Apple Dream System Setup

[Mark Phelan]

I haven't seen a question like this posed so here goes. If you had x amount of money, how would you use it to buy and set up the best Apple/FCP system? I'm building a new setup from ground up, and have been pouring over the various specifications of a host of items and am numb, so have at it. Your budgets are as follows:

A: Under $5,000.00
B: Under $25,000.00
C: Under $50,000.00

Included items are, new computer/computers configuration, new monitor(s), RAID/configuration, Archive medium (i.e. LTO 3, 3A, 4, or 4A), Kona card, RAM amount, etc.

For a small studio that wants a strong setup, that is also able to grow and expand, what would you do?

 

[Ben Rojas]

I haven't seen a question like this posed so here goes. If you had x amount of money, how would you use it to buy and set up the best Apple/FCP system? I'm building a new setup from ground up, and have been pouring over the various specifications of a host of items and am numb, so have at it. Your budgets are as follows:

A: Under $5,000.00
B: Under $25,000.00
C: Under $50,000.00

Included items are, new computer/computers configuration, new monitor(s), RAID/configuration, Archive medium (i.e. LTO 3, 3A, 4, or 4A), Kona card, RAM amount, etc.

For a small studio that wants a strong setup, that is also able to grow and expand, what would you do?

For roughly 5K (hopefully you've got FCP 'cause that will send you in the 6K-ish range) you can get a MBP & AJA IO HD. Very nice set-up that works very very well.

For the 25K... Take your pick 'cause B&H has a bunch: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/6737/Turnkey_Systems_Mac_Based_Turnkey_Systems.html

For 50K, I'll bump it up another 10-15K and get an Autodesk / Discreet Smoke, which works extremly well with FCP and my MBP :w00t: Kidding aside, for 50K you can certainly "trick-out" a Final Cut suite w/all the goodies.

Ben Rojas
Senior Editor
VTA FL

 

[Mark Phelan]

Thanks for the thoughts. I do have and currently use Final Cut Studio on my present system. Since I'm in the middle of upgrading everything, I'm trying, like everyone else is, to be systematic about the purchases. Buy what is absolutely necessary immediately and then what order should I think about adding to it over the course of a year? I do need a RAID and see that as being the second purchase after the computer upgrade. Must I get a KONA 3 for the tower now or can it wait? These kind of questions are puzzling when one is balancing budgets.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your insights and experience.

 

[Keith Alan Morris]

I'm in the market for a new RAID too for my MacBook Pro. I've got every port filled right now, it's totally Frankensteined together. Everything is 1TB drives--2 esatas, 1 firewire 800, 1 fw 400, both usb's. I've been editing my feature piecemeal, section by section, but now I need to move things around in the edit and just want it all on one type of drive. (I've got everything double backed up and have 18TB.) any suggestions on RAIDs that would work with a laptop welcome. i need space for about 8TB of footage to have all the raw footage accessible. anyone?

 

[Keith Alan Morris]

i called apple and they said get the cal digit hd1 8TB. thats pricey. $7900. oy vey. anyone got a better idea?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...ch&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=caldigit&image.x=0&image.y=0

 

[HD Hildebrand]

I'm in the market for a new RAID too for my MacBook Pro. I've got every port filled right now, it's totally Frankensteined together. Everything is 1TB drives--2 esatas, 1 firewire 800, 1 fw 400, both usb's. I've been editing my feature piecemeal, section by section, but now I need to move things around in the edit and just want it all on one type of drive. (I've got everything double backed up and have 18TB.) any suggestions on RAIDs that would work with a laptop welcome. i need space for about 8TB of footage to have all the raw footage accessible. anyone?

I got tired of fw800 ports blowing on me so I went all esata. I was rather leery at first due to a bad experience in the past, but just got 2 x 5-bay trayless enclosures:

http://www.macgurus.com/productpages/sata/BurlyPortMultiEncl.php

The two hold 10TB and have a esata cable from each to my 8 core. I also got a ExpressCard/34 2 eSATAII 3Gbps from MGurus as well - this allows me to run both enclosures through my MacBook Pro too.

I spent the extra $120 for trayless (it's really convenient) so I can just insert my additional backup drives into one of the enclosures and back-up all material as I go. This allows me to keep bare backup drives in a fireproof safe in case of something going wrong along the way.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Dale

 

[michael zaletel]

I've said this on other similar threads but if you are planning to spend this much on an Apple system, make sure you sign up for Apple's developer program for $500 which allows you to buy (1) system per year at substantial discount which will easily exceed $2,000 on a system like this.

-shooter

 

[Keith Alan Morris]

thanks shooter and planet earth! great info! i love reduser (especially when people dont have "creative cow diesease" and are nice like you guys.)