For video editing:
We are basically going to be documenting our projects designs/ branding for clients. 4 videos in total over 2 week period. Each video would be 10- 15 min in length. Also, in the process, we're documenting our startup company and its move to Thailand as it sets up office.
Most of the videos we'll be doing are for online use such as viral-videos for clients. That's pretty much it. The videos are going to be shot using a Cannon 5D Mark II. So i know that the computer is going to have to wrestle with those files once in editing but I know using a consumer camera like a Sony HD handy cam shouldn't really be that difficult -- I'm hoping.
I'll presume ATM, it will all be HD (1080p).
BTW, how will you deal with the frame rates?
Looked up the camera, and saw Canon only specs it out for 3.9 fps. I presume you'll need 24 fps.
There will be a lot of use with pulling footage into Aftereffects... It's fair to say, FCP and AE are going to be abused. I understand the intensity that these two programs demand for processing and rendering - so if I can stay within 7,000 give or take that would give me a well oiled machine for the next two years i'd be really happy.
AE can use cores, so I'd go with a Hex core as a minimum (but a Dodeca will do even better). What I'm not yet certain on, is if there will be sufficient funds for upgrades if you go with a 12 core unit.
So more questions....
But how much time will be spent in each application?
As for PS yes... will be used for designing webpage mockups and abused as well for other things....
Really, In the end... I would like this computer to be used mainly for the the above mentioned. Everyone else is using they're MBP's for Illustrator, PS, and other programs that the MBP's can handle without issues.
As for LR... there will be some use yes... but like i said, I'd like to use this computer as the main muncher for video editing. I would like this computer to be configured 90% for AE and FCP as well as PS. Lots of hours are expected to be clocked on this computer. Right now, I can sit solid designing a site from PS all the way to coding for 15 hours straight. I am the same when it comes to editing.... I sit for hours and hours on end.
For this area, what are your file sizes, and how fast do you need to go?
To quote
Honumaui:
- how big will the video files be meaning how long ? a hour show or a 3 minute clip ?
- how much raw footage is the base project 10 gigs or 500 gigs ?
- how much other work effects that might need to be rendered ?
- Photoshop use idea of file size ? meaning are you going to make massive layered images or just basic retouching
- LR ? 500 images a week or 5000 a week
This is the type of information we really need.
For example, you could end up with a really fast machine, but end up gimped as there's insufficient RAM and disk I/O. This is why we need file sizes, and better yet, target throughput rates (MB/s for example).
Without it, we could still create a nice system, but may not be the ideal setup to meet budget.
There may also be some areas that could make substantial improvements, but exceed budget (but hopefully, not horribly so; but where it can be argued out to the accounting side as a justified expenditure - cost/benefit analysis that's in favor of the additional costs).
So such details really are critical.
We already have 5TB of storage, four 30' cinema Apple displays. I really don't want to go with dual monitor as i find the 30' fine. The extra screen-relastate doesn't matter to be honest.
Good to know you won't need a monitor.
As per the disks, they could be recycled as part of a backup or clone solution (hardware RAID will require enterprise grade mechanical disks, so you will have to be carefull; consumer grade disks tend to be unstable on a RAID card due to how recovery works - different timings in the firmware, so it's critically important).
