Good specs for 4k video?

[joshipps]

Currently using a custom built PC for all of my projects, works great a lot of the time - want to throw it from a window other times.

Overall just really enjoy working with the Mac OS over Windows.

I've spec'd out a new MBP (or refurb) with:

i6 processor
32gb memory
Vega 20 graphics
1TB storage

I would prefer more memory but trying to stay within a budget. *

This setup would ideally be for working on the road and getting videos out quickly and efficiently. If all goes well I'd be content switching to a machine like this full time and ditch the clunky PC.


I'm curious if anybody uses this particular configuration for 4k video editing in Premiere Pro and enjoys the experience. I've watched a handful of videos on this topic, but want to get some first-hand feedback from owners of the product who use it consistently.


Thanks all!

 

[LogicalApex]

It is hard to answer broad questions like this, especially when considering the more complete details of your usage scenario.

For instance, will you be working primarily on the road and in a limited fashion where external storage isn't an option? Do you need a large amount of on board fixed storage or could you step down a level and funnel the savings into areas that will better fill your needs?

Such as: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=thunrderbolt+3+raid&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Keep in mind, you'll absolutely want to be regularly backing up the 2018 MBP as data stored on its internal drive is unrecoverable in a failure scenario (to be fair, you should always be backing up any device anyway).

The MBP 2018 in all configurations will handle 4K video editing very well. As you step up you have to weigh the cost versus the benefits. Does X upgrade at 20% extra cost deliver over 20% improvement in performance in the task you care about... etc.

 

[joshipps]

It is hard to answer broad questions like this, especially when considering the more complete details of your usage scenario.

For instance, will you be working primarily on the road and in a limited fashion where external storage isn't an option? Do you need a large amount of on board fixed storage or could you step down a level and funnel the savings into areas that will better fill your needs?

Such as: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=thunrderbolt+3+raid&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Keep in mind, you'll absolutely want to be regularly backing up the 2018 MBP as data stored on its internal drive is unrecoverable in a failure scenario (to be fair, you should always be backing up any device anyway).

The MBP 2018 in all configurations will handle 4K video editing very well. As you step up you have to weigh the cost versus the benefits. Does X upgrade at 20% extra cost deliver over 20% improvement in performance in the task you care about... etc.

It is a bit of a broad scenario, so my apologies.

A large majority of my work would be done in a "home base" scenario. We have a QNAP which I store and back up everything. I'm also good about backing things up on an external HD while out on the road before moving things onto the internal SSD to work from.

My only experience editing on a Mac was on a fellow coworkers base model 15" MBP for a quick 60s video, and it did great. I guess I'm just curious to see how it might do when the projects start to grow into a few minutes long and get a little more complex.

The PC has 64gb of installed RAM, i6 processor. Unsure of the graphics situation as I didn't build it - nor am I very computer literate. I just want to turn it on and things work as they should, hence why I'd like to just get rid of the machine altogether or just use it as a backup.

 

[twanj]

32gb memory

I would prefer more memory but trying to stay within a budget. *

The good news is they max out at 32 GB RAM so you couldn't up the memory if you wanted to.

 

[joshipps]

The good news is they max out at 32 GB RAM so you couldn't up the memory if you wanted to.

Sorry I meant storage haha as in I’d prefer 2tb over the 1/2TB or 1TB

 

[Fishrrman]

For 4k video, I would suggest you be looking at a 27" 5k i7 iMac, or an i7 Mini, or maybe even an iMac Pro...

 

[joshipps]

For 4k video, I would suggest you be looking at a 27" 5k i7 iMac, or an i7 Mini, or maybe even an iMac Pro...

As nice as that would be, being portable and having the ability to work on the go is my main reason for going the MBP route.

 

[crawfish963]

For 4k video, I would suggest you be looking at a 27" 5k i7 iMac, or an i7 Mini, or maybe even an iMac Pro...

The machine the OP has quoted will be more than sufficient for creating 4k content.

 

[Toonartist]

It is hard to answer broad questions like this, especially when considering the more complete details of your usage scenario.

For instance, will you be working primarily on the road and in a limited fashion where external storage isn't an option? Do you need a large amount of on board fixed storage or could you step down a level and funnel the savings into areas that will better fill your needs?

Such as: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=thunrderbolt+3+raid&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Keep in mind, you'll absolutely want to be regularly backing up the 2018 MBP as data stored on its internal drive is unrecoverable in a failure scenario (to be fair, you should always be backing up any device anyway).

The MBP 2018 in all configurations will handle 4K video editing very well. As you step up you have to weigh the cost versus the benefits. Does X upgrade at 20% extra cost deliver over 20% improvement in performance in the task you care about... etc.

Agree, the length of footage will determine how much stress the laptop will be under when rendering the finished file. I used a 2015 MacBook Pro (dual graphics) but for bigger jobs, I had the laptop sat on a cooling stand as it was being worked very hard. One of the reasons I now use a Mac Pro for my office.

The 13inch 2018 MacBook Pro I've just picked up (2.7ghz 8gb Ram I7) is actually a lot better than the 2015 and flies through 4k footage clips without the noise/heat of the 2015 laptop. That's using FCP X with individual clips of 10sec-1min spliced together. So, the laptop quoted by OP would absolutely do it!

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

WOW that's a beautiful spec!
It's a real shame that you don't use Final Cut Pro X as it's so beautifully optimised for Mac OS. Heck, I use 24/7 the 12" MacBook with 8GB RAM and 512GB - I edit 4K 60 fps HEVC and it's an absolute pleasure! I travel the world doin digital & sport marketing / sport management.

Premier is rather power hungry. Maybe, just maybe, give FCPX a try on it's free month trial. It's so nice not having to pay monthly for software that why I don't use any Adobe software now.

 

[Toonartist]

WOW that's a beautiful spec!
It's a real shame that you don't use Final Cut Pro X as it's so beautifully optimised for Mac OS. Heck, I use 24/7 the 12" MacBook with 8GB RAM and 512GB - I edit 4K 60 fps HEVC and it's an absolute pleasure! I travel the world doin digital & sport marketing / sport management.

Premier is rather power hungry. Maybe, just maybe, give FCPX a try on it's free month trial. It's so nice not having to pay monthly for software that why I don't use any Adobe software now.

FCP X does run extremely well on the more recent MacBooks. I have premier on CC but just prefer FCP X and Motion 5... each to their own though.

 

[joshipps]

Sorry I kinda abandoned thread, but we bit the bullet and picked up the MBP with listed specs. Needless to say, I'm absolutely loving it. The mac OS is beautiful, handles all the video I've thrown at it thus far with ease. I'm even throwing some very heavy 4k files from an Atomos Ninja at it with no issues.

Overall just getting used to a different keyboard layout and shortcuts compared to the Windows machine but the transition has been rather seamless. My only complaint is not from the Macbook, but Adobe and it's power-hungry programs. They eat the battery up quite quickly. As mentioned above it may be worth getting comfortable within FCPX. Premiere is all I know so I'm a bit stuck in my ways.