Blackmagic Forum

This is my first or second time posting in post-prod. I know virtually nothing about computers, hence I'm seeking professional help from you guys.

Here's the deal. My post-production/computer shop here in Montreal is trying to convince me that I need a 4000$ computer to work with the BMCC. OVERKILL???

I'm a narrative filmmaker. I make short films. I shoot Prores and some Raw. I will not be using this computer to EDIT as my main job.

I don't know what to look for in a computer. I don't know what to buy. I was thinking iMac, but they are so expensive + I don't get to upgrade them if the need shows up in the future. Also, alot of folks here on this forum advised me against Mac (for reasons mentioned above)

I need something that will work. I'm not a Hollywood professional. But I like to work FAST. Not SUPER fast. But fast...

What would you guys recommend? What about this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/9 ... sktop.html


PS. I am not building a computer. I want to buy it as it is.

PS2. These guys in MTL are trying to sell me 1 of 2 computers. First is the iMac, the big one. Second is a 2700$ PC tower. IRONICALLY, I was expecting the PC would be cheaper than the MAC. Again, Overkill?


Thanks for your help guys. I'm really just trying to figure this out. I wish I could just clap my fingers and have a computer on my desk ready and working with all the accessories.

As stated in your other thread the top of the range iMac is a good option if you want to run DaVinci Resolve.

Resolve need GPU power. The lower iMacs don't really have the GPU power needed.

If you don't want to use Resolve then a lower iMac would do... Every current shipping Mac, even a Mac mini, can edit ProRes. So it depends on what you want to do with the machine.

You could process you RAW CinemaDNGs in Adobe CameraRAW and After Effects if you like. This does not require a powerful GPU.

You'll want to make sure you have fast external drives for your footage. A RAID would be preferable but you could manage with a fast USB3 drive.

The entry level 21.5" iMac with 16GB of RAM and a fast external drive would happily manage editing footage from the BMCC. The RAW workflow would need to be done with After Effects and CameraRAW. Not that complicated and there are many tutorials out there.

I don't really see any reason why the PC you linked to wouldn't work for editing, although you don't say which editing program you want to use.
As to whether the $2700 machine is overkill it's difficult to say without any system specs or knowing what software you want to use, but I suspect for that price it's going to be a lot higher spec than the iMAC

That computer from B&H is absolutely fine. You may need some harddrives additionally but thats it

What do you guys think of this: http://store.apple.com/ca/product/G0MS5 ... el-core-i7


It's a refurbished iMac. I know it will work. I just don't know if a ''refurbished'' mac is reliable.

Any experience with them?

Hi Max, we publish config guides for Resolve which is ideal for use with the BMCC. The links are listed at the top of the post section.

If you are going to shoot ProRes, Mac can read and write these files, windows read only. If you are going to shoot RAW DNxHD then either system will work.

For simplicity, the top the range iMac with an external Thunderbolt raid array is avoid choice. Details in the guide. The PC option lets you change the GPU card, later, and if you use Resolve a lot you may want to do that but be sure to get enough drives for real time playback. Thus the guides....

Peter

... sorry but hard cold power is needed to do what you ask for .....

waltervolpatto wrote::? ... sorry but hard cold power is needed to do what you ask for .....

hmm... hard cold power to play around with prores? not what I've been told.

Max Normandin wrote:

waltervolpatto wrote::? ... sorry but hard cold power is needed to do what you ask for .....

hmm... hard cold power to play around with prores? not what I've been told.

is never what it seems....

MAC is better if you want to both read/write ProRes, and keep in mind that the UHD (basically 4k-tv) is upon us (matter of months). So, if you want something a bit future proof, you have two choices:

get a less expensive platform, how much storage you need now and re-do all of it in about one year.

or

trow as much money you can to get the state-of-the-art MAC/GPU/RAID combination you can get your hand on it...

waltervolpatto wrote::? ... sorry but hard cold power is needed to do what you ask for .....

This is as solid a piece of advice as one could possibly give; unfortunately, it's the last thing a lot of people want to hear. They forget that just a few years ago, DaVinci was a 6-figure turnkey system completely out of reach to nearly all individuals.

Blackmagic Design has done an incredible job of making it available to the common man/woman, but you still need a solid investment in infrastructure for it to run smoothly.

don't care for 4k

Max Normandin wrote:don't care for 4k

You still need power and a fast drive system for what you're trying to acheive.

If you're here to say ~I can make this work with a 486 if i want to~ probably you can, and you will also accept the consequences of a slow/sluggish/old machine.

Yes you can do it. Like anybody can color. Do it proficiently and economically feasible or do good color is another matter.

Disclaimer, this is just my opinion...

EDIT: just look at how many people post here or in any other forum complaining that they cannot do what they would like to do. Then you dig and the main culprit is an under-performing system. The fact you have a car doe not make it a racing one...

The system you point to (from B&H) will definitely be powerful enough to run the software you need. There is NO storage however. You have an OS disk and a single HD, which won't be fast enough to play back in real-time.

If you bought that machine, I would suggest upgrading the ram beyond 16GB and definitely installing 2 or 3 more 2TB hard drives and making them RAID 0. Then buy a slow, but cheap, external backup to backup your RAID.

So....an extra $4-500 for the upgrades, plus about $350 for your backup.

$2500 and you're good to go.

sean

sean mclennan wrote:The system you point to (from B&H) will definitely be powerful enough to run the software you need. There is NO storage however. You have an OS disk and a single HD, which won't be fast enough to play back in real-time.

If you bought that machine, I would suggest upgrading the ram beyond 16GB and definitely installing 2 or 3 more 2TB hard drives and making them RAID 0. Then buy a slow, but cheap, external backup to backup your RAID.

So....an extra $4-500 for the upgrades, plus about $350 for your backup.

$2500 and you're good to go.

sean

I'm with Sean on this one.

If you can afford it, get (at least) 6x1TB drives and make it a redundant RAID (5? I do not remember), it will be like to have 5TB with protection. Plus get some non RAID HDD for backup/lung storage/in/out etc.

remember, the ProRes you use is equivalent to your original negative: once is gone is gone.

Make also a plan for long term storage of your finished product...

That iMac refurbished looks like a good option. Remember, all Macs in the refurb store are tested more thoroughly than new Macs, and come with the same warranty.

Just so you know the iMac you linked to is a lower spec than the PC you linked to. The iMac has a slightly slower CPU, Slower graphics card, only half the RAM and a lot less hardrive space. Admittedly it the PC doesn't come with a screen, but you could buy a 27inch 2560 screen and the total price would come out around the same as the iMac but for a better spec

Hi Max,

The build linked sounds like it would be suitable for your needs with the addition of fast external storage as others have already suggested.

I'd recommend looking to upgrade the GPU to a 770 4GB version if possible, or to a GTX 780 as well as upgrading the RAM to 32GB (minimum 1600Mhz).

Depending on your workflow specifics, you may or may not see a benefit from choosing a system built around a i7-3930K which is a 6 core processor. The 4770K and 3930K are very close to each other in terms of performance but you would likely see a slight boost in single threaded performance with the 3930K. The 6 core model will run you about an extra $250 and has more headroom to overclock if desired.

Feel free to PM me if you have any hardware specific questions.

sean mclennan wrote:The system you point to (from B&H) will definitely be powerful enough to run the software you need. There is NO storage however. You have an OS disk and a single HD, which won't be fast enough to play back in real-time.

If you bought that machine, I would suggest upgrading the ram beyond 16GB and definitely installing 2 or 3 more 2TB hard drives and making them RAID 0. Then buy a slow, but cheap, external backup to backup your RAID.

So....an extra $4-500 for the upgrades, plus about $350 for your backup.

$2500 and you're good to go.

sean

Just know that you need Windows 7 Professional for anything more than 16GB of Ram.. Windows Home will only recognize 16GB despite how much is actually in there..

Or Windows 8 Standard...

sean mclennan wrote:Or Windows 8 Standard...

Do you use Windows 8? If so what are your thoughts? Worth the upgrade from 7?

Brad Ballew wrote:

sean mclennan wrote:Or Windows 8 Standard...

Do you use Windows 8? If so what are your thoughts? Worth the upgrade from 7?

[/joke]
Just slap Linux.... wait, you need the full license with the panel... nevermind...

waltervolpatto wrote:

Brad Ballew wrote:

sean mclennan wrote:Or Windows 8 Standard...

Do you use Windows 8? If so what are your thoughts? Worth the upgrade from 7?

[/joke]
Just slap Linux.... wait, you need the full license with the panel... nevermind...

Oh how I would love to use Linux!! But Adobe needs to jump on the bandwagon first.. their suite is the only thing holding me back.. and I guess resolve too...

Brad Ballew wrote:
Oh how I would love to use Linux!! But Adobe needs to jump on the bandwagon first.. their suite is the only thing holding me back.. and I guess resolve too...

I know it was a joke, however in Linux your pain will be ProRes workflow....

waltervolpatto wrote:

Brad Ballew wrote:
Oh how I would love to use Linux!! But Adobe needs to jump on the bandwagon first.. their suite is the only thing holding me back.. and I guess resolve too...

I know it was a joke, however in Linux your pain will be ProRes workflow....

Yeah I know.. I was just making a passing comment on the subject since you brought it up.

Maybe one day Linux will be better supported..

Brad Ballew wrote:

waltervolpatto wrote:

Brad Ballew wrote:

[/joke]
Just slap Linux.... wait, you need the full license with the panel... nevermind...

Oh how I would love to use Linux!! But Adobe needs to jump on the bandwagon first.. their suite is the only thing holding me back.. and I guess resolve too...

? resolve runs on Linux...you know that right?

As for Windows 8, no, I haven't upgraded yet. I have too many other upgrades to purchase first. I was just stating that because it accepts 128GB. Windows 8 Pro accepts 512GB

sean mclennan wrote:? resolve runs on Linux...you know that right?

As for Windows 8, no, I haven't upgraded yet. I have too many other upgrades to purchase first. I was just stating that because it accepts 128GB. Windows 8 Pro accepts 512GB

yes, I know... I have two of them....

Resolve likes 16GB RAM or more.. but even 64GB is overkill for us as the heavy lifting in in the GPU.
The new issue is GPU ram. 2GB is now considered the minimum and with 3-4 and even 6GB becoming common you will see these GPUs become more affordable.
BTW, we recommend the Pro version of Win 7 or 8. Not the home version.
Peter