Is macbook pro effecient enough for EX1 clips at DVinfo.net

Tuomas Sebastien · January 13th, 2008, 09:33 PM

Simple questions... can current macbook pros handle all the material i get out from EX1? How about if I convert it to prores422? The programs used would be FCP and after effects CS3. Is the basic hard disk fast enough or would I need to get one with higher RPM?

How about using RAID configured network drive with gigabyte ethernet connection between the macbook pro and the network drive pack? Has anyone ever tested such a setup? With RAIDed network drive I would atleast get reliability and hopefully also more speed.

Eric Pascarelli · January 13th, 2008, 09:43 PM

I have the 200GB 4200rpm in mine and it does the XDCAM stuff perfectly.

It's just that the screen is too small to play 1080.

I am pretty sure it will do prores just as well, but I can't remember if I've tried it. I have on my old G5 tower and it works fine there.

I think that a network drive will cause you headaches. I would use internal or something connected via firewire. This is not from experience, just a hunch.

Marc Faletti · January 13th, 2008, 10:51 PM

I edited an entire project in FCP XDCAM EX on a 2.33Ghz Macbook Pro w/ 2GB RAM & with all files stored on an external firewire 400 drive and everything was super smooth.

Tuomas Sebastien · January 13th, 2008, 11:39 PM

Anyone got any experiences with after effects? It demands really much from computer and when your doing your post work it would help if you could actually watch the clip with decent frame rate.

Eric Pascarelli · January 13th, 2008, 11:42 PM

I think you will have no problem with AE, as long as you have enough RAM.

I use Combustion and Shake on my MBP all the time with ease, The only limit is RAM for frame buffering.

Rainer Mann · January 14th, 2008, 03:42 AM

Hi

I don't know yet about XDCAM and MacBook Pro but I can tell you, I edited an HDV project on my MacBook 2.8, 2GB Ram (Not Pro!! Only MacBook!) without bigger problems. And that was a music-clip with a looot of cuts! It became slow by adding effects but cutting itself was without any problems! I was surprised by myself about my little Macbook & FC Pro :-)
So I guess 35mbit stuff on MacBook Pro won't be a problem at all....

January 13th, 2008, 09:33 PM	#1
Tuomas Sebastien Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 107	Is macbook pro effecient enough for EX1 clips Simple questions... can current macbook pros handle all the material i get out from EX1? How about if I convert it to prores422? The programs used would be FCP and after effects CS3. Is the basic hard disk fast enough or would I need to get one with higher RPM? How about using RAID configured network drive with gigabyte ethernet connection between the macbook pro and the network drive pack? Has anyone ever tested such a setup? With RAIDed network drive I would atleast get reliability and hopefully also more speed.

January 13th, 2008, 09:43 PM	#2
Eric Pascarelli Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 498	I have the 200GB 4200rpm in mine and it does the XDCAM stuff perfectly. It's just that the screen is too small to play 1080. I am pretty sure it will do prores just as well, but I can't remember if I've tried it. I have on my old G5 tower and it works fine there. I think that a network drive will cause you headaches. I would use internal or something connected via firewire. This is not from experience, just a hunch.

January 13th, 2008, 10:51 PM	#3
Marc Faletti Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 50	I edited an entire project in FCP XDCAM EX on a 2.33Ghz Macbook Pro w/ 2GB RAM & with all files stored on an external firewire 400 drive and everything was super smooth.

January 13th, 2008, 11:39 PM	#4
Tuomas Sebastien Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 107	Anyone got any experiences with after effects? It demands really much from computer and when your doing your post work it would help if you could actually watch the clip with decent frame rate.

January 13th, 2008, 11:42 PM	#5
Eric Pascarelli Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 498	I think you will have no problem with AE, as long as you have enough RAM. I use Combustion and Shake on my MBP all the time with ease, The only limit is RAM for frame buffering.

January 14th, 2008, 03:42 AM	#6
Rainer Mann Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Stuttgart, Germany Posts: 41	Hi I don't know yet about XDCAM and MacBook Pro but I can tell you, I edited an HDV project on my MacBook 2.8, 2GB Ram (Not Pro!! Only MacBook!) without bigger problems. And that was a music-clip with a looot of cuts! It became slow by adding effects but cutting itself was without any problems! I was surprised by myself about my little Macbook & FC Pro :-) So I guess 35mbit stuff on MacBook Pro won't be a problem at all....