best Settings / Setup for M1 mac

Hey,

I'm using a M1 mac and I'm interested in best practices for this type of machine.

How did you setup Resolve Studio? What settings are relevant on running smooth?

I'm new to Resolve and figured that my CPU is barely used and my GPU fully used. I guess my CPU is faster in total... but could not find any settings.

Which kind of media are you using? What's your timeline resolution?

Hi

It all come down to what kind of footage you use compres/uncompres !

And don't expect too much. While these Macs are excellent at their power/performance ratio, they are still entry-level machines. The GPU is pretty limited.
Great for some work on the road, but not enough if you don't have a desktop at home.

Hey,

yes, I'm aware that an actual m1 machine is an entry device. I'm wondering that my machine is chilling except from my cpu.
I'm forced to h264 mkv oder mp4 files right now. I'tried to got to h265 wich worked much better but it's a pain to convert every single file. Is there a way to make it easy for resolve? like a comand to convert a batch into a editing friendly format?

Hey,

thanks so far. I'm aware that my M1 is not an permanent solution.

I'm using h246 mp4 or mkv media. I tried so far to convert it into h265 wich help due the fact of cpu decodeing support in the M1.
Is there a simple way to convert it into DNx or so in a simple way? I found out that ffmpeg can convert to ProRes422, would the be a good idea?

thx

Shutter Encoder is easier to use if you are not familiar with command line control and based on ffmpeg.

So the M1 does hardware decode H265 but not H264? That would be super strange.

I'd try (maybe even lossless) H264 all intra (-g 1 in ffmpeg) as editing format if supports that in hardware.

I can't reproduce your problems here.
Our humble MB Air M1 is playing back H.264 with 60 fps in an UHD timeline in any container, be it mov, mp4 or mkv. So, obviously, it's doing H.264 in hardware for sure.

Cineform doesn't cut it on the Mac, it's only getting to around 44 fps and even ProRes 422 HQ is struggling a bit, but getting close to 60 fps.

I didn't test I-frame only, but with 12 or even 14 for CQ in Handbrake, would there really be a difference?

I can't reproduce your problems here.
Our humble MB Air M1 is playing back H.264 with 60 fps in an UHD timeline in any container, be it mov, mp4 or mkv. So, obviously, it's doing H.264 in hardware for sure.

Cineform doesn't cut it on the Mac, it's only getting to around 44 fps and even ProRes 422 HQ is struggling a bit, but getting close to 60 fps.

I didn't test I-frame only, but with 12 or even 14 for CQ in Handbrake, would there really be a difference?

Not in quality, but somewhat in timeline scrubbing performance. Through I find -g4 usually more than instant enough.

Right, shorter GOPs or I-frame only are a bit more responsive.
Oh, and H.265 works too, both in 8 or 10 bit. But I tested 420 only.

So, I'd recommend to use the originals, you don't gain anything by transcoding or re-wrapping. And then, my tests were just playback. Any demanding effects and the poor thing would grind to a halt, given its meagre GPU. Just good enough for editing and some basic grades on the road.