Mac for film student

[PhoenixDown]

Which MacBook / and config / would you all recommend for a student interested in taking film classes? I believe they will be using mostly Adobe software.

I am currently thinking the new 13” m2 MBP with some ram or the MBA M2 with a slightly higher ram and SDD. Those seem like the best bang for the buck right now.

 

[Fishrrman]

MacBook Pro 14" is better.
Base model with 16gb RAM and 512gb SSD.
Or... bump up the SSD to 1tb...

(and take the student discount)

 

[rm5]

I used Premiere/AE on my M1 MBA when it ran through Rosetta, both for student film projects and professional projects - and it was ok, definitely not great though. Then the school got rid of student Adobe accounts after the pandemic, so I haven't been able to test the new, Apple-silicon optimized version.

What kinds of video will you be working with? If it's just 1080p (at any frame rate), the consumer MacBooks are fine (MBA, 13-inch MBP) - just upgrade to at least 16 GB of RAM!!

Even if you're working with 4K (probably up to 60 fps), the consumer laptops will be fine. I've also worked with multiple streams of 4K @ 30 fps and got smooth playback, even with some effects, but when I work with multiple streams of 4K60, it does start to slow down.

I recently edited, using Davinci Resolve (my main NLE), a 45-minute music video for a group here in town in 1080p 30fps, and it rendered in probably 15 minutes, so the rendering is also fast.

Don't waste your money on power you don't need. Just think about what kind of video you will be working with.

 

[PhoenixDown]

Don't waste your money on power you don't need. Just think about what kind of video you will be working with.

Thanks — unfortunately I just don’t know but first year student I can’t imagine they will be doing anything ear to shattering, 4k max

 

[rm5]

I'd just go with what your gut tells you. If you continue in film and have more complex things (many effects, motion graphics, color correction, etc.) in your video, you will want the 14-inch.

You might just go with the 14 inch just to be safe - you never know what you might be working on...