategy going in that will grow with you than having to figure it out afterwards (like I did, sadly).

--SM
 
I've been using a 2.33GHz MBP for a few years now, handles FCP like a dream. I use OWC external drives, which I'm very happy with.

You didn't mention if you're planning to stick with Premier, but one of my favorite features of Final Cut is the ability to transcode on import from HDV (and, I'm pretty sure, DVCProHD) to a non-temporally compressed format, like Apple Intermediate or Photo JPEG. Takes up a bit (a lot) more space, but the flexibility afforded is more than worth the trade.
 
While transcoding HDV makes sense (Long GOP format), transcoding DVCPRO HD is unnecessary. It already is easy to work with.
 
I'm willing to bet you'll have very few problems running it on a MBP. Which version are you using? Even if it's studio 2, I know plenty of people who run it on MBP's with less specs than that, and it runs like a dream.

I'm running Express-HD (unfortunately all I could afford) on a 5 year old iBook G4 (not even a powerbook!) and I don't have any problems editing large amounts of footage. I do need to leave more pre/post roll than when I use Pro on an iMac, but that's really the only issue.

I've also never had any problems capturing and editing straight to an external drive - I've used various different ones and my only recommendation is that you use FireWire as opposed to USB2.0, it's faster and so much more reliable.

Hope that helps
 
dude, you will be totally fine. i have a 2.5 MBP/4GB-RAM and it runs super smooth. you'll never go back to the cumbersome PC world!!
 
same here : MBP 2.5 GHz, 4GB ram, works great ! Only caveat: HEAT ! I film often in Asia and Africa and powerbook cooling IS A MUST ! Intensive graphic work and those beasts get HOT. and then you risk thermal excursion of the mobo which f***ed up my last MBP. it only runs when its cold, as soon as its gets warm the FW bus gets lost :-((( actually I already had this with the pismo´s...
 
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