Video editing...changing from PC to a Mac g5...what do I need to know?
Steven Wills
100 card.
I do mostly SD work (commercials etc.) and I've had enough of trying
to edit on a PC. It's just not working as fast or as well as I want.
Crashes and problems are taking up way too much of my editing time. I
need advise badly as not many people I know use a Mac for professional
video editing.
I'm thinking of buying a duel 2GHz G5 for editing only. Photoshop will
be one of only a select few programs I will install on it.
My question is: "IF" I bought the G5, will I see the speed increase I
hear so much about? Spending the large amount of money to change to a
Mac system makes me worry that it may be a lateral move and I want to
be sure and get the right information from the people in my industry
so I may avoid the pitfalls of going blindly into this arena.
I know nothing about a Mac or FCP but I hear that it has big positive
differences that may help in speeding up the editing process. I've
been on a PC for about 18 years and making the change scares the heck
out of me...so, I'll keep the PC till I know what I'm doing.
I'm not interested in games or 3D stuff...just video editing. Since my
income depends on it and my Wife has kinda grown fond of eating and
having a roof over her head I thought I better get some really good
advice from real users who do this everyday. This IS a lonely place to
be without others who can guide you.
Most of my editing is 30 second commercials to 30 minute "shows" and
just like there are things you should know about the PC, I figure I
better know some of them about a Mac to avoid troubles.
If some of you could point me in a direction or give me your
experiences, I would be most grateful.
sbt
Wills <stev...@insightbb.com> wrote:
Steve,
All I can tell you is that FCP is the "tool of choice" for professional
video types. You can actually walk through online tutorials for FCP at
Apple's Web site (one basic one is at
www.apple.com/finalcutpro/quicktour).
The "Stories" page (www.apple.com/finalcutpro/stories) contains links
to a number of real-life testimonials and case studies.
My dual 2GHz G5 is noticeably faster with Photoshop than my 2.8GHz
Pentium running Windows XP (other cross-platform apps split as to which
version is "peppier"). Video editing with Final Cut, though, is way
faster and easier than using Premiere or Pinnacle on the Winbox. In
fact, the only reason I still have them taking up space on my Windows
machine is that, occasionally, a friend or client will need help with a
project already started in one of those apps.
--
Spenser
fishfry
stev...@insightbb.com (Steven Wills) wrote:
> I know nothing about a Mac or FCP but I hear that it has big positive
> differences that may help in speeding up the editing process. I've
> been on a PC for about 18 years and making the change scares the heck
> out of me...so, I'll keep the PC till I know what I'm doing.
>
That is a very good choice. Get the Mac, run it in parallel. Take the
time to set it up, play around, get frustrated. There are a number of
subtle usability differences that make Macs and PCs difficult for people
crossing over. There is a learning curve. It sounds like you're going
about this the right way, asking questions, going slowly, keeping the PC
around till things stabilize.
Raven
58f8bc28.04091...@posting.google.com, sent 9/13/04 4:35 PM, was
inscribed as follows:
> I know nothing about a Mac or FCP but I hear that it has big positive
> differences that may help in speeding up the editing process. I've
> been on a PC for about 18 years and making the change scares the heck
> out of me...so, I'll keep the PC till I know what I'm doing.
>
> I'm not interested in games or 3D stuff...just video editing. Since my
> income depends on it and my Wife has kinda grown fond of eating and
> having a roof over her head I thought I better get some really good
> advice from real users who do this everyday. This IS a lonely place to
> be without others who can guide you.
>
> Most of my editing is 30 second commercials to 30 minute "shows" and
> just like there are things you should know about the PC, I figure I
> better know some of them about a Mac to avoid troubles.
>
> If some of you could point me in a direction or give me your
> experiences, I would be most grateful.
>
> Steve
> www.kyvideoservices.com
Hi!
I am in sort of the opposite position as you - I am a long time Mac graphic
designer and I am just starting to do some video work on Mac. I can't really
comment in any detail about video apps specifically, since I have just
started in that medium. But, I have worked on Macs & PCs in
advertising/marketing for almost a decade, and taught other apps (like
Photoshop) at the college level on both platforms, and quite simply there is
no comparison.
True, it will take you a while to get used to getting around on the Mac; the
most common thing my PC students complained of in the Mac lab was that the
Mac was too simple! They kept expecting routine tasks to be convoluted and
complex, and were baffled at the simplicity of those tasks on the Mac.
But once you do get used to it, you will find yourself wondering why anyone
subjects themselves to the myriad idiosyncrasies of the Wintel world.
By the way, I checked your site, I am in the same region. I will drop you a
private e-mail and see if you are interested in some Mac networking.
Best of luck!
Raven
--
³I find that incessant whining helps to
ease the existential pain.²
(Spam Trap: remove the shadow to mail me)
Robert
> My question is: "IF" I bought the G5, will I see the speed increase I
> hear so much about? Spending the large amount of money to change to a
> Mac system makes me worry that it may be a lateral move and I want to
> be sure and get the right information from the people in my industry
> so I may avoid the pitfalls of going blindly into this arena.
>
Try going to a FCP user group meeting ( the LA one is
http://www.lafcpug.org/ ) or take a one day FCP class. Either of these
should let you meet Mac users who do video.
Apple does have Mac stores. There are independent dealers too. I'd
assume a machine would have FCP on it. A dealer may be your best bet
since you might want to came back for advice. I know one in my area
that is for small business and isn't a 'computer' store.
Best to find a mentor.
Robert
Chris Brown
>
> I'm thinking of buying a duel 2GHz G5 for editing only. Photoshop will
> be one of only a select few programs I will install on it.
you will find the dual G5 not to be a duel, unlike your current pc.
:-)
Chris Brown
Neurosurgery
University of Adelaide
Mike Charbonneau
Raven <ra...@ravenmoonshadow.us> wrote:
> "Steven Wills" 's recent missive,
> 58f8bc28.04091...@posting.google.com, sent 9/13/04 4:35 PM, was
> inscribed as follows:
>
> > I know nothing about a Mac or FCP but I hear that it has big positive
> > differences that may help in speeding up the editing process. I've
> > been on a PC for about 18 years and making the change scares the heck
> > out of me...so, I'll keep the PC till I know what I'm doing.
> >
> > I'm not interested in games or 3D stuff...just video editing. Since my
> > income depends on it and my Wife has kinda grown fond of eating and
> > having a roof over her head I thought I better get some really good
> > advice from real users who do this everyday. This IS a lonely place to
> > be without others who can guide you.
> >
> > Most of my editing is 30 second commercials to 30 minute "shows" and
> > just like there are things you should know about the PC, I figure I
> > better know some of them about a Mac to avoid troubles.
> >
> > If some of you could point me in a direction or give me your
> > experiences, I would be most grateful.
> >
> > Steve
> > www.kyvideoservices.com
>
Good on ya. Consider Apple's Production Suite which includes FCP HD, DVD
Studio Pro and Motion. It's $300 more than FCP alone. For what you do,
Motion is a no brainer and it'll come in handy. And although you likely
won't author any DVDs for your productions, it'll be nice to have DVD
Studio Pro for whatever personal projects.
Visit the following for more info:
http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/ (note various application listed in
it's own tab along the top; also notice, midway down, a QuickTour tab.
This will give you an idea of what each app does)
http://www.apple.com/productionsuite/
http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/ (scroll down; huge FCP support)
http://www.creativecow.net/forum/view_posts.php?forumid=1 (ditto)
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html (another
excellent resource once you dig around)
Good luck!
Mike
Steven Wills
>
> All I can tell you is that FCP is the "tool of choice" for professional
> video types. You can actually walk through online tutorials for FCP at
> Apple's Web site (one basic one is at
> www.apple.com/finalcutpro/quicktour).
>
> The "Stories" page (www.apple.com/finalcutpro/stories) contains links
> to a number of real-life testimonials and case studies.
>
> My dual 2GHz G5 is noticeably faster with Photoshop than my 2.8GHz
> Pentium running Windows XP (other cross-platform apps split as to which
> version is "peppier"). Video editing with Final Cut, though, is way
> faster and easier than using Premiere or Pinnacle on the Winbox. In
> fact, the only reason I still have them taking up space on my Windows
> machine is that, occasionally, a friend or client will need help with a
> project already started in one of those apps.
I'll do the same till I find my way...thanks for the reply.
Steven Wills
> time to set it up, play around, get frustrated. There are a number of
> subtle usability differences that make Macs and PCs difficult for people
> crossing over. There is a learning curve. It sounds like you're going
> about this the right way, asking questions, going slowly, keeping the PC
> around till things stabilize.
There are a number of subtle usability differences that make Macs and
PCs difficult for people crossing over. There is a learning curve...
I'm expecting them and hope the "curve" will be shorter with help from
people like yourselves...thanks
Steven Wills
>
> :-)
>
> Chris Brown
> Neurosurgery
> University of Adelaide
...but I thought everyone had the same problems as I did and it was
considered the "norm" so I just learned to deal with the problems. I'm
very hopeful my productivity will greatly increase.
Thanks for the reply!
gp
> Steve,
>
> All I can tell you is that FCP is the "tool of choice" for professional
> video types.
Uh, Avid Media Composer? Still an industry standard. FCP is making
inroads, granted, but there is an overwhelmingly larger installed base
of Avids for professional use than FCP.
Simon Slavin
FDF8A9.080...@nr-tor01.bellnexxia.net>:
> And although you likely
> won't author any DVDs for your productions, it'll be nice to have DVD
> Studio Pro for whatever personal projects.
Also, being able to burn DVDs is incredibly useful for working
with clients before the project is finished. Things don't look
the same on a TV display and a computer display. With a DVD
you can give them four samples and tell them to get back to you
when they've decided which one looks best.
Simon.
--
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