Which Mac for FCP budget-minded

I'm really excited to join your group...being a current user of "other" brands of PC and editors and want to switch to FCP.
Heading to the Apple store today so I can start using FCP. Which Mac is recommended for FCP to edit small features, shorts, music vids, et al.
Choices =
iMAC 24 fully config'd (great screen, but not really portable)
Macbook Pro 17 (portable but smaller screen)...and if so, the 100gb 7200 disk or is the 160gb 5400 disk ok for a boot drive.
Can't afford a Mac Pro.

If, despite all advice to the contrary, you still go for the MacBook Pro then I'd recommend the base 17” MacBook Pro (MBP) configuration, with 160GB 5400 RPM hard disc option, and an additional 1 GB RAM (to make 3 GB total).
Why the 17” model?
Because when editing you need as much screen space as possible. Yes, it is bigger and heavier than the 15”, but I think that it’s larger and higher resolution display is worth that sacrifice.
Why the bigger but slower 160GB 5400 RPM hard disc option?
Laptop drives already have a much smaller capacity than their desktop cousins and those little drives, inevitably, fill up quickly with all your stuff!
And of course, you're planning to get an external media drive too, right? If you don’t have one then your internal disc will be eaten up by clip media in no time (especially if you opted for the smaller faster internal disc).
Why 3 GB RAM?
Well OK, thats an expensive option, but seriously, if you can afford it the money is well spent.
I'd also strongly recommend the extended AppleCare Protection Plan.

Similar Messages

  • Which mac for photoshop CS6?

    which mac for photoshop CS6?

    "checked that, but I am not a geek, do not really understand."
    Mac OS
    Multicore Intel processor with 64-bit support
    Mac OS X v10.6.8 or v10.7
    1GB of RAM
    2GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash storage devices)
    1024x768 (1280x800 recommended) resolution display with 16-bit color and 512MB of VRAM
    OpenGL 2.0–capable system
    DVD-ROM drive
    This software will not operate without activation. Broadband Internet connection and registration are required for software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.† Phone activation is not available.
    Nothing geeky about it. Understanding Photoshop CS6 is geeky.

  • Best mac for FCP

    Ladies and Gentlemen,
    Would anybody be so kind and tell me what is the minimal set up I would need for FCP? I'm not a professional and would be using it for dabbling rather then serious work. Would Mac Book be sufficient? How much memory would I need?
    Best
    Slon

    check this out Sion, this is your best bet for
    consideration of requirements
    http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/specs.html
    Thanks Andy,
    Much appreciated
    Slon

  • Which keyboard for FCP?

    I was a video editor years ago for a local TV news station and the extent of my editing was with 2 BETA-SP machines and a cuts-only "controller" (remember the kind with a shuttle/jog wheel on each side that you'd bang on and spin with one finger to get to the frame you were looking for?).
    Years later, I'm just starting to get my feet wet with FCP6 and am missing my old shuttle/jog wheels.
    Are there any special keyboards or separate controllers out there with shuttle/jog wheels that are well-suited for Final Cut?
    Jason

    I use the Bella 5102 EZ Keyboard for FCP, which has a "jog/shuttle" control, which is just a tactile J,K,L (shuttle) and left/right arrow (jog) controller. It doesn't respond in the same manner as an actual controller, but I do find myself using the "shuttle" occasionally (out of habit).
    If you want more functionality/customizability, check out the JL Cooper MCS3 SP USB controller, but it also uses keyboard commands (and is like $800!).
    I'm not sure FCP can even be controlled with the same response as an edit controller, since the controller functions refer to keyboard commands.
    tim
    Message was edited by: ADCNR_Tim

  • Which mac for  AutoCAD, SolidWorks & MatLAB

    I am a mechanical engineering student and I want to purchase a new laptop. Which mac should I get? I want to run AutoCAD, SolidWorks and MatLAB. Are macs or which macs are sufficient for me? I don't want my laptop to be frozen or hard to run those softwares. Thanks a lot.

    It depends if you want to be portable or not, iMac or Macbook Pro probably.
    I would first check the software suppliers that you mention for the minimum specs that they suggest to run their software. (don't add them all up, see which required the most). AutoCad and/or Solidworks may specify particular graphics cards to work with their software too, so that may limit a few Mac models
    Identify a Mac based on these. Then I would make sure I had a Mac that had at least double the min RAM they require.
    Eg, OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) min RAM spec is 2GB. I wouldn't use it with less that 4GB personally.

  • Which laptop for FCP?

    Hi guys,
    Sorting a mobile FCP kit out for a friend - think we'll go for a 15" Macbook Pro with an external screen to hook up when she's working at home.
    BUT: should we get
    a) 2.2GHz chip, 120GB hdd, 128MB video ram
    or b) 2.4 GHz chip, 160GB hdd, 256MB video ram
    I don't think anyone would spot the difference in clock speed without a stopwatch, I wouldn't be bothered about the hard disk size given that all the media will be on external drives, so it comes down to the video ram.
    What practical difference will having the extra video ram make? And would it be worth the extra £300/$500?
    any thoughts really welcome
    cheers

    go with b)
    as for the video ram, FCP is not GPU dependent so at this time FCP itself will see little direct benefit although it is beginning to use FxPlug's which can and do use the video card ( and that trend is likely to continue ). of course, the extra power will help drive her second monitor as and when that gets plugged in. also, if your friend has any intention of ever using Motion then she definitely wants the better video card as that app is very much GPU dependent ... and don't forget that later on, if she changes he goals, you can easily upgrade the RAM and (less easily) the HD, but you can't upgrade the video card at all.
    elitist mode on: personally I wouldn't consider a 15" for any serious editing at all as the screen just doesn't have the real estate for FCP's interface... I'd go with the 17" MBP w/ 2GB RAM minimum (pref. 4GB) and the 256MB SDRAM video card option

  • Which mac for photography

    hi mac users!
    i am thinking to become mac user because of  my interest about  photography. the question is: which mac book will be the right choice for a photographer, considering the graphic card capabillity, screen size and resolution. I am still using PC with 27" s-pva screen, but i am expecting to get some mobility followed with quality from Mac. I never tried  Mac in my life, therefore, i can not imagine what to expect from mac book pro, or mac book air.
    thanks for any advice.
    oblakovska

    How you choose a model computer depends entirely on your priorities of the features of the different devices. Every model makes compromises in order to promote its strengths.
    The MacBook Air's strength above all others is portability.In your post yo don't mention size, weight, or portability as something you would consider the Air to achieve. Your priorities, as explained, center around the primary applicability to your interest, being photography. Whether that includes a desire to carry the computer when actually taking photographs, is the only question here. As Chris indicated, for every other possible reason the MacBook Pro in the 15" or 17" size would seem to be more seriously considered here, as they possess a greater and more capable graphic card, screen size and resolution, which seems to be your primary desire.
    Would the MacBook Air suffice? Possibly, but I still think the larger Pro models would be better.
    Something else to consider. Some MacBook owners have been reporting some problems with the integrated video card/drivers that the MacBook Air & MacBook Pro 13" have with Adobe Photoshop. Whether similar sounding problems that I have had with PS have anything to do with this, is something I suspect. I have every confidence that these issues will be resolved. In the meantime, I would think that a new user would take this into consideration.

  • Which mac for graphic designer on Ps, Ai, ID ?

    Hello,
    I'm looking for new mac, budget is +- ~1k pounds.
    I'm confuse which one is better for me, I have some opinions for these:
    MacBook Pro 13":
    2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
    4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
    250GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
    NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics
    Total: £999.00 incl. VAT
    Mac mini:
    2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
    4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
    320GB Serial ATA Drive
    NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics
    Apple Magic Mouse
    Apple Wireless Keyboard
    Total: £964.01 incl. VAT
    iMac 21.5:
    3.06GHz Intel Core i3
    4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
    500GB Serial ATA Drive
    ATI Radeon HD 4670 256MB GDDR3 SDRAM
    Apple Magic Mouse
    Apple Wireless Keyboard
    Total: £999.00 incl. VAT

    You're going to actually do work on this? Forget the 13"
    While I have one and really like it, there's no way in the world I could be productive with it.
    I'd recommend you bump your budget up to a 24" iMac.
    Bob

  • Which machine for fcp

    I am looking at either the 17" mac book pro or the new g5intel chip
    anyone lean any particular way for final cut studio?
    portability is nice option /// am i really sacrificing alot of difference in power?
    thanks

    Your right Patrick
    I mean the Mac Book Pro
    Using FCP Studio? If your budget allowed only one machine
    and provided that I also hook up a raid with it? would you go with the MAC PRO or the Mac Book Pro?
    MAC BOOK PRO SPECS:
    17-inch widescreen display
    1680 x 1050 resolution
    2.16GHz Intel Core Duo(1)
    2GB (single SODIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
    100GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA hard drive
    8x double-layer SuperDrive
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB GDDR3 memory
    One FireWire 400, one FireWire 800, and three USB 2.0 ports
    MAC PRO SPECS:
    Two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon "Woodcrest" processors
    4MB shared L2 cache per processor
    1.33GHz dual independent frontside buses
    1GB memory (667MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 256MB memory
    250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200-rpm hard drive1
    16x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
    vram would be important for motion as Jerry pointed out.
    Regards
    Dave KC

  • Which Mac for a designer?

    Hi,
    so my faithful first gen MacBook Pro has died and I'm looking to replace it. I've pretty much narrowed it down to two possibles...
    Refurbished iMac 27-inch 2.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
    or
    Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.8GHz Dual-core Intel i7
    (and buy a large screen monitor for home)
    I'm a graphic designer so will be running mostly Adobe Creative Suite software like Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign... Plus some music software like Ableton or Logic.
    Any suggestions which way to go? Pro's / Cons?

    If you're used to or need the portability , then the MacBook and extra monitor maybe the only solution for you.
    My problem with laptops and MacBooks for doing anything that requires a lot of processing power is that even buying the high end MacBook model, everything is lesser about it than the desktop computer.
    That would be my only criticism, here.
    Lesser CPU, GPU and slower HD's
    If, IF you can afford it right now, which ever direction you choose, consider installing custom items, now.
    If both the new MBP and iMac have an option for faster GPU's and you even remote think this may come in handy forany type of video or 3D modeling work, get the faster GPU's installed at the time of purchase.
    Also, if both MBP and iMac have options to add SSD's ( Solid state drives), I whole heatedly recommend getting one of these installed at the time of purchase. I know they are much more expensive per GB right now, but this is the direction data storage is going to take.
    SSD have no moving parts. They are much faster at accessing data than an HD with spinning glass platters and moving read/write arm and head.
    In the new design iMacs, especially,replacing and adding upgraded components later is a very difficult and labor intensive task and as long as you have AppleCare, you won't be able to touch anything inside without voiding AppleCare.
    Best to install these custom components at the purchase outset, if your budget can allow.
    The only exception to this advice is RAM. Apple charges waaay too much for their RAM upgrades.
    If you consider an iMac, don't forget to budget, also, for extended 3 year AppleCare.
    The new design iMacs, IMO, run entirely too warm/hot to be good for any of the components inside.
    Heat is the enemy of all electronic components. especially those in a computer.
    Heat can be a serious issue for premature failure of many components in a computer.
    Especially vulnerable is the CPU and Hard Drive, as well as the GPU.
    Apple engineers seemed to be more concerned with quiet operation than properly cooling and venting excessive heat out of this new iMac design. IMO, they just run waaay too warm!!!
    Having 3 year extended AppleCare means Apple is on the hook for any type of hardware failures. Heat related or not!
    You can buy and install RAM cheaper through third party online sources like Crucial Memory and OWC
    The MBP has a smaller screen having to force you to buy a seperate larger screen.
    If you go this route, if you're a serious designer, don't skimp on the outside monitor. A very good monitor is the designers' eye to accurate to semi-accurate color, depending on how much you're willing to spend on a monitor. Either buy Apple's offerings for a monitor or search for a high end monior from manufactures like ViewSonic, LaCie, LG, BenQ, Mitsubishi. I openly have banned anything from Samsung.
    With the iMac, it's an all in one design and you get the big 27 inch monitor with the computer.

  • Which computer for FCP

    I am moving up to FCP from FCE. I am currently using a iMac
    Model Name: iMac
    Model Identifier: iMac5,1
    Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
    Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz
    Number Of Processors: 1
    Total Number Of Cores: 2
    L2 Cache: 4 MB
    Memory: 3 GB
    Bus Speed: 667 MHz
    This system has slow render,conversion and compression times with FCE. I would imagine that it would be slower with FCP.
    I do a variety of types and lengths of projects as a small side business. I like the portability of the iMac? With those criteria in mind what would you recommend, the iMac 3.06Ghz or the Mac Quad or 8 Core?

    If you need portability, I'd go with a Mac Book Pro. I've not checked newer model hardware specs recently, but my understanding is that the Mac Books and iMacs have severe limitations regarding expandability and I/O ports...single FW bus, lack of FW ports, lack of express card slots (can be used in Mac Book Pro to add additional FW bus or eSata connections.
    These become critical when working in FCP...especially in a professional/money-making environment.
    iMacs will run FCP fine, it's the expandability that is the issue.
    Others will chime in, I'm sure.
    K

  • Which specs for FCP and which camcorder?

    Hi guys,
    will be using the macbook for editing gigs/events/music video's etc. what specs would be best?
    and any thoughts on a camcorder? currently got my eye on sony hxr mc50e but wanting to know if you think any others are better?
    defo needs to be HD, portable, SD preferred over MiniDV, Needs to have good low light recording and good audio. Max budget is about £1300
    hope u can help
    many thanks

    If, despite all advice to the contrary, you still go for the MacBook Pro then I'd recommend the base 17” MacBook Pro (MBP) configuration, with 160GB 5400 RPM hard disc option, and an additional 1 GB RAM (to make 3 GB total).
    Why the 17” model?
    Because when editing you need as much screen space as possible. Yes, it is bigger and heavier than the 15”, but I think that it’s larger and higher resolution display is worth that sacrifice.
    Why the bigger but slower 160GB 5400 RPM hard disc option?
    Laptop drives already have a much smaller capacity than their desktop cousins and those little drives, inevitably, fill up quickly with all your stuff!
    And of course, you're planning to get an external media drive too, right? If you don’t have one then your internal disc will be eaten up by clip media in no time (especially if you opted for the smaller faster internal disc).
    Why 3 GB RAM?
    Well OK, thats an expensive option, but seriously, if you can afford it the money is well spent.
    I'd also strongly recommend the extended AppleCare Protection Plan.

  • Which Mac for personal yes is best and affordable?

    Newcomer to Mac. I need assistance on what to purchase.  Don't need top of the line. Only yes for personal and monogram sewing programs.  Any suggestions?

    First - have you checked to make certain that there are monogram sewing applications available for the Mac operating system? I've a friend who uses a Windows notebook to do the same, but I've never looked into Mac software for same - I would be sure such an animal exists before making the Mac plunge.
    Just about any Mac will work for you - I would suggest getting the sole remaining 13" non-Retina MacBook Pro for your needs. You'll find it at the online Apple Store - on the left hand side of the web page. The nice thing about the non-Retina is that you can always upgrade the hard drive and the RAM should you wish. You simply cannot replace anything on the Retina Display models.
    Good luck - I really hope that the software that you're seeking is available for Macs!
    Clinton

  • Which monitor for mac pro and FCP

    Hi,
    I'm using a quad core mac pro with a Dell 2407wfp. In this setup I mainly do FCP editing. The monitor is 4 years old and I like to replace it for a larger one. I recently saw a setup with a Samsung P2770HD full hd and a tv tuner on board. Will this be good enough for FCP editing and reviewing HD content?
    TIA

    Will this be good enough for FCP editing and reviewing HD content?
    Probably not - but I have no experience with that monitor.
    Not what you asked but why not keep the Dell for displaying FCP timeline, bins, etc and purchase a quality HDTV and the means to feed it a hd signal (eg AJA Kona series, various Blackmagic cards, Matrox MXO series, etc) for viewing output?
    x

  • Which Mac Pro? More cores=slower speeds? And most of us know the speed matters or FPU for music and I don't understand the faster is for the least amount of procs. And while I get the whole rendering thing and why it makes sense.

    Which Mac Pro? More cores=slower speeds? And most of us know the speed matters or FPU for music and I don't understand the faster is for the least amount of procs. And while I get the whole rendering thing and why it makes sense.
    The above is what the bar says. It's been a while and wondered, maybe Apple changed the format for forums. Then got this nice big blank canvas to air my concerns. Went to school for Computer Science, BSEE, even worked at Analog Devices in Newton Massachusetts, where they make something for apple. 
    The bottom line is fast CPU = more FPU = more headroom and still can't figure out why the more cores= the slower it gets unless it's to get us in to a 6 core then come out with faster cores down the road or a newer Mac that uses the GPU. Also. Few. I'm the guy who said a few years ago Mac has an FCP that looks like iMovie on Steroids. Having said that I called the campus one day to ask them something and while I used to work for Apple, I think she thought I still did as she asked me, "HOW ARE THE 32 CORES/1DYE COMING ALONG? Not wanting to embarrass her I said fine, fine and then hung up.  Makes the most sense as I never quite got the 2,6,12 cores when for years everything from memory to CPU's have been, in sets of 2 to the 2nd power.  2,4,8,16,32,64,120,256,512, 1024, 2048,4196,8192, 72,768.  Wow. W-O-W and will be using whatever I get with Apollo Quad. 
    Peace to all and hope someone can point us in THE RIGHT DIRECTION.  THANK YOU

    Thanks for your reply via email/msg. He wrote:
    If you are interested in the actual design data for the Xeon processor, go to the Intel site and the actual CPU part numbers are:
    Xeon 4 core - E5.1620v2
    Xeon 6 core - E5.1650v2
    Xeon 8 core - E5.1680v2
    Xeon 12 core - E5.2697v2
    I read that the CPU is easy to swap out but am sure something goes wrong at a certain point - even if solderedon they make material to absorb the solder, making your work area VERY clean.
    My Question now is this, get an 8 core, then replace with 2 3.7 QUAD CHIPS, what would happen?
    I also noticed that the 8 core Mac Pro is 3.0 when in fact they do have a 3.4 8 core chip, so 2 =16? Or if correct, wouldn't you be able to replace a QUAD CHIP WITH THAT?  I;M SURE THEY ARE UO TO SOMETHING AS 1) WE HAVE SEEN NO AUDIO FPU OR PERHAPS I SHOULD CHECK OUT PC MAKERS WINDOWS machines for Sisoft Sandra "B-E-N-C-H-M-A-R-K-S" -
    SOMETHINGS UP AND AM SURE WE'LL ALL BE PLEASED, AS the mac pro      was announced Last year, barely made the December mark, then pushed to January, then February and now April.
    Would rather wait and have it done correct than released to early only to have it benchmarked in audio and found to be slower in a few areas- - - the logical part of my brain is wondering what else I would have to swap out as I am sure it would run, and fine for a while, then, poof....
    PEACE===AM SURE APPLE WILL BLOW US AWAY - they have to figure out how to increase the power for 150 watts or make the GPU work which in regard to FPU, I thought was NVIDIA?

Maybe you are looking for