Faster Video Workflow - Next steps

[kohlson]

How can I improve workflow throughput?

In using iMovie and/or FCE, it seems there are some bottlenecks and restrictions. For example, in iMovie, if you're importing, you can't do anything else in iMovie. If exporting ("Sharing"), it seems my hardware is underutilized.

I have a 2009 Nehalem 4core 2.93, standard drive, 8GB. I notice that when exporting/sharing (through QT Pro), Activity Monitor shows 4 cores working at 30% at best. A friend's new 6core/3.33/12GB with SSD shows similar behavior.

My question: Are there any recommendations for hardware/software/techniques that can make things go faster? Upgrade to FCP? PCI cards? Sorenson Squeeze?

Thanks!

 

[Corndog5595]

AFAIK Final Cut Pro also doesn’t support multiple cores/threads very well.

 

[martinX]

In FCP, I export a QT reference movie. I open that in MPEG Streamclip and export to the final product. MPEG Streamclip seems to use both cores of the Core2Duo iMac at about 90%, but I don't know about 4 cores and up.

 

[kohlson]

Faster Video Workflow - Next steps

Thanks for the tips.