Base model mini handle editing 4k footage at least useably?

[Mellofello808]

Over the past few months I have finally upgraded the last of my cameras to 4k capable. I still have been shooting footage mostly in 1080p though.

How have people found their experience with editing 4k footage on the base model in premiere?

I just dabble in video production.

 

[F-Train]

By base model, do you mean an i3 or an i5?

Also, are you talking about basic or complex video editing?

 

[Mellofello808]

i3 cutting together some basic 4k video from dslr, phone, and go pro.

 

[F-Train]

I’ve done this with the i5 and can say that it will work fine.

However, I was using Final Cut and there are several videos on YouTube about inferior performance from Premiere on macOS Mojave. My understanding is that Adobe is aware of this and is actively working on it, but that the performance problem has not yet been resolved. Maybe do a search on the internet for updated info.

My gut feeling about the i3 is that I’d be nervous about 4K, even with Final Cut. However, I haven’t tried it. It’s possible that some Apple stores have 2018 minis loaded with Final Cut which would make it possible for you to try it. They would almost certainly have iMovie loaded, which for basic editing is probably a reasonable proxy. However, this doesn’t address the Premiere Pro performance issue.

 

[F-Train]

This person says, in a current thread, that he’s editing 4K video on an i3 mini: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/imac-died-mac-mini-monitor-purchase-help.2176339/#post-27257278

 

[Fishrrman]

I'd suggest at least an i5 (i7 would be better, of course), with 16gb or more RAM.

Use Final Cut Pro X, and take advantage of that app's ability to create "proxy media" for faster 4k editing...

I'm not saying you can't do it with an i3.
But an i5 or i7 will make "doing it" much better.

 

[F-Train]

I'd suggest at least an i5 (i7 would be better, of course), with 16gb or more RAM.

Use Final Cut Pro X, and take advantage of that app's ability to create "proxy media" for faster 4k editing...

I'm not saying you can't do it with an i3.
But an i5 or i7 will make "doing it" much better.

With the i5 and i7, Final Cut runs fine with 8GB of RAM for ordinary editing. The same is true for Compressor, which is faster than Final Cut for exports and in my view well worth the US$50 cost.

 

[natazar]

People underestimate i3 too much. It will do FINE in 4k video editing.