More Speed Please

1018 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Mad Mac, Jul 9, 2007

MMMMMike

Discussion Starter · Jul 7, 2007

I'm a new Mac owner and I'm doing a lot of video work with Final Cut Express.
The video looks great when rendering to h.264 compression through Quicktime Pro, but the rendering time takes a little longer then I'd want it to.
My computer is a Mac Mini 1.42ghz PowerPc with 1 gig of ram and running the latest OS X (I did the upgrade, so I assume it's the latest).

I know it's not a blazing system, but I'd like to get as much out of it when I'm working on another vlog.

I've learned a new OS and about about dozen programs in the last two weeks and I'm just googled right out. So, I'm askin' my new network of Mac friends to share with me their knowledge and experience.

1) What tricks or tips can you offer for me to get my Mini Rockin'? (Not hardware modifications)
2) Are some of these visual treats on the desktop/systems real processing hogs?
3) Is there a way I can setup a "surfing/fartin' around" profile and also a separate profile for "video creation"?
4) Any recommendations for free Final Cut tutorial sites, ideally in video format, but whatever' good.
5) Oh yah, is there a way to see thumbnails of my MP4s in the same manner I can see JPGs in Finder?

Thanks folks,

Mike

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· #2 · Jul 7, 2007

If you can fit it into your bgudget a decent external firewire drive would help you a lot in general speed and response wise. Those small drives in the mini bottleneck a lot.

As for good quality H.264 rendering ... it takes a long time on just about any setup :/ I don't think there's really much else you could do aside from a faster drive that will really help you to tweak out that system for general video stuff.

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MacDoc

· #3 · Jul 8, 2007

You really need to pop $3-400 and get an Intel MM instead.

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SoyMac

· #4 · Jul 8, 2007

Final Cut Express Sites:
http://www.2-popforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=148

http://www.gust.tv/tutorials/finalcutexpress/

Or a book, "Final Cut Express - Editing Workshop :by Tom Wolsky

And although the following is for Final Cut PRO, you will find fantastic resources and tips and video tutorials here:
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html

Welocme to ehMac and Welcome to the wonderful world of Apple! :clap:

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CanadaRAM

· #5 · Jul 8, 2007

MMM -
You are just about at the very bottom end of the power scale of machines that will run FCE. The machine is limited by its maximum 1 Gb RAM, and a slow hard drive. As mentioned, a good external 3.5" Firewire drive will help, otherwise, there's not a hang of a lot more you can do.

The only other marginal thing would be to create a new User to switch to when video editing, and on that user, disable all Dashboard widgets, and any other background programs.

I were you, I would be looking seriously at an iMac 20" intel machine, which at $1699 (plus $130 for 2 Gb of 3rd party RAM) is the best bang for the buck. Sell off the Mini and the screen, and you'll make up part of the price.

A MacPro rig with several internal hard drives would be grand if you have the budget.

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MMMMMike

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 8, 2007

Thank for the links SoyMac, they fit the bill great.

Mike

SoyMac said:
Final Cut Express Sites:
Final Cut Express - 2-Pop Forums

Final Cut Express Tutorial

Or a book, "Final Cut Express - Editing Workshop :by Tom Wolsky

And although the following is for Final Cut PRO, you will find fantastic resources and tips and video tutorials here:
Ken Stone's Final Cut Pro

Welocme to ehMac and Welcome to the wonderful world of Apple! :clap:

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MMMMMike

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 8, 2007

Although it would be great to upgrade to some kickin' system, it is not financially feasible in the near future. There's virtually no money in the coffers.
I will keep an eye open for a firewire enclosure though.

I'll close down those couple widgets I have running.

Thanks,

Mike

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Mad Mac

· #8 · Jul 9, 2007

I've got the same Mini as you. I've been encoding to .264 for my iPod, yes it's painfully slow. I ordered a Elgato turbo hardware encoder to take some of the load off the cpu. When I get it I'll let you know if it works.

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