Final Cut Pro

Sirrel Squirrel

Sirrel Squirrel

Sirrel Squirrel

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2003
Posts
8,495
Location
Essex
I'd like to learn how to use Final Cut Pro because quite a few media companies are looking for FCP editors so it'd be good for me to know but I don't have a Mac and I want a cheap one, like under 1k that I can use to learn on, obviously I don't want it to be slow and run like turd either, any ideas on what sort of spec I should be looking for?
 
Far as i know any of the macs will run it but your price point limits you to a mac mini or an imac. The imac is the better performer and comes with display, keyboard, mouse etc. The mac mini is cheaper but you'll need to supply your own keyboard, mouse and monitor.

So it's a matter of personal preference as much as price. Be sure to get at least 1Gb of RAM though although running such an intensive app you might want to push for 2Gb which would then put the imac out of your price range.
 
I agree for your price range an iBook or Mac Mini would be your best bet. The new Intel mini have just been released and would provide a fairly speedy system if you went for the 1.66GHz Core Duo and maxed out the RAM to 2Gig. However I am not sure if FCP has been released with universal binaries so it would be emulated on the Intel system. But once you can get the native intel app it would be a good little runner I would have thought.

You could always hang on for the updated Intel iBooks (most likey to be called Macbook's but without the pro bit) they will surely fall under £1000 and I would have thought would have a model which uses the Core Duo. So if you need portability than thats your best bet.

So basically I would get a Intel Mac Mini or hang on for the Intel iBook's/Macbook's I dont think there is much point getting a G4 based machine with the Intels taking over.
 
I'm don't how graphically intensive video editing is, but I don't think the new intel mac minis with integrated graphics would be up to the job. I think one of the new intel iMacs would be your best bet :)

Bare in mind Final Cut Pro is like... £500 :eek:
 
Founder_film said:
However I am not sure if FCP has been released with universal binaries so it would be emulated on the Intel system. But once you can get the native intel app it would be a good little runner I would have thought.
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Shouldn't be too long to wait if the cross grades are released this month as anticipated. :) As founder said I would expect the native intel app to run great on an intel mac. So in a way now would be a good time to buy since they normally take a week or so to be delivered (if you buy from the apple store).
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
Can I connect up another screen to the iMac G5, so I can have dual screens, would just make editing easier, also can I stick more DDR Ram in there or is a special type?
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No, not by default. There is a patch for the iMac that enables screen spanning (it does have a mini-VGA port), but I don't know if it works on the Intel iMac. I suspect it doesn't.

The iMac Core Duo just takes normal DDR2 SODIMMs and they slot in via an access door.
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
Do you know what memory the G5 version takes because I'm looking at Deano's 2nd hand one
Click to expand...

Depends what revision it is? Does it have an iSight?

EDIT: Ah, found it.

It'll take standard PC3200 DDR RAM. It only has 2 slots though, so 2x1GB would max it out and make it pretty quick. Personally, I'd go for a Core Duo one though, especially when the universal binary arrives - it'll be hugely quicker, and will have much better graphics.
 
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