Will MBP run Final Cut Studio Pro?

[Spazzleberry]

Windows guy considering switching to Mac for video production work. Will a MacBook Pro sufficiently run the new FInal Cut Studio? Or, would I need a suped-up Mac Pro Desktop.

If a MacBook Pro will run it, do you recommend any upgrades to get the most out of the software program? By that I mean, RAM, etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ryan T.]

http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/specs.html

Looks like you should be fine.

 

[Zwhaler]

A MBP will do great running FCS. You may want to add more RAM in the future if you want even more speed. But 2 gigs is more than enough for the time being.

 

[dollystereo]

Just the stock MBP will run excelent FCS, get the basic 2.2GHZ model and you will fly... you will need a External HD, I do recomend Seagate. (You dont need FW800). Get FW400 or FW800, no USB please...

 

[squeeks]

yeah it works fine, im having issues with Motion right now but i think a reinstall should fix that, its runs nice and fast though, a lot faster than my imac g5 did and as cheap as memory is, upgrade to 4gig, and yes since you have it use firewire 800

 

[HillFlak]

Just the stock MBP will run excelent FCS, get the basic 2.2GHZ model and you will fly... you will need a External HD, I do recomend Seagate. (You dont need FW800). Get FW400 or FW800, no USB please...

I'm also shifting from Windows to MBP -- 17", 2.4 Mhz, 4gig (waiting since June 18th for hi-res matte). I also want to be able to run FCP. I already have two external Lacie 500 gig, 7200 rpm USB drives. Will they still work, just a bit slower than FW800?

 

[Gurutech]

I'm also shifting from Windows to MBP -- 17", 2.4 Mhz, 4gig (waiting since June 18th for hi-res matte). I also want to be able to run FCP. I already have two external Lacie 500 gig, 7200 rpm USB drives. Will they still work, just a bit slower than FW800?

USB(actual speed) is a lot slower than FW800
FW800>>FW400>USB

 

[ScottDrummer]

its actually FW800>>USB(2.0)>FW400

 

[Father Jack]

Yes it will .. ..... but increase the Ram.

 

[HillFlak]

USB(actual speed) is a lot slower than FW800
FW800>>FW400>USB

Thanks. I realize it will be slower, but for a while I'll have to use these drives to move files between the MBP and a Windows PC w/o FW at my office. But any new drives will be dual interface.

 

[Eraserhead]

its actually FW800>>USB(2.0)>FW400

No it isn't USB 2.0 has a faster theoretical speed but in the real world Firewire is quicker. So in real usage it is:

Firewire 800>Firewire 400>USB 2.0

Of course the MBP should really have external SATA by now, but that's for another thread.

 

[Osprey]

Do you think that they will ever change iMovie or FCS to work with the new built-in internal hard drive or DVD cameras?

 

[MovieCutter]

its actually FW800>>USB(2.0)>FW400

For video, you're looking at a SUSTAINED rate, which is FW800>>FW400>>USB 2.0

If you're looking at BURST speed, you'd be right...

Do you think that they will ever change iMovie or FCS to work with the new built-in internal hard drive or DVD cameras?

FCS can already handle footage from flash or HDD based cameras...as for DVD cameras, pros aren't buying those. As for iMovie, I tell people to use Handbrake or Visual Hub to rip DVDs from their crappy DVD camcorder to a format iMovie can read. Really, MiniDV is the way to go if you want to do any editing at a consumer level, because MPEG-2 (which is what these cameras use) is crap for editing.