4k Editing on iPad Pro

[marshzd]

So, in concept I really think this is the future of filmmaking. I'm a professional DIT on films - we are even using Final Cut X on our current feature film we are doing. And I see a lot of potential for something like the iPad Pro as a quick on set editing device, in addition to all the other uses people have found for it.

However, 128gb is just simply not enough for real 4k video. We shot 4k on the Alexa Mini and it essentially has 9 minutes of video for a 128gb card.

Is Apple finally going to allow real external solutions? Or are they assuming you're shooting 4k hyper compressed 4k video? Which some consumer cameras do (not very well, GoPro is improving). That means it's not really for video Pros, even though they are calling it Pro.

Sorry if this was rambling. Again, I love the concept, but I don't think they really allow for a good implementation of "editing 4k".

 

[AppleRocks2011]

You know, this is exactly where editing is going. I use iMovie for iPhone all the time, and it makes for a very powerful on-site tool. However, I think the iPad Pro as an editor is difficult. You see, my 6 Plus shoots the video, edits it and then uploads to YouTube. For me, that is the convenience of editing on a non-computer device. Easy edit, easy export.

 

[steve123]

However, 128gb is just simply not enough for real 4k video. We shot 4k on the Alexa Mini and it essentially has 9 minutes of video for a 128gb card.

Is Apple finally going to allow real external solutions? Or are they assuming you're shooting 4k hyper compressed 4k video? Which some consumer cameras do (not very well, GoPro is improving). That means it's not really for video Pros, even though they are calling it Pro.

Sorry if this was rambling. Again, I love the concept, but I don't think they really allow for a good implementation of "editing 4k".

Great concept but poor execution. I imagine that Apple should have allowed for removable flash storage and there a Thunderbolt port to connect to a real disk compatible of supporting editing of 4K content. Moreover, simply uploading 4K over WiFi will be a horrible experience and a show stopper for many.

 

[steve123]

That means it's not really for video Pros, even though they are calling it Pro.

That is another good point. Pro edit with iMovie? They will need to port FCP X to the iPad Pro to be taken seriously by pro's I think.

 

[handsome pete]

Great concept but poor execution. I imagine that Apple should have allowed for removable flash storage and there a Thunderbolt port to connect to a real disk compatible of supporting editing of 4K content. Moreover, simply uploading 4K over WiFi will be a horrible experience and a show stopper for many.

The problem with your scenario of adding an external drive through TB, is that if that were possible, then you'd be tethered to a drive. And at that point, why not just use a Macbook? The touch interface is fine for quick edits, but it still pales in comparison to a mouse/keyboard for any type of precision. I don't think this is the future of editing so much as it may be the future of on set rough cuts, dailies, etc.

That is another good point. Pro edit with iMovie? They will need to port FCP X to the iPad Pro to be taken seriously by pro's I think.

I think they should just scrap iMovie and turn it into a Final Cut Pro X express (or I suppose Final Cut Pro Xpress)

 

[boch82]

The problem with your scenario of adding an external drive through TB, is that if that were possible, then you'd be tethered to a drive. And at that point, why not just use a Macbook? The touch interface is fine for quick edits, but it still pales in comparison to a mouse/keyboard for any type of precision. I don't think this is the future of editing so much as it may be the future of on set rough cuts, dailies, etc.

By the time you start doing anything the processor will be taxed and your battery will drain very quickly. The other major issue as of now is lack of support for many video codecs. You would still need a separate machine to transcode everything.

Until there is a full desktop os the ipad will be fine for very basic things, but nothing professional.

 

[26139]

That is another good point. Pro edit with iMovie? They will need to port FCP X to the iPad Pro to be taken seriously by pro's I think.

yeah...I'm curious as to what kind of pro is making money off of iMovie and an iPad, but if they are, more power to them.

 

[Unami]

However, 128gb is just simply not enough for real 4k video. We shot 4k on the Alexa Mini and it essentially has 9 minutes of video for a 128gb card.

the ipad won't take your arri raw files, nor will it take prores or export in any hi-bitrate codec. 4gb of ram will probably also be a problem with such big files. so you have to compress your files anyway, before using them. by the time the ipad is fast enough for those type of files and somehing like an at least semi-professional video-editing software exists on ios, it's quite possible, that it will have enough storage or wifi will be fast enough.

too bad, that everyone will be shooting 8k light field by then.

 

[steveash]

I'd imagined that the iPad Pro video edits would work in a similar way to Lightroom for iOS - files are stored on a desktop machine with proxy files uploaded to the cloud and then downloaded to your iOS device.

 

[marshzd]

the ipad won't take your arri raw files, nor will it take prores or export in any hi-bitrate codec. 4gb of ram will probably also be a problem with such big files. so you have to compress your files anyway, before using them. by the time the ipad is fast enough for those type of files and somehing like an at least semi-professional video-editing software exists on ios, it's quite possible, that it will have enough storage or wifi will be fast enough.

too bad, that everyone will be shooting 8k light field by then.

Who shoots in RAW anymore? That's painful and terrible. Plus, they haven't activated it on the Mini yet.

So basically their announcement of being able to edit 4k on the iPad Pro was...Pointless. That seems to be the message I'm getting.

 

[steve123]

Who shoots in RAW anymore? That's painful and terrible. Plus, they haven't activated it on the Mini yet.

So basically their announcement of being able to edit 4k on the iPad Pro was...Pointless. That seems to be the message I'm getting.

Pretty much. I am surprised they decided to showcase video editing, they should have spoken to someone who actually edits 4K video professionally and maybe brought one of those guys on stage to talk about it. But more importantly, they should have spoken to these guys during the development of the iPad Pro and got some input on what the device would require for this use case. I believe the use case would be phenomenal if the hardware could support it.

 

[AppleRocks2011]

I think they should just scrap iMovie and turn it into a Final Cut Pro X express (or I suppose Final Cut Pro Xpress)

Now, THAT is a fabulous idea! However, I don't think it fits with the "iLife" branding. Or, I guess having Final Cut Xpress for iPad Pro only would be a good solution! Or, something along the lines of Final Cut for iPad Pro.

 

[JamesPDX]

So, in concept I really think this is the future of filmmaking. I'm a professional DIT on films - we are even using Final Cut X on our current feature film we are doing. And I see a lot of potential for something like the iPad Pro as a quick on set editing device, in addition to all the other uses people have found for it.

However, 128gb is just simply not enough for real 4k video. We shot 4k on the Alexa Mini and it essentially has 9 minutes of video for a 128gb card.

Is Apple finally going to allow real external solutions? Or are they assuming you're shooting 4k hyper compressed 4k video? Which some consumer cameras do (not very well, GoPro is improving). That means it's not really for video Pros, even though they are calling it Pro.

Sorry if this was rambling. Again, I love the concept, but I don't think they really allow for a good implementation of "editing 4k".

Hey there. How do you like the Alexa? What did you end up using for ingest/dailies, etc?