Recommendation for a new Mac Editing System

It's this rMBP that is showing signs of unsettlement, it's this real "what's coming next" moment.

Are they going to try to become a mobile device only manufacturer, is there a new tower, an iMac pro, a who knows what?

I'm glad I'm in a position to hold out and see.

Yes, Apple has said a new tower in 2013. (sigh)

Retinal MBP, mixed bag. The GPU maxes out running that retina display, leaving almost no processing power left over for FCP X/Motion 5. The non-retinal MBP actually outperforms it a tad. I'd not get the retina for FCP X. I don't care how high the resolution goes, that just means things on an already tiny 15" screen get even smaller. Not to mention everything else that isn't retina display optimized, including web sites will look worse.

But, if you'd a gamer, and that small screen is good for you, rock on!

I'm really surprised Apple didn't put a more powerful GPU on that retina display. Probably to keep cost down.

Just got rid of old Macs in the last couple of years, SE20, MacIIfx, several bondi/performa/imacs, and now getting ready to shed a couple of iBooks.
Just picked up Pixelmator on sale at App Store.
Anyone try using Pixelmator with Motion5?
Have a titling effect I want to try and Pixelmator might provide just the extra tools I need.

BenB,
So down on rMBP. I disagree with your statements. Check out the BareFeats testing I linked above. the fMBP rocks, will keep up with any current MP. Display is very nice, especially in FCPX. Wouldn't mind a Retina 30" screen, will start saving my $$$$$$ now. Apple has done a good job with handling different resolutions, objects do not get smaller unless you change scaled resolutions in system prefs, for larger or smaller text/objects, and you can always ZOOM in.
TB and USB3 offer many fast connections.
I have changed several work habits already. First, I can take this anywhere and have a powerful station, typing this in my rocking chair, not so easy with my MP. Cold boot on rMBP is faster than waking up my MP from sleep. You need to use one before you dis it, chill.

Oh by the way rMBP can run multiple displays just fine. YouTube videos showing up to 4.
As to websites, it is true some sites aren't optimized for retina displays, so shows some fuzz on rMBP, also iPads.... All very readable/viewable. HD downloads, quite-nice. Don't use current Chrome browser, use beta version. Safari and latest FF ok.
Give this a few months, movement already underway by web developers for better pixel > device interface.

Running a number of youtube video's on multiple displays shouldn't be much of a problem, it wasn't long ago the GPU was for nothing other than running the displays, but now with apps also pulling power from the GPU there are further issues.

I'm curious about how well it performs. When you run FCPX does the interface slow down with dual monitors on rMBP? I found that on my iMac it depended how I had the FCPX layout configured as to how smooth it ran.

With the events on the secondary display, shown in film strip view, and the waveform monitor open beside the viewer I found dragging clips on the timeline had a really terrible lag, it still existed if I shut down the waveform monitor, but was kind of workable.

Any chance you could set your rMBP like this and let us know how it differs from running without the secondary monitor?

fcpguru wrote: I know Apple recently helped some large edit facilities install a bunch of fcpx workstations. I believe the machines they put in were 27" iMacs with the upgraded i7 processors, 16gb ram, the 2gb ati graphics card, and thunderbolt Pegasus r6 raid arrays. I have a similar setup at home and LOVE IT.

Hi fcpguru,

Thanks for replying to my post. You mentioned having a similar set-up at home. I checked the Apple Store and they offer the AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB GDDR5, not the ATI Graphics card. Is the ATI a special order?

What kind of projects do you edit?

Are you working with dual monitors?

How many internal Hard drives do you have?

Thanks!

Again, how many multicam angles can you get that retina to run?

Yes, I've seen the barefeats benchmarks, I am quoting them. A 2010 MP beats the 2012 rMBP in many Photoshop tests, Motion test, etc. That MP has a more powerful graphics card. For apps that require GPU processing, if I see a benchmark tell me the rMBP's GPU is getting maxed out to drive the retina display, I question how much power it has left over for GPU intensive apps. I want to see the multicam stream test no one has done yet.

I use Pixelmator and Motion now. Started looking at Shape, but I'm not sure it does anything I can't do in Motion. I do now in Motion more of what I did in Photoshop, too. Yes, it's a great still graphic app, also. Here's some of us discussing it.
fcp.co/forum/4-final-cut-pro-x-fcpx/1105...w-mac-editing-system

Hi Seanus,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Pixelmator.

What will you use Pixelmator for?

What kind of Mac do you use?

Do you have any thoughts on a new Mac Editing System?

Thanks NocoDave.

What kind of projects do you edit?

Are you working with FCP X?

Here is what Rob of BareFeats says about USB3
"INSIGHTS and ANALYSIS
I know there's a lot to consume in the above graphs. To summarize, USB 3.0 is dramatically faster than USB 2.0 and FireWire 800, but not as fast as T-SATA, SATA, and Thunderbolt storage solutions. "

Link to full test... www.barefeats.com/hard154.html

My thoughts on a new system are the first response you got, if you're talking to me.

I use Pixelmator instead of Photoshop. I've given up on Photoshop. I hate Adobe's messed up licensing system which got way messed up between my MP and MBP, and Adobe has, two years later, not fixed it yet. Interface is better, easier to use, cleaner, faster.

Now, I also use Motion for a lot of stuff besides "motion graphics". It's an incredible alternative to Illustrator for doing vector graphics. If you want something more Illustrator like, without spending a ton of cash needlessly, check out Sketch in the App Store. It is to Illustrator what Pixelmator is to Photoshop.

For photo retouching, I use Aperture, fantastic, great quality tools. For drawing, Motion and Pixelmator, just starting to explore Sketch.

I haven't touched PS in probably a year, and do NOT miss it one bit.

Ben

I saw your first post, thanks again.

Can Pixelmator also be used for comic book inking and coloring?

Thanks NocoDave.

What kind of projects do you edit?

Are you working with FCP X?

I'm working in FCPX right enough, most of what I do is 1-3minute edits, but sometimes shorter and rarely longer. These tend to be either straight editing/colour work or effects heavy edits, one extreme or the other.

Another alternative (open source) app for vector graphics is "Inkscape". It's been a good few years since I looked at it, but I used to run it on Linux and kind of liked it, it was ok.

If you did it in Photoshop, you can do it in Pixelmator. But there are apps specifically designed for comic creation if that's your main focus. What are you using now? But Pixelmator is SWEET!

Ever look at Manga Studio?
manga.smithmicro.com/

Ben,

I'm currently not using a program for comic book production. I will look into Manga Studio.

Can Pixelmator be used for illustrating Childrens' books?

Here is a interesting test between Gimp, Photoshop and Pixelmator.

It is good read guys.

What exactly are you using now?
You can you anything for graphics, I guess. I don't do comic books so I don't know what that entails.

pixelmator deosnt integrate as well with wacom tablet as photoshop but inking of comics very easy as all the layer modes etc are same as photoshop

if you need paint tool then there are more than just painter or photoshop, i even found a very nice opensource one for ubuntu a little while ago

look on the macapp store

if you want to try pixelmator they have a demo on their site

pixelmator cannot do paths properly if this is important to your illustration style or masking techniques

Motion will take care of all of that. It's not just for animated graphics, it's simply a killer vector graphic app. There's also Sketch, but no sure about tablet support. And again, Manga Studio.