Mac Pro System requirements

[Graham Munro]

Hi Red Users!

I am one of those Scarlet hopefuls. Browsing around to find a good starter system for post. My company does a lot of :30 SD and HD TV commercials (and related web stuff) if that will help define my general requirements. Anyways, here it goes:

I am interested in a barebones Mac Pro. Thinking about a used Quad 2.6 or Dual 3.0. Obviously want a Red Rocket from what I have been reading. Will this replace the need for a high-end ATI/NVIDIA?

Also, I have been reading that it is advantageous to get a solid hard drive to run the apps and a high speed disk for the footage- is this correct? Can anyone just tell me, based on my requirements, how to fill out the system if it were you?

The camera I hope to own (soon) would be a Scarlet Fixed.

And just so I'm not asking "somthin for nothin" here was our first company commercial that aired on Fox Sports. Enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/8166169


Thanks Guys,
GM

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

I recommend a refurbished 8 core Westmere or Nehalem Mac Pro.

I also recommend a fast Nvidia CUDA card.

Rocket is important for RED One and Epic... but I don't really know yet how Scarlet performs. Time will tell. I'd buy one for sure if you think you are posting those "bigger" camera systems, but I'd wait and see for a little while if you are just going to be using Scarlet Fixed at 3K or smaller.

Right now the best workflow is Storm on set and first lights
Premiere CS5
DaVinci Resolve

This is certain to change, because it often does.

Smoke is a very interesting tool, but its costly. You can do a full edit/finish on Smoke. With Premiere or FCP I'd want to go to Color or Resolve for sure for finishing.

 

[Graham Munro]

I recommend a refurbished 8 core Westmere or Nehalem Mac Pro.

I also recommend a fast Nvidia CUDA card.

Rocket is important for RED One and Epic... but I don't really know yet how Scarlet performs. Time will tell. I'd buy one for sure if you think you are posting those "bigger" camera systems, but I'd wait and see for a little while if you are just going to be using Scarlet Fixed at 3K or smaller.

Right now the best workflow is Storm on set and first lights
Premiere CS5
DaVinci Resolve

This is certain to change, because it often does.

Smoke is a very interesting tool, but its costly. You can do a full edit/finish on Smoke. With Premiere or FCP I'd want to go to Color or Resolve for sure for finishing.

I am definitely going to stay with the Fixed for a LONG while. So you recommend just a good NVIDIA instead of Rocket? That is definitely a cheaper way to go. Thanks

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

I am definitely going to stay with the Fixed for a LONG while. So you recommend just a good NVIDIA instead of Rocket? That is definitely a cheaper way to go. Thanks

Yes, but I think I also recommended a much faster computer.

Also if you are using Resolve, I'm really recommending two good Nvidia cards. I'd pick two Quadro 4000's

It's really a different sort of expensive.

Also, you need a good i/o card. I recommend a BlackMagic Decklink card.