PC and Mac in tandem...

[Jon B.]

Hello

I have a MacBook Pro 3.06 4GB laptop for location use. I'm going to set up a personal edit suite in my home and would like to know if it's considerable to go PC for my edit/effects/rendering needs or to just stay with Apple all the way? I'm looking to save $$...

Is this a big hassle in terms of workflow?

Thanks for any help toward a solution,

 

[M Most]

Hello

I have a MacBook Pro 3.06 4GB laptop for location use. I'm going to set up a personal edit suite in my home and would like to know if it's considerable to go PC for my edit/effects/rendering needs or to just stay with Apple all the way? I'm looking to save $$...

Is this a big hassle in terms of workflow?

Thanks for any help toward a solution,

Well, if you use cross platform tools like Avid Media Composer or Adobe's Creative Suite tools, you can go back and forth all you want provided you have the media files on both. If you want to use Final Cut Pro, you don't have any choice because it only runs on the Mac. It's clearly a bit cheaper to use a PC as your desktop machine, but it's really about what you want to run, not what you run it on.

 

[Imran Farouk]

Well personally I'd get comfortable with one workflow and stick with it the whole way instead of needing to find mini work arounds for going from Mac to PC etc. but could be possible if you were to go Adobe I guess....never tried using a PC to edit this stuff on, usually just go Mac the whole way, has always saved me $$ in the long run some way...mostly in time because I understand the system and workflow...

 

[Jon B.]

thanks for the responses,

I have Adobe and fcp studio 2. Really like using Color though. It is more about what I want to run but want to edit in Adobe and CC in Color...

Both good comments.

 

[M Most]

Well personally I'd get comfortable with one workflow and stick with it the whole way instead of needing to find mini work arounds for going from Mac to PC etc. but could be possible if you were to go Adobe I guess....never tried using a PC to edit this stuff on, usually just go Mac the whole way, has always saved me $$ in the long run some way...mostly in time because I understand the system and workflow...

If you use cross platform tools like the ones I mentioned there really aren't any workarounds, mini or otherwise. You copy the files, you run the program, and that's it.

If one is using multiple programs from multiple vendors, especially in the 3D animation world, one has more choices on a PC. The Mac has Maya, Lightwave, Modo, and Cinema 4D. That's about it. On the PC, you also have 3D Studio Max, Softimage, Z Brush, Filmbox, and numerous other choices. About the only thing you don't have on a PC is Final Cut. Hence why I said that it's about what you run, not what you're running it on.

 

[jake blackstone]

Hello

I have a MacBook Pro 3.06 4GB laptop for location use. I'm going to set up a personal edit suite in my home and would like to know if it's considerable to go PC for my edit/effects/rendering needs or to just stay with Apple all the way? I'm looking to save $$...

Is this a big hassle in terms of workflow?

Thanks for any help toward a solution,

Just waned to see how hard is to install the Hackintosh on a PC. Downloaded Kalyway 10.5.2, burned into a DVD and presto, an install as simple as any standard Leopard. No kext edits, no drivers downloads, nothing. Everything just works, even the fiber. I had installed RC, Adobe suite, FCS2 and again everything just works with Prores and all Not advocating doing it, but an interesting and eye opening experiment nevertheless...

 

[Jean-Charles Wolfarth]

A small advice : I'm on PC : stay on Mac, as Red and other software developpers mostly concentrates on this platform. Color correcting will be easier. Data management will be easier. Evertyhing will be easier, even if a little bit more expensive. Less troubles.

 

[Hans von Sonntag]

Recently we bought an PC, the first one since over 15 years.

The reason: I'm wanting Nvidia SDI over 4 years now. When Apple shipped the Nvidia Quadro 5600fx I hoped that they would add the SDI board. Seemed very logical at this time. They did not. Then the last generation MacPro came out and they announced the Quadro 4800fx. On the PC side it has a Display port. When I found out that Apple dropped the Display port for unknown reason I instantly knew that the Nvidia SDI will never happen on the Mac.

I now purchased a HP Z800 with 16 HB Ram, XP64 and Nvidia 5800 HDSDI. SpeedGradeXR runs specular fast and reliable on this machine. R3D 4K half debayer at 29 fps is easily possible. Great.

As Michael Most pointed out: it depends what you want to do. CS4 recently improved quite a bit and performs on this machine well. Might be an alternative to FCP for some.

 

[RRafael]

Buy a mac for only fcp is drop money in red world right now for me pc has so many easy and lowcost professional ways. Many 3d application and postproduction plugins. If you never have before a mac edit suite now is bad moment to star..

 

[MichaelP]

I use both platforms since I care more about the tools I need to drive to deliver what need. With Media Composer I go back and forth seamlessly - I installed Paragon NTFS on my Mac and MediaFour MacDrive on my PC so I don't have to think about how a drive is formatted for writing and reading.

Michael

 

[Mohammed El Sharqawy]

If you use cross platform tools like the ones I mentioned there really aren't any workarounds, mini or otherwise. You copy the files, you run the program, and that's it.

If one is using multiple programs from multiple vendors, especially in the 3D animation world, one has more choices on a PC. The Mac has Maya, Lightwave, Modo, and Cinema 4D. That's about it. On the PC, you also have 3D Studio Max, Softimage, Z Brush, Filmbox, and numerous other choices. About the only thing you don't have on a PC is Final Cut. Hence why I said that it's about what you run, not what you're running it on.

well not to forget that most cross platform apps runs faster on windows especially AE..

some thoughts:
http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=34652&highlight=why+after+effects+faster

Well personally I'd get comfortable with one workflow and stick with it the whole way instead of needing to find mini work arounds for going from Mac to PC etc. but could be possible if you were to go Adobe I guess....never tried using a PC to edit this stuff on, usually just go Mac the whole way, has always saved me $$ in the long run some way...mostly in time because I understand the system and workflow...

you think you saved $$ coz apple convinced you so.. TCO bla bla bla..
in fact.. for customization world.. PC is cheaper.. in Retail pro world (i mean original dell hp boxes etc..) PC is more expensive.. but with much more scalability options.. say you can bolt in 128GB of ram or more.. what MacPros can offer now? in addition when adobe releases CS5 which will be 64-bit native things are to re-thought.. apple has to do a lot about the nvidia SDI, adobe 64bit issues.. means (work arounds).. PC always got more options..

Just waned to see how hard is to install the Hackintosh on a PC. Downloaded Kalyway 10.5.2, burned into a DVD and presto, an install as simple as any standard Leopard. No kext edits, no drivers downloads, nothing. Everything just works, even the fiber. I had installed RC, Adobe suite, FCS2 and again everything just works with Prores and all Not advocating doing it, but an interesting and eye opening experiment nevertheless...

you might also check this:
http://www.willudesign.com/osxboxproTop.html

 

[jake blackstone]

you might also check this:
http://www.willudesign.com/osxboxproTop.html

You missed my point. I do all my work on a PC for one simple reason- Mac's lack of SDI drivers doesn't allow for any of the pro color grading apps. So, for pro color grading there is no choice, but Windows or Linux. But, unless you live under the rock, at some point, there is always a need to create Prores QT files- Red dailies comes to mind. Those can be created only under OSX, hence there is an occasional need to use the OSX. If one can get usable Mac system with zero cost (well $49 for OSX) with zero effort installing it, I think running Hackintosh isn't such a bad solution.

 

[Troy Smith]

You missed my point. I do all my work on a PC for one simple reason- Mac's lack of SDI drivers doesn't allow for any of the pro color grading apps. So, for pro color grading there is no choice, but Windows or Linux. But, unless you live under the rock, at some point, there is always a need to create Prores QT files- Red dailies comes to mind. Those can be created only under OSX, hence there is an occasional need to use the OSX. If one can get usable Mac system with zero cost (well $49 for OSX) with zero effort installing it, I think running Hackintosh isn't such a bad solution.

Jake, Interesting, I might try this, are you saying you can buy a legal copy of osx and install it, or do u need some patch to allow the legal copy of osx to install?

thanks

 

[jake blackstone]

Jake, Interesting, I might try this, are you saying you can buy a legal copy of osx and install it, or do u need some patch to allow the legal copy of osx to install?

thanks

According to Apple End User Software License Agreement, OSX can only be installed on Apple branded hardware, so legally speaking, no you can't do it even, if you buy the retail copy of OSX. As for the rest of the question, you can check on it by searching for hackintosh and kalyway...

 

[Uli Plank]

…Mac's lack of SDI drivers doesn't allow for any of the pro color grading apps. So, for pro color grading there is no choice, but Windows or Linux.

While I can subscribe to many opinions stated here (we are a pretty unbiased institution with many Macs and PCs), I don't understand this one. You can use FCP or Color with an I/O card from AJA or Blackmagic and monitor via SDI just fine.

 

[Hans von Sonntag]

While I can subscribe to many opinions stated here (we are a pretty unbiased institution with many Macs and PCs), I don't understand this one. You can use FCP or Color with an I/O card from AJA or Blackmagic and monitor via SDI just fine.

Hi Uli,

With ProRes, Color and FCP you get pretty consistent results which can be monitored accurately via an AJA / Decklink card, I heartily agree here.

But if RT grading is the aim you need Nvidia HDSDI out which works only on Windows. Apple is missing a lot here, IMO.

Hans

 

[Mohammed El Sharqawy]

You missed my point. I do all my work on a PC for one simple reason- Mac's lack of SDI drivers doesn't allow for any of the pro color grading apps. So, for pro color grading there is no choice, but Windows or Linux. But, unless you live under the rock, at some point, there is always a need to create Prores QT files- Red dailies comes to mind. Those can be created only under OSX, hence there is an occasional need to use the OSX. If one can get usable Mac system with zero cost (well $49 for OSX) with zero effort installing it, I think running Hackintosh isn't such a bad solution.

well, you're right.. its that I faild to install osx86 on my i7 machine.. I get the same needs for MAC as you do.. simply its the most used in my market.. but I just faild.. that's why I'm thinking to buy mac.. or a compatible hardware than mine.. that's why I thought OS xbox pro is a nice option.. of course they lack i7 and ddr3 but.. what would I use a mac for.. ?? simple processing for the masses.. that's renders os xbox a good option.. which looks good and conceptual too..

 

[Mathew Medeiros]

The problem about Hackintosh'ing a system is that support for things like Core Services, Open GL, Open CL and the like will only be supported by the community that develops OSX86 and the drivers they write for it. There are success stories here and there of people getting a flawless OSX on a winbox, but to be honest, with the importance of things like rendering, and having to keep software up-to-date from Apple, RED, and all the 3rd party drivers, the hassle of waiting for community support to release the next "safe" Hackintosh upgrade and its particular drivers for your setup, or coding the upgrade yourself isn't nearly worth the energy or sanity. IMO, of course.

 

[Mohammed El Sharqawy]

The problem about Hackintosh'ing a system is that support for things like Core Services, Open GL, Open CL and the like will only be supported by the community that develops OSX86 and the drivers they write for it. There are success stories here and there of people getting a flawless OSX on a winbox, but to be honest, with the importance of things like rendering, and having to keep software up-to-date from Apple, RED, and all the 3rd party drivers, the hassle of waiting for community support to release the next "safe" Hackintosh upgrade and its particular drivers for your setup, or coding the upgrade yourself isn't nearly worth the energy or sanity. IMO, of course.

exactly.. too much hassle.. but like you said.. it works for some people but you have to have the knowlage and to be inside that compunity..

 

[jake blackstone]

The problem about Hackintosh'ing a system is that support for things like Core Services, Open GL, Open CL and the like will only be supported by the community that develops OSX86 and the drivers they write for it. There are success stories here and there of people getting a flawless OSX on a winbox, but to be honest, with the importance of things like rendering, and having to keep software up-to-date from Apple, RED, and all the 3rd party drivers, the hassle of waiting for community support to release the next "safe" Hackintosh upgrade and its particular drivers for your setup, or coding the upgrade yourself isn't nearly worth the energy or sanity. IMO, of course.

I do not advocate trying to replace good old Mac hardware with a PC for everyday professional use. All I waned to see, if I could use one of my PCs to create Prores dailies for FCP. Without ANY tinkering with downloaded install DVD, my Hackintosh system performed flawlessly. I was able to open an FCP project, edit it, export EDL, export Prores QT. It all just worked. And so is RC, RA, RR. The system profiler recognized the video card- 8800 GTX with full Open CL support. The system even recognized my Fiber Channel card and with NTFS plugin I was able to use the same drives. But, said that, of coarse this set up isn't perfect. The OS upgrade is pretty much a new OS install every time and I recognize, that I was lucky, that my hardware was perfectly suited for this Hackintosh install. But for an occasional Prores creation, not a bad solution... for me:smile5: