Render Speed Test Results

I put together a short test project that I'd consider a simple :30 second spot. The footage was all ProRes 422 1080p 23.98.

In addition to 3 different video clips (some of which I used more than once) I created a disclaimer title with an FCP X title clip which I had created in Motion. I also had two clips of text generated with NewBlueFX Titler Pro (Which I recommend taking a look at. I generally prefer it to the FCP X titler or going out to Motion). I also had three clips that had the excellent Tokyo Split Animator added for a three way split. Another clip had an edited version of the BG PIPe Dream effect. Finally, all clips had some form of color correction and FCP X looks filters added (all different). Before each render I deleted all project and event render files. Background rendering was turned off so I could manually start the render to get an accurate time. Also this was with all material on a single FW800 external drive. Blackmagic Disk Speed Test showed read/write speeds of about 47MB/sec. I normally use a Promise Pegasus with 450+MB/sec. read/write.

Results:

10.0.5 Test A: full project from the timeline rendered in 1:43.2
10.0.5 Test B: full project converted to a compound clip with Broadcast Safe Luma and Chroma effect added to the video and a compressor effect added to the audio. This rendered in: 2:04.7
I did not export this project

10.0.6 Test A (same project as above): 43.6 seconds
10.0.6 Test B (same project as above): 44.7 seconds
I also exported the rendered compound clip to my desktop set to open in QT7: 22.5 seconds

IMHO the increase in performance alone would have been enough to make this upgrade incredible.

This is on a 3.4 GHz Core i7 iMac with 16 GB RAM and OS 10.7.5

Thanks Anickt. This is really useful information. If you have a chance, it would be great to see how your test project renders on 10.8.2. I'm still on 10.7.5 because of other apps, but I've heard a lot of good things about the speed improvements in Mountain Lion as well.

Have you experienced any change in the sometimes long delay starting playing in timeline? Now in 10.0.5 i have 8 minutes film in my project that takes 3 to 4 sec to start play every time. I can put the same clip on an empty timeline and it starts immediately and so it does in the event browser.

Is it possible there is a gap clip at the beginning of the project causing that delay? Try to zoom in at the beginning of the timeline to ensure your clip is the very first thing there.

I'm going to stay on 10.7.5 for now. If I update I'll post my findings. Thanks

I use a Blackmagic Ultrastudio 3D. I have a consistent 1 second delay when hitting the spacebar for playback. It doesn't bother me.