Will my iMac handle HDV? at DVinfo.net

Adam Bray · December 9th, 2006, 08:46 PM

I know someone who just shot a short on HDV and edited on a new iMac (2.16 Pentium Duo with 2 G's RAM) on FCP without a single hiccup.

I was just curious if anyone knows if my iMac with 1.8GHz Power PC, 2 G's RAM could handle it too?

Reason I ask is I'm thinking of selling my XL2 and buying a Canon XH-A1. I currently edit on Premiere Pro and would like to switch to Mac for editing, but don't want to have to buy another computer if I don't need.

Chris Hurd · December 9th, 2006, 09:19 PM

Moved to Non-Linear Editing on the Mac from General HD Acquisition.

Jon Snyder · December 14th, 2006, 04:59 PM

I have an older G5 that actually handles HDV like a champ. The only kicker is that render and movie export times are horrendous. So if waiting 4 hours for your movie to render is unacceptable then you might want to invest in a faster machine.

Stephen Claus · December 14th, 2006, 05:48 PM

Yes, you can edit HDV (actually Apple Intermediate Codec) on a 1.8 Ghz G5 iMac. I've been doing it for months--and I only have 1 gig of RAM! And yes, render, export--and even capture--times are horrendous, just not as horrendous as coughing up 3 grand for a new computer!

December 9th, 2006, 08:46 PM	#1
Adam Bray Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Houston/Austin Posts: 394	Will my iMac handle HDV? I know someone who just shot a short on HDV and edited on a new iMac (2.16 Pentium Duo with 2 G's RAM) on FCP without a single hiccup. I was just curious if anyone knows if my iMac with 1.8GHz Power PC, 2 G's RAM could handle it too? Reason I ask is I'm thinking of selling my XL2 and buying a Canon XH-A1. I currently edit on Premiere Pro and would like to switch to Mac for editing, but don't want to have to buy another computer if I don't need.

December 9th, 2006, 09:19 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Moved to Non-Linear Editing on the Mac from General HD Acquisition. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 14th, 2006, 04:59 PM	#3
Jon Snyder Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ USA Posts: 35	My experience with this... I have an older G5 that actually handles HDV like a champ. The only kicker is that render and movie export times are horrendous. So if waiting 4 hours for your movie to render is unacceptable then you might want to invest in a faster machine.

December 14th, 2006, 05:48 PM	#4
Stephen Claus Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rochester, NH Posts: 66	Yes, you can edit HDV (actually Apple Intermediate Codec) on a 1.8 Ghz G5 iMac. I've been doing it for months--and I only have 1 gig of RAM! And yes, render, export--and even capture--times are horrendous, just not as horrendous as coughing up 3 grand for a new computer!