Macbook Pro system capability

[jijhh]

Could a factory standard 17" Macbook Pro (the 2.16GHz not the more recent 2.33GHz) handle 1080i without any additional hardware other than an external drive? How about 720p? I plan on using FCP 5.1 and editing either 720p or 1080i from a supervised S16 transfer to HD. I want to have an HD master no matter what, but if I'm going mostly to DVD and only to HD formats for festivals or screenings, is 1080 worth it?

[Rik Andino]

No the graphics card won't be able to handle it all.

 

Laptops aren't really the best machines for editing...

You'll really need to get a Mac desktop and then a really good graphics card

And lots of harddrive space to properly work with 1080i.

 

You'll soon see why people say "HD isn't a cheap format to work in."

 

 

Good Luck

[A. Whitehouse]

Could a factory standard 17" Macbook Pro (the 2.16GHz not the more recent 2.33GHz) handle 1080i without any additional hardware other than an external drive? How about 720p? I plan on using FCP 5.1 and editing either 720p or 1080i from a supervised S16 transfer to HD. I want to have an HD master no matter what, but if I'm going mostly to DVD and only to HD formats for festivals or screenings, is 1080 worth it?

 

As far as HD formats for festivals and screenings is concerned it is my experience that very few (even large) festivals will screen any HD formats. Your best bet is Beta SP and Digi Beta. While Im sure this is going to change overtime it has been my experience that these are not services that most festivals offer, you'd have a better shot, ironically, with a 16mm print. While American festivals are slowing picking up some formats like HD CAM (Ive seen some offer HDV options) Europe still mostly require Beta SP and Digi Beta. In fact most large festivals still require 35mm prints but these are your big market fests like Cannes or Montreal. Have you considered a SD offline on your macbook with a HD online conform? Good luck with your short.

 

Sasha

[jijhh]

I've already dropped my film off for a one-light with burn in timecode (and keycode just in case). My plan was to make an SD cut from these MiniDV dailies and then go in with an EDL and supervise my selects to HD and capture them to 720p or 1080i in DVCPRO HD. This way I can cut them on a desktop like a G5 (720p at least) and from there can make DVDs, downconvert to Digibeta, and if the possibility arises, print back to film. HD really leaves my options wide open.

[Bryan Fowler]

I cut the last short film I did all on my Macbook Pro.

 

It was DVCPro 100 (DVCPro HD) 720p

 

I had a FW800 drive for all the media, and it was all fine.

Let me know if you need more questions.

 

bryan

[Keith Mottram]

No the graphics card won't be able to handle it all.

 

Laptops aren't really the best machines for editing...

You'll really need to get a Mac desktop and then a really good graphics card

And lots of harddrive space to properly work with 1080i.

 

You'll soon see why people say "HD isn't a cheap format to work in."

Good Luck

 

Macbook pro will work fine with compressed HD and a 100gig hard drive will allow you to get started. so assuming this is for rough compressed work it will not be a problem. The graphics card is actually pretty darn decent. My assumption is Ric is talking about uncompressed work and as you mentioned 1080i you are talking compressed correct? Oh and i cant remember a festival of recent years that wouldn't take hdcam, d5 hd is more of a problem. then again i suppose some of the more specialist festivals might not take it.

 

keith