What specs for 4K editing.

Doug Jensen · November 13th, 2020, 07:49 PM

I've done a lot of troubleshooting for clients and students at workshops and 99.99% of the time their playback problems comes down to drives. Either they are putting video files on their internal OS drive, or else using slow drives connected via USB or something worse. All I'm saying is that lot of people really underestimate the importance of drives.

BTW, I have external 4TB SSDs that give me up to 1300MBps via Thunderbolt2 and regular cheap HDDs that average around 400-500, which is still plenty fast enough for simple 4K editing and grading. Getting high speeds is not hard or expensive.

Donald McPherson · November 14th, 2020, 10:43 AM

Makes me glad I opted for a second SDD in my laptop instead of a CD/DVD and bought a cheap USB Blue-ray writer, which I have only used once.

Doug Jensen · November 14th, 2020, 11:02 AM

I hear what you're saying. About 7 years ago I bought a Blu-ray burner thinking that I would need it for authoring Blue-rays. When I moved two years ago to a new house the box still had the shrinkwrap on it, so I just threw it away with a lot of other worthelss electronics. Have never regretted that decision. I did have a strange feeling, though, chucking what was once a $65K Betacam into a dumpster. I just had to remind myself how much it had earned over the years, and now it's value had become reduced to less than zero. Technology marches on. :-)

Steven Davis · November 30th, 2020, 05:39 PM

So I'm at a loss. I have really good specs. I'm on my fifth or sixth Apple FCPX advisor and they can't figure out why my play back is so bad. Here's a sample of what I experience. It doesn't matter if I do proxy, or not. We've tried just about everything Apple can think of.

Pete Cofrancesco · November 30th, 2020, 08:59 PM

Multiclip are very demanding. You need a newer computer to edit 4k.

You have a few options:
1. optimize the clips (this will create giant ProRes files), lower the viewer quality to better performance, don't apply any effects, filters, or exposure changes until you finished cutting the video.

2. Sync the videos instead of creating a multiclip. This will give you a timeline with each video on a layer. It's harder to edit this way but you'll be able to playback smoothly.

3. Down res and edit the original video to 1080.

Steven Davis · November 30th, 2020, 09:05 PM

Hey Pete,

I do have a newer computer, about two years old. An iMac Pro with 64 gb of memory, a Radeon Pro Vega 64 with 16gb of ram, and my processor is 3.2ghz 8-core Intel Xeon W.

I spent the extra thousand or so just so I wouldn't have these issues. lol.

Every apple person I've spoken to says my computer should scream. I didn't max out my specs, but I did ask Apple if my machine would edit video like this, and they said, no problem.

Thanks for the advice. I've optimized clips, not optimized, been around so many trees trying to figure it out. I think there's an issue with FCPX and Radeon, but I can't find any info on it. I sometimes edit four angles with an hour long or more.

I'm considering going back and picking up Premiere since I already have it, ugg. (vent over)

Doug Jensen · November 30th, 2020, 10:15 PM

Did I miss the post where you told us what your hard drive set up is? All those specs and not a mention of your drive(s) set up, that I can see.

Pete Cofrancesco · November 30th, 2020, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Davis

Hey Pete,

I do have a newer computer, about two years old. An iMac Pro with 64 gb of memory, a Radeon Pro Vega 64 with 16gb of ram, and my processor is 3.2ghz 8-core Intel Xeon W.

I spent the extra thousand or so just so I wouldn't have these issues. lol.

Every apple person I've spoken to says my computer should scream. I didn't max out my specs, but I did ask Apple if my machine would edit video like this, and they said, no problem.

Thanks for the advice. I've optimized clips, not optimized, been around so many trees trying to figure it out. I think there's an issue with FCPX and Radeon, but I can't find any info on it. I sometimes edit four angles with an hour long or more.

I'm considering going back and picking up Premiere since I already have it, ugg. (vent over)

Now knowing the specs then I'd say yes that computer should edit 4k (as long as it isn't 4:2:2 h265). If it were me and I wanted to save money I would back my stuff up do a fresh install. I would also consult Apple what is the best OS to run. It might be an older pre Catalina is necessary. Then if that didn't fix things I would bring it to an Apple store or reputable certified repair shop. Could be a bad component or something as simple as it's clogged with dust and causing the computer to over heat and throttle.

We would love to find the answer but it's a bit like asking for a medical diagnosis or trouble shooting your car over the phone. You need a hands on test from a professional. So best of luck hope you get it working.

Steven Davis · December 1st, 2020, 06:20 AM

Thanks. Yes, I thought I had posted my specs. I'm using scandisks SSDs, I reached out to Scandisk, ran tests on my drives, they came back with a 900mbs throughput. I've had this same problem no matter what drives I use. Even drives from g-tech. Thank you for reminding me I wasn't clear. I apologiize.

I thought about a fresh install as well. That might be worth a shot.

Brian Drysdale · March 30th, 2022, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donald McPherson

That rules out PC. 4K is still overrated for most people.
Also you never quoted your budget.

A number of NLEs now have Apple ProRes Decode/Encode Certification for use on PCs.

November 13th, 2020, 07:49 PM	#31
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,450	Re: What specs for 4K editing. I've done a lot of troubleshooting for clients and students at workshops and 99.99% of the time their playback problems comes down to drives. Either they are putting video files on their internal OS drive, or else using slow drives connected via USB or something worse. All I'm saying is that lot of people really underestimate the importance of drives. BTW, I have external 4TB SSDs that give me up to 1300MBps via Thunderbolt2 and regular cheap HDDs that average around 400-500, which is still plenty fast enough for simple 4K editing and grading. Getting high speeds is not hard or expensive. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

November 14th, 2020, 10:43 AM	#32
Donald McPherson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Posts: 815	Re: What specs for 4K editing. Makes me glad I opted for a second SDD in my laptop instead of a CD/DVD and bought a cheap USB Blue-ray writer, which I have only used once. __________________ A little knowledge goes a long way but not long enough.

November 14th, 2020, 11:02 AM	#33
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,450	Re: What specs for 4K editing. I hear what you're saying. About 7 years ago I bought a Blu-ray burner thinking that I would need it for authoring Blue-rays. When I moved two years ago to a new house the box still had the shrinkwrap on it, so I just threw it away with a lot of other worthelss electronics. Have never regretted that decision. I did have a strange feeling, though, chucking what was once a $65K Betacam into a dumpster. I just had to remind myself how much it had earned over the years, and now it's value had become reduced to less than zero. Technology marches on. :-) __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

November 30th, 2020, 05:39 PM	#34
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Re: What specs for 4K editing. So I'm at a loss. I have really good specs. I'm on my fifth or sixth Apple FCPX advisor and they can't figure out why my play back is so bad. Here's a sample of what I experience. It doesn't matter if I do proxy, or not. We've tried just about everything Apple can think of. YouTube (Short URL) __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

November 30th, 2020, 08:59 PM	#35
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,005	Re: What specs for 4K editing. Multiclip are very demanding. You need a newer computer to edit 4k. You have a few options: 1. optimize the clips (this will create giant ProRes files), lower the viewer quality to better performance, don't apply any effects, filters, or exposure changes until you finished cutting the video. 2. Sync the videos instead of creating a multiclip. This will give you a timeline with each video on a layer. It's harder to edit this way but you'll be able to playback smoothly. 3. Down res and edit the original video to 1080.

November 30th, 2020, 09:05 PM	#36
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Re: What specs for 4K editing. Hey Pete, I do have a newer computer, about two years old. An iMac Pro with 64 gb of memory, a Radeon Pro Vega 64 with 16gb of ram, and my processor is 3.2ghz 8-core Intel Xeon W. I spent the extra thousand or so just so I wouldn't have these issues. lol. Every apple person I've spoken to says my computer should scream. I didn't max out my specs, but I did ask Apple if my machine would edit video like this, and they said, no problem. Thanks for the advice. I've optimized clips, not optimized, been around so many trees trying to figure it out. I think there's an issue with FCPX and Radeon, but I can't find any info on it. I sometimes edit four angles with an hour long or more. I'm considering going back and picking up Premiere since I already have it, ugg. (vent over) __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

November 30th, 2020, 10:15 PM	#37
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,450	Re: What specs for 4K editing. Did I miss the post where you told us what your hard drive set up is? All those specs and not a mention of your drive(s) set up, that I can see. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

December 1st, 2020, 06:20 AM	#39
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Re: What specs for 4K editing. Thanks. Yes, I thought I had posted my specs. I'm using scandisks SSDs, I reached out to Scandisk, ran tests on my drives, they came back with a 900mbs throughput. I've had this same problem no matter what drives I use. Even drives from g-tech. Thank you for reminding me I wasn't clear. I apologiize. I thought about a fresh install as well. That might be worth a shot. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?