iMac for 3 streams of GH5 4K? at DVinfo.net

Gerald Webb · September 19th, 2018, 04:58 AM

Hi Guys,

Thinking about getting a new iMac, the 4.2GHZ i7 with the 8GB 580 and 40GB of ram and 512GB SSD.

Is anyone here using this machine or similar to do multicam edits with GH4/5 8bit 4k files?
Im trying to get a no proxy workflow (proxies work for me now, but want to bypass the encoding time).
I also need to be able to smoothly use the JKL keys, so at least 3x fast forward.

Is this a big ask? Am I better off to get the iMac Pro?
I wish I could take an external drive into a shop and just try them out....
Any feedback appreciated

W. Bill Magac · September 19th, 2018, 07:05 AM

I bought the same iMac configuration a year ago. If I was buying today I would go with the iMac Pro. Bring in an external drive to your Apple store. I did. The new iMacs work best with TB3 external drives.

William Hohauser · September 19th, 2018, 02:09 PM

I would be wary of expecting the i7 iMac to handle three streams of 4K files un-optimized from the GH5. Each of those are hefty h264 files that need real-time decoding before it can run in the program smoothly. If you can get your local dealer to run this multicam set-up in FCPX on a showroom model then do it. But a minute of working isn't going to tell you, you need to run the simulation for a while (with cutting) to see if the video card can hold up to the computational strain.

Gerald Webb · September 21st, 2018, 03:57 AM

Found an Apple store about an hour away with a iMac Pro Base model on the floor. They are happy to let me bring in a drive with a library on it and test it out.
Will report back.

Harry Pallenberg · October 30th, 2018, 03:52 PM

So... any update?

Gerald Webb · October 31st, 2018, 01:36 AM

Sorry, no updates from me.
I ended up finding info that confirmed the iMac pro was a poor choice for the codecs I edit.
Was waiting for today’s Apple event to see the updated iMacs but there doesn’t seem to be any news.
Guess I’ll get a Mac Mini lol

Donald McPherson · October 31st, 2018, 12:58 PM

To be honest I would rather use something like Roland V-1HD and an HDMI - USB converter into a computer for three or four cameras. https://www.proav.co.uk/roland-v-1hd...hoCw9QQAvD_BwE

September 19th, 2018, 04:58 AM	#1
Gerald Webb Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Coast Australia Posts: 1,046	iMac for 3 streams of GH5 4K? Hi Guys, Thinking about getting a new iMac, the 4.2GHZ i7 with the 8GB 580 and 40GB of ram and 512GB SSD. Is anyone here using this machine or similar to do multicam edits with GH4/5 8bit 4k files? Im trying to get a no proxy workflow (proxies work for me now, but want to bypass the encoding time). I also need to be able to smoothly use the JKL keys, so at least 3x fast forward. Is this a big ask? Am I better off to get the iMac Pro? I wish I could take an external drive into a shop and just try them out.... Any feedback appreciated __________________ http://vimeo.com/livewebvideo

September 19th, 2018, 07:05 AM	#2
W. Bill Magac Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: New England USA Posts: 79	Re: iMac for 3 streams of GH5 4K? I bought the same iMac configuration a year ago. If I was buying today I would go with the iMac Pro. Bring in an external drive to your Apple store. I did. The new iMacs work best with TB3 external drives.

September 19th, 2018, 02:09 PM	#3
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: iMac for 3 streams of GH5 4K? I would be wary of expecting the i7 iMac to handle three streams of 4K files un-optimized from the GH5. Each of those are hefty h264 files that need real-time decoding before it can run in the program smoothly. If you can get your local dealer to run this multicam set-up in FCPX on a showroom model then do it. But a minute of working isn't going to tell you, you need to run the simulation for a while (with cutting) to see if the video card can hold up to the computational strain. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

September 21st, 2018, 03:57 AM	#4
Gerald Webb Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Coast Australia Posts: 1,046	Re: iMac for 3 streams of GH5 4K? Found an Apple store about an hour away with a iMac Pro Base model on the floor. They are happy to let me bring in a drive with a library on it and test it out. Will report back. __________________ http://vimeo.com/livewebvideo

October 30th, 2018, 03:52 PM	#5
Harry Pallenberg Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 122	Re: iMac for 3 streams of GH5 4K? So... any update?

October 31st, 2018, 01:36 AM	#6
Gerald Webb Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Coast Australia Posts: 1,046	Re: iMac for 3 streams of GH5 4K? Sorry, no updates from me. I ended up finding info that confirmed the iMac pro was a poor choice for the codecs I edit. Was waiting for today’s Apple event to see the updated iMacs but there doesn’t seem to be any news. Guess I’ll get a Mac Mini lol __________________ http://vimeo.com/livewebvideo

October 31st, 2018, 12:58 PM	#7
Donald McPherson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Posts: 815	Re: iMac for 3 streams of GH5 4K? To be honest I would rather use something like Roland V-1HD and an HDMI - USB converter into a computer for three or four cameras. https://www.proav.co.uk/roland-v-1hd...hoCw9QQAvD_BwE __________________ A little knowledge goes a long way but not long enough.