schulm04 0 #1 May 21, 2009 I just started using FCE. The tools i have are a Mac Mini with 1G memory, 80G harddrive, 2Ghz processor, and a 500G external HD 7500rpm. Once i get a fair amount of HD video put together and start adding layers etc, the computer starts slowing way down and sometimes just quits the program. How can i improve the performance of my setup? I originally just got the mini for music and web surfing. Then i started skydiving:) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #2 May 21, 2009 Why are you shooting in HD? Why not edit in SD? Even with a new core i7 PC that makes a hell of a performance difference. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdazel 0 #3 May 21, 2009 SD output quality from HD can be better than SD output from SD. At least that's what I've read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PharmerPhil 0 #4 May 21, 2009 In my opinion, 1G RAM is about as minimal as it gets for anything, much less for editing HD video. Keep in mind that that RAM is also handling all your system tasks. Also, I believe some of the Mini's, and some of the basic MacBooks (not the Pros) use some sort of an Intel integrated video processor so that the video doesn't even have it's own RAM, but has to access/share the system RAM. I'm not 100 percent sure about this (and don't have time to research it), but it is worth looking in to. That would make the RAM issues even worse. Other questions I would ask. What is your HD source (i.e. HDV, AVCHD, etc.). Is your hard drive on a Firewire buss or USB? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnskydiver688 0 #5 May 21, 2009 Yes the Mac mini's and MacBooks use an integrated graphics card. It is an Intel card that can access up to 144MB of system memory. I guess since you are using FCE it has the ability to function with those computer specs, but I run into problems with my MacBook and that has 4GB of Ram and a 2.4 Ghz processor. That is with Premiere Pro though. Personally I wouldn't try to use a Mac mini for editing. My preferred use for a mini would be a multi media center that is hooked up to an HD TV and is only used for viewing videos and listening to music. Pair with a wireless keyboard and mouse and you have a cool home theatre setup. Sorry getting off track. Anyway, good luck getting that setup to work for editing. Sky Canyon Wingsuiters Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #6 May 21, 2009 QuoteSD output quality from HD can be better than SD output from SD. At least that's what I've read. If you shoot tape (HC5 etc), shoot HD and edit in SD, if you shoot memory card (CX series), just shoot HQ mpg, not AVCHD, if speed is important and/or you have a low-spec editing system. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
schulm04 0 #7 May 22, 2009 I was shooting in HD b/c i wanted a HD end product, but i didn't know how much power i needed to edit it. You're saying i can edit in SD then convert it back to HD for the end product? You'll have to excuse my lack of knowledge in the area. I appreciate all feedback sans mocking and sarcasm :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #8 May 22, 2009 If you need a HD end product you need to shoot and edit in HD, but why do you need a HD end product? You want to play the vid on a blu-ray player? If you want to edit HDV, get a high-end new pc/mac ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #9 May 22, 2009 Since you're working on a Mac, it's not easy to online SD and offline HD. And like others have said...you don't have the necessary horsepower to manage this process. You bought a Yugo for listening to music and puttering around with email, but you're wanting it to drive like a Humvee... won't happen. HD is like a tractor/trailer. The camera is the trailer, and you can get it as big, sweet, beautiful as you can afford. But without a truck to haul it around (the computer) you got nothing but a block of metal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
schulm04 0 #10 May 22, 2009 Well put guys. Thanks for all your help. I will soon have the necessary "tractor", but until then its SD for me. I saw that you could post movies in HD on youtube and facebook, but only 1G max. Which in 1920x1080 was like 1.75 min! Unless your watching it on an HD monitor it really doesn't matter anyway. You can use a regular DVD burner and it will code in HD and will be read that way on a Blue Ray correct? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdazel 0 #11 May 22, 2009 QuoteQuoteSD output quality from HD can be better than SD output from SD. At least that's what I've read. If you shoot tape (HC5 etc), shoot HD and edit in SD, if you shoot memory card (CX series), just shoot HQ mpg, not AVCHD, if speed is important and/or you have a low-spec editing system. Of course there's always a give and take between performance/speed and quality. I'm simply offering a reason why one would want to shoot in HD even when outputing in SD. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #12 May 22, 2009 A-quality is higher at 1920 vs SD no matter what monitor you're viewing on, although the tendency for HD to be sharper occasionally causes twitter to be an issue on an SD monitor. B-YouTube/Vimeo/Google don't accept 1920 (rather, they can't reproduce it). 1280 x 720 is best. C-No matter what, you don't have a good encoder for either HD on DVD nor for the web in the NLE/compression toolset you have. My advice; render 1280 x 720 in an MP4 container and forget about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
schulm04 0 #13 May 22, 2009 Thanks. Can i create in imovie (way easier for me right now) in SD, export to FCE to add the cool effects/transitions that imovie lacks, and finish as MP4? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
schulm04 0 #14 May 22, 2009 SD 640x480 MP4 should be my final product for posting to YouTube etc given the tools i have, correct? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
