ProRes encoding test - iMovie

[Jumpie]

So I wanted to see how good this M2 MBA is. Maybe this test wasn't the best but it was something. All done in iMovie. I was trying to see if I could max the cores.

I first did a 13 min 1080p test encoded at high and best quality. It was a 1.93GB file when done. It took roughly 2 mins to complete. I didn't time it but relied on iMovie's time remaining.

Then I did a 3 min 4K 30 fps ProRes video that topped out at 17.16GB. I encoded at 4K ProRes best quality. it took 53 secs. That's it! 53 secs! Needless to say, I'm quite impressed.

It took longer to import the video using the cable than encoding the video itself.

 

[1BadManVan]

So I wanted to see how good this M2 MBA is. Maybe this test wasn't the best but it was something. All done in iMovie. I was trying to see if I could max the cores.

I first did a 13 min 1080p test encoded at high and best quality. It was a 1.93GB file when done. It took roughly 2 mins to complete. I didn't time it but relied on iMovie's time remaining.

Then I did a 3 min 4K 30 fps ProRes video that topped out at 17.16GB. I encoded at 4K ProRes best quality. it took 53 secs. That's it! 53 secs! Needless to say, I'm quite impressed.

It took longer to import the video using the cable than encoding the video itself.

its nice to see it slowly coming out that these are much better then the reviewers were trying to make everyone believe

 

[gwhizkids]

its nice to see it slowly coming out that these are much better then the reviewers were trying to make everyone believe

I will always trust real world results more than the hype generated by a bunch of click hungry Youtube or TikTok “reviewers”.

 

[Jumpie]

I will always trust real world results more than the hype generated by a bunch of click hungry Youtube or TikTok “reviewers”.

I guess I should’ve added it never got hot or warm either. Of course 53 secs or even 2 mins doesn’t make a sustained load on the CPUs. Maybe when I get more time. I need to do DaVinci Resolve too.

 

[jdb8167]

I guess I should’ve added it never got hot or warm either. Of course 53 secs or even 2 mins doesn’t make a sustained load on the CPUs. Maybe when I get more time. I need to do DaVinci Resolve too.

And it is using the Media engine so I'd imagine it would take a lot to cause that to heat up. Maybe 8K video or something.

 

[m1maverick]

its nice to see it slowly coming out that these are much better then the reviewers were trying to make everyone believe

Just what is it that the reviewers were trying to make everyone believe?

 

[Wokis]

M2 does have dedicated fixed-function silicon for ProRes-encoding so it wouldn't be a good test for trying to maximise the CPU. What it does is offload that particular heavy task though so the CPU can do more image processing (or browsing the web or w/e) and that can of course have tremendous value

 

[stanleystf]

So I wanted to see how good this M2 MBA is. Maybe this test wasn't the best but it was something. All done in iMovie. I was trying to see if I could max the cores.

I first did a 13 min 1080p test encoded at high and best quality. It was a 1.93GB file when done. It took roughly 2 mins to complete. I didn't time it but relied on iMovie's time remaining.

Then I did a 3 min 4K 30 fps ProRes video that topped out at 17.16GB. I encoded at 4K ProRes best quality. it took 53 secs. That's it! 53 secs! Needless to say, I'm quite impressed.

It took longer to import the video using the cable than encoding the video itself.

Do you have the base model of M2 Air?

 

[Jumpie]

Do you have the base model of M2 Air?

No. 10/16GB/1TB. I haven’t even come close to using 16GB either.

 

[stanleystf]

No. 10/16GB/1TB. I haven’t even come close to using 16GB either.

Do you think the base model is capable of handling 4K ProRes video?

 

[Jumpie]

Do you think the base model is capable of handling 4K ProRes video?

I’m sure it can because the M2 has ProRes capabilities.

 

[Jumpie]

So I just did two more tests but this time in Davinci Resolve 18.0.1.
First was the same ProRes file as yesterday coming in at 19GB and 3mins long. Encoding it as ProRes it took 1:53.

The second was the same 13 min long video as yesterday 1.93GB and took 2:14 which was about 10 secs more than iMovie but encoded for YouTube. Still not too bad.

MBA never got warm.
You can see the processor info below. Of course the one is the ProRes video and the other is the YouTube video.

 

[gwhizkids]

Just what is it that the reviewers were trying to make everyone believe?

That you should look at their videos so they get

 

[m1maverick]

That you should look at their videos so they get

That doesn't answer my question.

 

[gwhizkids]

That doesn't answer my question.

Ok, how’s this since you missed what was a pretty obvious point: the so-called reviewers - many of whom probably live in mommy and daddy’s basement - contrived issues with an Apple device so that they can get clicks on their otherwise unviewed ghost-town of a YouTube channel or TikTok.

Explicit enough for you?

 

[m1maverick]

because you're not looking for an answer, you're looking for an argument, why? If you're on a Mac forum, then you haven't been living under a rock to see the slew of videos putting down the air when it first came out. So what's the agenda kid

I have seen no such videos putting down the air. Perhaps I have missed them so please provide a reference to them. Otherwise I have to conclude everyone is making strawman arguments.

 

[m1maverick]

Ok, how’s this since you missed what was a pretty obvious point: the so-called reviewers - many of whom probably live in mommy and daddy’s basement - contrived issues with an Apple device so that they can get clicks on their otherwise unviewed ghost-town of a YouTube channel or TikTok.

Explicit enough for you?

What issues did they contrive?

 

[1BadManVan]

I have seen no such videos putting down the air. Perhaps I have missed them so please provide a reference to them. Otherwise I have to conclude everyone is making strawman arguments.

Then you havent really looked, it was even on the front page of this forum about the negativity it was getting when it first came out

 

[m1maverick]

Then you havent really looked, it was even on the front page of this forum about the negativity it was getting when it first came out

Again: I have seen no such videos. So how about dispensing with any other response other than providing a reference so that we have some common reference point?

 

[1BadManVan]

Again: I have seen no such videos. So how about dispensing with any other response other than providing a reference so that we have some common reference point?

Because its really not hard to find, if you spent half as much time searching youtube by literally typing in Macbook air m2 review and find all the initial reviews, vs just coming back here to argue, you would already have your answer by now. That's why everyone knows you're not here looking for any actual answers, just being argumentative.

Im not your assistant, feel free to spend a few minutes looking it up. There's a reason why there is so much debate on this model in this forum and the constant comparison to the pro 14, people didn't get there on their own, lets just say that

 

[m1maverick]

Because its really not hard to find, if you spent half as much time searching youtube by literally typing in Macbook air m2 review and find all the initial reviews, vs just coming back here to argue, you would already have your answer by now. That's why everyone knows you're not here looking for any actual answers, just being argumentative.

Im not your assistant, feel free to spend a few minutes looking it up. There's a reason why there is so much debate on this model in this forum and the constant comparison to the pro 14, people didn't get there on their own, lets just say that

I'd already have my answer if you would merely provide a reference. You've spent more time avoiding providing the requested information than just providing it. This is a sure sign you can't and therefore I have to conclude you're engaging in strawman arguments.

 

[m1maverick]

Well goodluck with that argument, most people on this forum dont live under a rock and know all about the controversy surrounding the m2 air. So you'll be pretty lonely over there with that opinion, but thanks for proving my point kid, find someone else to give you some attention

Most of these people seem to be insecure about anything that is not 100% positive about this new model. They appear to spend more time whining about Youtubers than they do discussing the MBA. I would suggest it's time for you to move on from the Youtubers and start discussing the product. Then, people like me, don't have to listening to all the whining a lot of people are doing about the Youtubers.

 

[LiveM]

Prores is easier for a computer to handle. The file size reflects that, not just that it is high quality.