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Video editing - 8/16 GB, Air/Pro?
- Thread starter MiragePL
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I have a 5 hour 1080p 60fps video. With titles and trims and transitions and effects applied, it is only using 1.66GB of RAM on my 8GB of RAM system. The video file itself is 138GB in size.
What do you mean this proves nothing? More RAM will not help in my tests. As proven by my own tests. This same 1080p file on my 128GB system takes the same amount of memory (fluctuates between 1.6 and 1.7 GB used).
And as I have said, 4K video editing you are best with 16 GB of RAM. SO I fail to see what is so difficult to understand here. The more demanding work you do, the more RAM you need. I never ONCE said otherwise. 8K probably requires 32GB or maybe 64GB of RAM. But the original poster said HD video editing, which is what I do, and my own experience even with VERY VERY LONG video files that are hundreds of GB in size, 8GB of RAM is plenty. If he wants to use dozens of Chrome tabs, or wants 50+ programs open, then yes more Memory is needed. But he is mostly concerned with HD video editing and 8GB is plenty for this.
And that is not necessarily true otherwise my 128GB of RAM will SMOKE my 8GB of RAM system. But it does not make any difference for LOW END video editing like 1080p videos. Which yes, is now low end with 4K being so common.
It’s possible with low ram, obviously. To say more ram isn’t better is ridiculous. That’s my point. You don’t get that, which is weird.
Just because you can do your stuff with 8gb ram doesn’t mean it doesn’t work better with double the ram.
It is 100% depending on your usage. If I am doing 1080p video editing, is 4TB of RAM better for me? No, obviously not. More ram is not ALWAYS better. It is just a useless upgrade. As my MASSIVE regret getting 128GB of RAM for $600 with ZERO benefits.
More RAM is better, if your workload needs it. If you want a lot of virtual machines, or want to do 8K video editing, or want to have 50 things open, and all sort of things. But for 1080p video editing what the original poster was asking about, 8GB is plenty.
I am not denying that more RAM is better for certain situations. But the blanket statement that "more RAM is better" for ALL use cases is what I do not agree with. I am so MASSIVELY angry and upset I spent $600 of RAM by people suggesting that I should get more RAM, and all I do is 1080p video editing. It provides ZERO advantages. Most of my RAM is not used AT ALL. And it was basically $600 is money flushed down the toilet.
I edited my post. I am not denying more RAM is better, but it is entirely based on your workflow and what you do with the system. As 4TB of RAM will not certainly make my life easier for simply 1080p video editing compared to 8GB of RAM for example.
While I don't dispute that 8GB of ram will suffice for many types of needs I would certainly like for you to show your proof of this claim you just made.
Taking courses on Lynda, Udemy, Learnquest, Corsera. I cannot provide the videos as that would be illegal since I have paid for such training and education - videos are behind a paywall is what I mean.
Here is a video from Max Tech channel. While he tested 4K footage, and I said 16GB is preferred for 4K footage, they still tested it on 8GB. It can still be done, just slower. So if you are on a budget, it can still do 4K at 8GB of RAM. I wish he would have tested 1080p. 4K is too common these days where 1080p tests are not really performed.
Go to 7 minutes in.
1080p is so lightweight these days where 8GB of RAM is no sweat for it. Comparing 8GB of RAM on my 1080p footage and 128GB of RAM is only a few seconds difference. Not really worth it. 1080p is very low standard these days.
That did not answer my question at all. I'm a big fan of Max Tech so I watch all his videos. I wasn't disputing that 8GB works for many situations. I was asking you to show your proof of that claim you made. "MANY MANY video professionals agree that 1080p production is fine on 8GB."
Where is your proof of these MANY MANY video Professionals making such a statement?
I already answered that. As I have said, I cannot show you as my training courses were not free. I cannot share for free stuff I have paid for. So I provided the best thing I could which was only a test on 4K footage.
Hey everyone.
I'm using MacBook Air 2010 - try not to laugh - and I need to change it with a new Mac but I don't know if I should go for the 8 or 16GB RAM version. I will be shooting videos with DSLR(s), throughout my journeys, both indoor and outdoor, may it be a meeting or a bush-walk in the nature, and then put all the videos taken throughout the day(s) and create a final video up to 100 minutes length. And it might be a 1080p as well as 2160p res.
Now, I'm sure the M1 is more than capable of such stress, but I'm wondering if 8GB RAM would cause any shortage of memory, perhaps while exporting the final video and the like.
Is there any professional here that could tell me if 8GB are totally fine for that kind of task, or if going for 16GB is a must?
Thanks in advance.
I'm using MacBook Air 2010 - try not to laugh - and I need to change it with a new Mac but I don't know if I should go for the 8 or 16GB RAM version. I will be shooting videos with DSLR(s), throughout my journeys, both indoor and outdoor, may it be a meeting or a bush-walk in the nature, and then put all the videos taken throughout the day(s) and create a final video up to 100 minutes length. And it might be a 1080p as well as 2160p res.
Now, I'm sure the M1 is more than capable of such stress, but I'm wondering if 8GB RAM would cause any shortage of memory, perhaps while exporting the final video and the like.
Is there any professional here that could tell me if 8GB are totally fine for that kind of task, or if going for 16GB is a must?
Thanks in advance.
Probably because right now the difference is limited considering OP’s requirements. The next generation is only a year away so get the latest and fastest now at limited funds and dive into the deep when the M2 or whatever they will call it is available. By that time OP will have moved on from HD to 4K or 8k anyway 😜
Say I decide to go for the 8GB, do you reckon -speed aside - it would still be able to edit and export 4K videos or would it just crash because it’s just not enough?
Are you asking because you are on a tight budget? I would definitely recommend 16GB of RAM for 4K. A few posts back I did show a video from Max Tech that tested 8GB vs 16GB vs 32GB vs 64GB if you want to give that a watch.
No, sometimes more RAM doesn't make any noticeable difference and certainly doesn't justify $200.
Let's say an encode takes 10min 17s with 8Gb of RAM and with 16Gb of RAM it takes 9min 51s. Most people would say the difference is negligible and not worth paying the extra cost.
Or maybe a UI operation takes 0.5s with 8Gb RAM and only 0.15s with 16Gb RAM. Again not really a difference that people will notice.
I see. What you're saying is you can't support such an outrageous claim. Gotcha!
Did you see Max's video? Even 4K with 8GB was working fine. You really want me to get in trouble by providing PAID lectures from video professionals to prove a point? Gotcha! I trust those far more than some random blogger. I have seen their productivity, some were even involved in movies. I paid for those lectures and they said 8GB is fine for 1080p processing, 16GB is preferred for 4K.
Apparently you're not reading anything I wrote. Firstly I said multiple times that I am NOT arguing that 8GB ram works for many applications, so I don't know why you're arguing with me when I agree with you. SMH. Secondly YOU made a blanket statement saying MANY MANY MANY professionals say that 8GB is fine. If you can't produce proof of such an over-exaggerated statement then don't make such a claim like that. You will be called out for it. If you're not prepared for it then keep it to yourself instead of making up such nonsense about paid lectures just to release yourself from that over-exaggerated statement.
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What do you want? My username and passwords so you can watch the lectures I paid for? I CANNOT show those videos to you. I needed to get trained and certified for my jobs, so I needed to take courses with some very popular video production professionals, a couple were involved in some big movies. And they had segments on requirements that they stated 8GB is fine for 1080p work.
I did not visit random blogger websites to get these claims, and my own testing proves what I was TRAINED on. I am able to get my work done just as efficiently with 8GB as I am with 128GB of RAM.
EVEN Max's video proves this! At 4K it is just twice as long to export with 8GB of RAM. 1080p requires less hardware you know. The proof is there. The amount of difference on 1080p footage is not as large as 4K, since 4K is larger than 1080p by 4 times. So the time difference with 8GB, 16GB, 32GB 64GB and 128GB is far far lower than it was on Max's 4K test.
And one more thing, if you agree with me then why do you find it so hard to believe many video professionals have the same mindset? Does this mean you do not agree with me?
Apple's site has some recommendations that are not valid IMO. It definitely needs to be doubled, but they state 8GB is recommended for 4K.
Final Cut Pro for Mac - Technical Specifications
Final Cut Pro is Apple’s revolutionary video editing application. Review a comprehensive list of features and specifications.
www.apple.com
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