M2 iPad Pro

M2 iPad Pro 12.9’’ 8gb ram.

I’m making the switch to DR from FCPX and i bought the studio version for the Mac, and also the iPad license. I was very happy with it until i started using relight. I used the recommended 3 node approach, and every action feels like walking on a vat of molasses. I’m working with a 15 minutes, 720p footage on a 1080p timeline.


Even without using relight, doing just a few color adjustments, the export time is over 12hrs. I’ve deleted and then reinstalled the app, reseted the iPad, used it only while connected directly to an outlet…. Don’t know what to do.

My Mac mini lives in the studio, and i need to use my iPad to work while I’m at home.

[Peter Chamberlain]

Leaving the relight discussion for a moment, normal timeline replay and render should be much faster.
So a lot more details are needed, source clip res, frame rate, codec type? Timeline res, frame rate?
Is media internal or usb-c connected flash drive?

Leaving the relight discussion for a moment, normal timeline replay and render should be much faster.
So a lot more details are needed, source clip res, frame rate, codec type? Timeline res, frame rate?
Is media internal or usb-c connected flash drive?

Thank you for replying. Here are the details you’ve requested:

File
-Media is internal.
-Frame rate: 30fps
-720P resolution
-Codec: Proress

Timeline
-Frame rate: 30fps
-1080p resolution

The 8GB RAM might also be an issue - 16 is recommended for best performance on an iPad. Still won’t be stellar for some effects, even at 720p.

I have an iPad 12.9 M2 with 1T drive and 16G RAM it is as fast as my M1 Studio Max with 32G RAM exporting the same project to an external FAT32 SSD drive. Source is UHD from GH5S and GH6 in a 1080P project. It may well be the fact you only have 8G RAM and likely a smaller drive too.

Awesome that you get that sort of performance from your iPad, Ron. That’s very cool. Cheers

Project was straight forward multicam simple colour balance and fusion titles so not difficult. All source material was on the external SSD in both cases as that is how I edit from SSD so that I can go between Studio Max, iPad and the PC. Fusion titles are much faster on the PC for instance but only the iPad and Studio Max can decode quickly the h264 and h265 source files so editing is easier on them than the PC. Tend to finally render on PC as I do the rest of DVD and Bluray etc on the PC anyway. Even get final h264 or h265 from TMPGenc MW7 on PC as there is more control over bit rates and audio. Nice having all three for the strengths.

I'm afraid it's the 8 GB of RAM. If it doesn't suffice, the machine will swap out to the SSD, and even if SSDs are pretty fast, they are much slower than RAM.
I have also tested an iPad with 16 GB for my wife, and it worked quite well, but in the end she decided for a MBP. AFAIK, BM has clearly stated you need 16.

Thanks for all the detailed information! I’ll have to buy a mbp pro then.