New Laptop / Desktop Dilemma (Video Editing)

[mrflow123]

Good Day,

I may face an issue.
Soon I get a new Video Camera, either a GH6 or a Sony. I plan to make videos for Youtube, etc.
As far as I know, I will shoot in ProRes 422, in 4K or so. Maybe higher.

Currently, I have a Macbook Pro M1, 8 GB 512, and a Mac Mini M1 8 GB 512.

I am now planning to get Apple's Final Cut Software. Also, I use LRC and Photoshop. Maybe in the future more video software such as Da Vinci.
I will get an external SSD for my projects and a Storage system (HDD) that will be 5-10 TB but can be extended.


Now, what should I buy?

I think about:
1. Macbook 14 - Pro - 32/64gb - 1TB
2. Macbook 14 - Max (30 or 38) - 32/64gb - 1TB
3. Macbook 16 - Pro - 32/64 - 1 TB
4. Macbook 16 - Max (30 or 38) - 32/64 - 1 TB
5. A Mac Studio? As I do have a MacBook Pro to take somewhere and edit at home? Does a Mac Studio make any sense anymore? The Ultra is too expensive for me. And the max seems to be worse than the "MacBook" pros?


Also, I am not sure if 32 or 64 GB is right. I watched reviews that say the 14 - max - is overheating. So better get the 16?


Thank you

 

[Fishrrman]

Keep the MacBook you have.

But... GET an m2pro Mini.
16gb with a 1tb SSD should be ok.
32gb would be better.

 

[JW5566]

I plan to make videos for Youtube, etc.
As far as I know, I will shoot in ProRes 422, in 4K

Aside from the 4K, the rest is a bit overkill for YouTube which will recompress your video anyway and on which over half of your audience could be on mobile. ProRes adds massively to file sizes (think about the need to keep copies of projects, and backups) and I would watch YouTube videos comparing 422 to 420 and 10 bit to 8 bit to see if you can actually see a difference (I can't in most cases).

420 8 bit and in H264/5 etc is usually good enough for YouTube and negates the need for overly powerful and expensive video set ups.

Also, I strongly urge you to test the water on YouTube and look at ProRes, 422 etc only when you have an actual following and/or it's paying you some money. I would say it's something to aim for if you're successful rather than blowing money on it now.

 

[DisraeliGears]

I concur with the above posters. Fisherman's rec of an M2Pro Mini with 16GB is where I'd land myself. Since the pandemic started, I got into video production as a work side gig, and it's easy to talk yourself into stuff you don't need or isn't super functional.

I've cycled through a few cameras, getting better and better, and I'm currently using a Lumix G9. One of the features that sold me on it is getting 422 10 bit on the cheap (a used G9 is surprisingly inexpensive in the grand scheme) but after playing around with it, the size of the 422 files along with a few other things (I find .mov inconvenient) has got me shooting most stuff in 420 4K (or even 1080p for certain circumstances).

Taking the above into account, I just hate that you got two M1 Macs with only 8GB of RAM. My M1 Mini with 16GB does a fine enough job of editing 1080p and shorter 4K productions using FCPX. I did just get a base model 14" M1 Pro, and it cuts through footage like butter.

As you mentioned, I'd heavily recommend getting a good speedy SSD as an edit drive. If you're using FCPX, those render files pile up really quickly. I've got a 1 TB Sandisk Extreme Pro that is fast enough to not be a limiting factor on editing unless I move into 8K or really dense 4K footage.

I'll also say I think the advice we're all providing here is based on it seeming like you're just starting up with YouTube/video production.

 

[dmccloud]

Also, I am not sure if 32 or 64 GB is right. I watched reviews that say the 14 - max - is overheating. So better get the 16?


Thank you

That depends on what review you are looking at. The MaxTech review basically used a test that went far above and beyond what any rational workflow would look like in order to generate a result that furthered the narrative they wanted to tell (which was that the M2 Max throttles and overheats.) Luke Miani refuted that by demonstrating that even if you manually sped up the fans to lower SoC temps, the performance of the M2 Max was unchanged, meaning that the temps being seen were by design rather than by accident or omission. I have yet to really even notice any heat being generated by my M2 Max, and even the one time I did was a) when running Cinebench R23 in stress test mode and b) limited to a very slight warming around the 6, T, and Y keys, just enough to notice but not enough to even start worrying about.

 

[mrflow123]

Good Day,

thank you for the answers.

Maybe I have not specified, this thing should generate either leads or money for me or/and my clients.

I believe 16GB is far too little.

As I very likley get also a Ninja Atoms V+, where I can record wild formats and 120 FPS 4K, I do not know if the base thing is good enough?

My Budget is around 3000€ + VAT. The better I spend less, but I want for now and 2-3 years enough power not to mind.
Now I have an isseu with the 8GB RAM, LRC always laggs and FC is basically not doable for me.


Thx

 

[mrflow123]

Keep the MacBook you have.

But... GET an m2pro Mini.
16gb with a 1tb SSD should be ok.
32gb would be better.

Good Day,

Today I was looking at the Sony Fs 30 and the new Panasonic S5IIX, with external Recorder Ninja V +.
The people in the store told me to minimum get 32 gb better 64 gb. And they told me, 1TB should be fine, and external SSDs. --> Looks like a combination of 4K and 6K with up to 120 fps, 422. I believe the file sizes are huge.

However, non-really said anything about "Pro" "Max", or other configs. They told me they can not help me out.
So the m2pro Mini you think is good enough? As I believe all M2 came with new encoders, meaning as long as I do FC or Da Vinci in normal file sizes, I do not need the extra power?


thx