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Macbook or Macbook Pro for video editing?

gerbil

gerbil

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 3, 2008
32
0
Hi,

Switching to Mac, deciding between MB and MBP. I'm not a gamer, will use it mostly for web browsing, photo management, word processing, iTunes. I use Photoshop and InDesign on occasion and will be trying out video editing using Final Cut. I'd rather not spend the extra hundreds on the MBP plus I find it gets kind of warm on the wrists, but the ambient lit keyboard and the dedicated graphics card may make it worth it. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
 
neil321 said:
Just for the dedicated graphics id go with the MBP
Click to expand...

I wouldn't, unless you're going to be heavily into Motion or Color.
I have a classmate who runs FCP on his MB. Adobe's apps work fine on a MB. If you need more real estate you can always get an external monitor!

Think of this: get the refurb MB or just updated MB now and IF you get into Motion or Color later, after you're familiar with FCP, then you can decide between the hopefully newly updated iMAC to add to your arsenal for home use and use your MB when you're on the road.


However, if you have the money to burn, then by all means get the MBP! :D
 
Officially, FCP isn't supported on MB (or anything else without a dedicated graphics card). I've seen it run on machines without them, but the experience isn't as good. The only thing FCP is using the graphics card for is realtime playback, meaning you can watch the edited video just as if you'd already exported it. That adds a lot to your ability to make better editing decisions more quickly. However, if you've got time to burn, you can always export the videos at somewhat low resolution and decide what further edits to make from the renders. It can get really frustrating, though. If you'll be doing a lot of editing, the MBP is worth it. If you're just going to do some home movies or some such, iMovie and MB will probably be fine.
 
I disagree SFS. I think this whole need a MBP with DEDICATED graphics card is a whole FUD conspiracy plot by Apple to make more $$$(can't blame 'em).

The OP stated they're using MAINLY Adobe Apps, which are fine on a MB. They also stated they wanted to TRY video editing. If you can save over $500 and still TRY it, wouldn't you? They can get their hands wet with the MB and FCP and then later get an Imac or MBP to do serious editing if need be.

Creative Mac posted an article back in 2006(http://creativemac.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=43717), showing how a MB pretty much performed pretty well (except on Compressor and Motion stuff). So unless they are doing heavy video editing I doubt they need to get a MBP at this moment. If they did I'd suggest an Imac not a MBP anyways for heavy duty editing.

Creative Mac excerpt:
I was doubly shocked to see such dramatic results from the newer and lower-end 2.0 GHz MacBook as well.Again, like the MacBook Pro, the 2.0 GHz 13-inch MacBook proves a thoroughly viable machine for users of Final Cut Studio.
 
Personally, if I had the choice I would pick a MBP - but from what you outlined in your first post, I would say you're okay with the MB.

Is it Final Cut Pro or Express, you were interested in?

BTW This kind of question does come up quite a bit, and there's some useful info to be found. A recent one was:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/456675/

This contains quite a few benchmarks worth a look.

closeupman said:
I wouldn't, unless you're going to be heavily into Motion or Color.
Click to expand...

Exactly!

Video editing is a CPU-intensive process, not a GPU-intensive one, so a dedicated graphics processor doesn't really enter into it.
 
just to throw my two cents in. I edit HDV on my Macbook using Final Cut Studio 2 (except Motion and Color, of course, since the programs will not let you run them). My roommate has a Macbook Pro, and in every tasks including editing, encoding, and burning we see no noticeable speed differences whatsoever.

You can always use the money you save to purchase a great monitor or external HD. Here is an example of a movie I just finished edited entirely in HD on my macbook:http://www.vimeo.com/754479
 
Or alternatively, compromise (between a new MB and new MBP) and buy a refurb macbook pro and stuff it full of after-market ram.
 
You can do everything you want on the MB. However, graphics editing and video editing benefit from larger screens. For that reason, I'd suggest getting an external monitor with your MB or getting the MBP for the larger screen.
 
Thanks for suggestions! Just to clarify, I'm curious about playing around with animation in Final Cut Pro, maybe Sims 2-type animations.
 
Not quite sure what you mean by that - sounds like you need an animation package.
 
gerbil said:
Thanks for suggestions! Just to clarify, I'm curious about playing around with animation in Final Cut Pro, maybe Sims 2-type animations.
Click to expand...

FCS is a video editing software package, not animation creation.
 
eXan said:
FCS is a video editing software package, not animation creation.
Click to expand...

Actually, technically incorrect. If you get FCS, you get Motion, which is motion graphics software; with Motion, you can create animation.
 
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