Im sorry but this is the craziest thing I have ever heard. I know plenty of professional production companies that still use G4s and G5s for most of their work and you are saying that a student needs a Mac Pro?
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Mac for beginning video editor
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Im sorry but this is the craziest thing I have ever heard. I know plenty of professional production companies that still use G4s and G5s for most of their work and you are saying that a student needs a Mac Pro?
You are going to need a computer for school, probably a laptop. In your position, I would be 'ballin' the jack' all summer, getting more money saved. In the fall, you may have the funds to get an MacBook. This is a separate deal from getting a video editing machine. If you want to also start learning FC, then get FCE. That is not too big of an investment and will certainly get the job done. By the time you are heavily involved in your major, odds are you will be using school equipment.
What LethalWolfe said about building a nest-egg is spot on. It is also difficult with all of the college and living expenses. Finally, make sure you carefully study the job market. Certain video fields are saturated, while others are in much higher demand. It is very discouraging to be flipping burgers with a brand-new college degree.
What LethalWolfe said about building a nest-egg is spot on. It is also difficult with all of the college and living expenses. Finally, make sure you carefully study the job market. Certain video fields are saturated, while others are in much higher demand. It is very discouraging to be flipping burgers with a brand-new college degree.
Forget G4...as much as I love my iBook G4, its slow, I don't need speed for what I do on it, but you do. I have an iMac G5 I recently used for a little video stuff, and it was fine, but my Dual Core Mac Mini really is nice. Dual Core is the way to go, I'd say get a new Mac Mini when they can released. Add 1Gb of RAM, and larger harddrive and your set. Assuming you have a monitor at you house you can use.
For those who have posted in disagreement to what I consider a "good" setup, and that I couldn't imagine doing DV without, I am talking about current versions of editing suites, hardware, and HD input/editing/output/product. I guarantee there is not a pro (or even hobbyist) video shop out there doing HD with a G4, and probably not many on G5s except the CS3 Intel upgrade holdouts.
I was assuming that a strong hobbyist and film student would want to be able to explore both SD and HD, especially with access to HD cameras at school and in the sub-$1000 pricerange. Not a crazy assumption--but apparently some disagree.
I was assuming that a strong hobbyist and film student would want to be able to explore both SD and HD, especially with access to HD cameras at school and in the sub-$1000 pricerange. Not a crazy assumption--but apparently some disagree.
Hopefully you are not referring to me. However, if you are, I was not speaking to the technical capabilities of what the OP was asking about. I was more focused on the strategic side of making a purchase, based on his current finances and school situation.
So bottom line question, spend the 500-600 bucks I have now and get a dual processor g4 or wait and get something better? If i get the g4 what specs should I be sure to get? Thanks
Ty
Ty
Don't take this the wrong way but you are complete wrong. You are so wrong that right is a tiny spec in the distance that's only visible w/high powered binoculars. From my experience in Los Angeles, G4 based Avid Media Composers are common. G4 based Avid Media Composers running OS 9 are less common, but not uncommon. G5 based Avid Adrenalines are common but many people are weary of them. Intel Macs just got certified a couple of weeks ago by Avid.
On the FCP front the machines tend to be newer because they are software based systems as opposed to Avids hardware based systems. I haven't seen a G4 at a post house in ages, damn near everyone uses G5s, and I've only seen a few Mac Pros. I currently work w/13 other editors and we handle DVCPro HD and HDV daily and 11 of us are on G5's while the other 3 have Mac Pros.
Keep saving your money until your need to spend it. Computers will only get faster and cheaper so the longer you wait the better machine you'll be able to get. I wouldn't even think about getting a G4 though. For $600 you can get a Mac Mini that'll blow the doors off any G4.
Lethal
No, that would be like going out to spend 500 bucks on a Dell with a pentium 3.
Save your money, and get a Macbook or an iMac this summer.
Or if you really need it now, get a Mini like Lethal said above me.
Lots of differing advice here, but here's mine. Try to buy a computer that will last you through your whole education. Once you get into school you'll be too broke to buy a new computer, so get one that will last. Work extra hours this summer, save the extra $500 now and get what you need, it'll be cheaper in the long run.
People who say to wait as long as possible are right. Don't buy it til you need it, and use your education discount.
People who say to wait as long as possible are right. Don't buy it til you need it, and use your education discount.
Okay guys you convinced me to get a mac laptop. Now the question is Macbook or Macbook pro? I want to stay under $1000 dollars, what do you guys think I should get? Thanks
Man, don't let us sway you too much lol. Obviously, there are a ton of advantages of getting the Macbook Pro over the Macbook, but your budget really has no room for a Macbook Pro, it can barely accomadate a new Macbook. Some obvious advantages of the Macbook Pro is that you can get up to a 17" screen, we all know that in video editing, the bigger the screen the better. Also, up to a 2.33ghz C2D. Where as the Macbook only has a 13" screen and maxes at a 2.0ghz C2D. The cheapest Macbook setup would likely need a few upgrades like RAM, Hard Drive, and DVD Burner to be anything worthwhile in the long run. Where as a Macbook Pro gives you all that at the base price. Unfortunately, right now there are no Macbook Pros or Macbooks available in the Apple refurb store, only Powerbooks(as far as laptops go). I'm not sure that going with a laptop would be the way to go considering your budget. If anything, like mentioned earlier; maybe a Mac Mini or an iMac. Final Cut will run on a Macbook, but I can't see it being all that smooth.
I heard it runs pretty smoothly on a macbook C2D with juiced up ram....well, FCE anyway.
This is not going to happen. If you want a decent machine for video editing, you're going to HAVE to ramp up the budget. Simply put, you can't get a Macbook Pro for that price, at least a decent one with at least a gb of memory. For video editing, I wouldn't get anything under 2 gb of memory, and not anything under a res of 1440x900. Trying to edit video all day long on a 1280x800 res (Macbook) is a nightmare.
Based on your needs, your budget is going to have to be in the $1,300-1,500 range if you want a shot at a decent editing machine (MBP w/2 gb of memory). Staying under $1,000 isn't possible for what you need.
I would think it would run OK, but like you said, "with juiced up RAM." The base setup for the Macbook only has 512mb RAM and that is technically already over his budget at $1099. To start packing another 1gb or more of RAM in there isn't going to be that cheap even aftermarket. Plus, like I mentioned before, he would have to get a bigger HDD or an external, 60gb is nothing for video editing. A DVD burner is practically a necessity also, so by the time you set up a Macbook to be a decent editing machine, you may as well get a Macbook Pro. Veritas&Equitas is 100% right. resolution is another huge factor. I'd have to agree with him 100% if you still plan to go for a laptop, you're going to have to hike your budget up a bit.
I second this, I just finished an HD project for Nat Geo out of house on a G5, and we didn't even offline it. We just edited it in DVCPro HD.
This is for a FILM SCHOOL. I bet very little of your time will actually be in FCE or FCP.
99% of your time will be writing essays, checking email, reading references, watching DVDs and clips for your course work, doing research on the web.
I strongly suggest getting a laptop.
You will be moving about a lot, so I suggest a macbook for portablity. You'll be able to do your work / research / writing in both college or town or home.
If the film school is any good, there'll be a huge amount of theory that you have to read, watch and understand. You'll be learning about the films of Bunuel, Fassbinder, Einstein, Barney, Kurosawara and many other obscure but influential filmmakers.
A macbook will blow almost any PPC out of the water as far as FC goes, especially any PPC that you can get for the same price. Especially a C2D Macbook if you can get one.
I suggest waiting till NAB, see what happens there, then getting one through the refurb shop or the educational discount or the ADC discount, or even through your film school (they might have very good deals, but you may need to access the apple education store from a computer on their network).
Furthermore, while you are actually in FC, very little of what you do will actually tax the laptop or G5 or whatever you do. Film school is not about flashy special effects. It's about learning shot composition, correct lighting, edit placement, story structure, and many other things.
Furthermorex2, you may not need a huge hard drive. I would bet that there is a strict maximum length on student projects. Your teacher doesn't want to be watching hours of dreck - it's possible your films will have a maximum length of 5 minutes or less. Quality not quantity is what counts, and a good 4 minute film can easily take a month to do.
Furthermorex3 later as your finances warrant, you can add external LCD for extra space in your dorm room, and an external HD for storing your projects on. When you need to do some heavy lifting or effects work (which will be suprisingly rare) you can take that external HD and plug it into one of the lab beasts. Your C2D macbook may actually be better than most of the lab computers, as they don't get upgraded all that often.
A 15'' MBP would certainly be 'better' but considering your finances, a discounted C2D MB is my strongest recommendation to you. For college it's critical that it stay working at all times, so I strongly suggest 3 year AppleCare (isn't this free with some educational purchases?) and theft insurance.
You definitely don't need to pay full price for FC (P or E) there will be large discounts at your school, or er, ask a fellow student what bittorrent means.
I'm typing out all this not just for you but for all these other people who think films / film school are about being flashy or having the best equipment. It's not. It's about knowing your stuff, the theory, the lighting, the composition, listening to your gut, and learning how to use well what you have on that day.
99% of your time will be writing essays, checking email, reading references, watching DVDs and clips for your course work, doing research on the web.
I strongly suggest getting a laptop.
You will be moving about a lot, so I suggest a macbook for portablity. You'll be able to do your work / research / writing in both college or town or home.
If the film school is any good, there'll be a huge amount of theory that you have to read, watch and understand. You'll be learning about the films of Bunuel, Fassbinder, Einstein, Barney, Kurosawara and many other obscure but influential filmmakers.
A macbook will blow almost any PPC out of the water as far as FC goes, especially any PPC that you can get for the same price. Especially a C2D Macbook if you can get one.
I suggest waiting till NAB, see what happens there, then getting one through the refurb shop or the educational discount or the ADC discount, or even through your film school (they might have very good deals, but you may need to access the apple education store from a computer on their network).
Furthermore, while you are actually in FC, very little of what you do will actually tax the laptop or G5 or whatever you do. Film school is not about flashy special effects. It's about learning shot composition, correct lighting, edit placement, story structure, and many other things.
Furthermorex2, you may not need a huge hard drive. I would bet that there is a strict maximum length on student projects. Your teacher doesn't want to be watching hours of dreck - it's possible your films will have a maximum length of 5 minutes or less. Quality not quantity is what counts, and a good 4 minute film can easily take a month to do.
Furthermorex3 later as your finances warrant, you can add external LCD for extra space in your dorm room, and an external HD for storing your projects on. When you need to do some heavy lifting or effects work (which will be suprisingly rare) you can take that external HD and plug it into one of the lab beasts. Your C2D macbook may actually be better than most of the lab computers, as they don't get upgraded all that often.
A 15'' MBP would certainly be 'better' but considering your finances, a discounted C2D MB is my strongest recommendation to you. For college it's critical that it stay working at all times, so I strongly suggest 3 year AppleCare (isn't this free with some educational purchases?) and theft insurance.
You definitely don't need to pay full price for FC (P or E) there will be large discounts at your school, or er, ask a fellow student what bittorrent means.
I'm typing out all this not just for you but for all these other people who think films / film school are about being flashy or having the best equipment. It's not. It's about knowing your stuff, the theory, the lighting, the composition, listening to your gut, and learning how to use well what you have on that day.
Step back and look at the big picture. You are going to spend THOUSANDS of dollars per semester on your education. Don't cheap out on the tools you'll need to make that investment effective. There's just no reason to be spending $500 on a G4 of any type unless you're going for quaint. Get a dual G5 minimum if you're set on a desktop. Macbook if you need portable. Better yet, go with an intel imac for a desktop or 15" Macbook Pro. (The ExpressCard slot could be very handy.)
$1000-2000 for a computer? BFD. You're going to spend more than that every semester on tuition, fees, books, etc. If you just needed it to write papers and surf the web, an old G4 would be fine. But you'll be using it to edit/render film. That takes horsepower. You won't be doing it every day (or even every week) but, when you need it, you need it. The difference between an old G4 and a new machine is the difference between being able to render a project in 2-3 hours or 20-30 minutes. If you've got a day to edit and render a 20 minute film, that's the difference between screening 2 or 3 final versions before you pass out at 4am and picking from half a dozen by midnight. (Numbers totally pulled out of my ass but you get the idea.)
And you need something that will be able to run the current and future versions of the various software packages for the next few years. PPC is done. New products will be geared towards intel processors. At best, you'll get one more major revision with PPC support then a G4/G5 will go the way of OS9.
You don't need a dual quad-core Xeon system or a tricked out 17" MBP but you really should start from a solid base that will provide adequate performance and a reasonable lifespan.
$1000-2000 for a computer? BFD. You're going to spend more than that every semester on tuition, fees, books, etc. If you just needed it to write papers and surf the web, an old G4 would be fine. But you'll be using it to edit/render film. That takes horsepower. You won't be doing it every day (or even every week) but, when you need it, you need it. The difference between an old G4 and a new machine is the difference between being able to render a project in 2-3 hours or 20-30 minutes. If you've got a day to edit and render a 20 minute film, that's the difference between screening 2 or 3 final versions before you pass out at 4am and picking from half a dozen by midnight. (Numbers totally pulled out of my ass but you get the idea.)
And you need something that will be able to run the current and future versions of the various software packages for the next few years. PPC is done. New products will be geared towards intel processors. At best, you'll get one more major revision with PPC support then a G4/G5 will go the way of OS9.
You don't need a dual quad-core Xeon system or a tricked out 17" MBP but you really should start from a solid base that will provide adequate performance and a reasonable lifespan.
so should I get a macbook or a macbook pro. I can save up an get a macbook pro for around 1400 used. I want to have it last me my entire college life and hopefully beyond that, so it needs to be capable of editing videos quickly and efficiently. Thanks guys
Tyler
Tyler
15'' 2.0/2.16 Core Duo MBP w/at least 100 gb hard drive and 2 gb of memory. Boom. You're done. Right around $1,400.
I never understood the point of going to schools like that unless you plan on teaching film theory for a living. It's like going to driving school but only getting a few minutes behind the wheel of a car.
Lethal
We mean to but we always end up just b*tching about HDV as a post codec...You mean you don't have daily water cooler discussions about Apparatus Theory?
Lethal