Video Editing issues

eeloe

I thought my iMac would be up for a bit of video editing, but it appears not.

Using FCP and 4k and 2.7k files that are being recorded from a DJI drone, and when i'm pulling the videos in to FCP, they are barely playing, jittering and dropping frames all the time and looks terrible.

Specs are

3.06 GHz Intel Core i3
8GB 1333 MHz DDR3
ATI Radeon HD 4670 256mb

Anyone have an idea of what i could do to possibly beef this machine up to do some basic editing?

kavanada

I think at 4 and 2.7k, those system specs will struggle to edit and render the detail in the files, to be honest.

The i3 is pretty old now. I've an i7, 3.4GHz, 16Gb RAM DDR4 and Nvidia graphics card. It works ok with AVCHD stuff, fine with MP4 files.

Most latest editing suites would require higher spec than what's in your Mac, unfortunately.

That graphics card you have would struggle.

Shame.

Maybe try dropping your drone footage down to 1920x1080, 30fps?

Unless your tv, computer monitor or friends tv's are 4K, the benefit of 4K photography won't show up.

eeloe

Thanks for the reply.

It was only after i posted this that i actually stuck me what a silly question it was. 256mb graphics.

Think it's time to save up for a new machine!

kavanada

No probs.

Yeah, 256mb isn't much nowadays. Especially for 4K editing.

The computer I bought just last year is already discontinued from the place I got it. Designed obsolescence!

BreadnBuddha

Before you go all out, are you creating proxy media in FCPX?

I've no issues working with 4K from a DJI P3 Pro, on my 2015 Macbook 12, as long as I create proxy media for editing.

See here:

https://9to5mac.com/2016/07/08/how-to-edit-4k-video-final-cut-pro-12-inch-macbook-proxy-media/

If I try working with the native 4k files when editing, it's impossible, flat out impossible to do. I can't move smoothly through the timeline, it drops out lots of frames etc.

Worth a try. If you're patient and optimise your workflow appropriately, it's amazing what an older Mac will do for you, even with low end specs.

kavanada

@ breadnbuddha:- fair enough, I can see how that might work. It wouldn't be for me!
Looks like a lot of hassle compared to just import>drop>chop&change on the timeline>upload to YouTube or whatever.

@OP:- Have you scope to clean up your Mac a bit? Also, do you know what you'll be watching the 4K vids on?

Many tv's etc are still not 4K. I'm not sure about your Mac's screen spec.

eeloe

The only reason i want to work with these videos is, they are the first one i shot on the Mavic Pro when it arrived, and it was automatically set to 4k out of the box, which was a bit of a pain.

I'm going to drop the quality down to 1080p and see where i go from there.

I think it's time to splash out tho, and get a new 27inch 5k, when this mac hasn't missed a beat in all the years i've owned it i never felt the need to upgrade, until now.

I will check out the proxy tip as mentioned above!

ZENER

Which model iMac do you have ? If it has Thunderbolt then perhaps you could use an external GPU ?

That said, the 5K iMac is a beautiful machine and well able for 4K video. Fitting an SSD is a pain though

Ken

eeloe

I have a mid 2010 21.5inch model with the above specs.

an external GPU is a pretty expensive upgrade, i think i'd rather put that money towards and new machine altogether.

This poor machine i have owes me NOTHING....6 years of heavy daily use and it's never missed a beat, i can rest safe in the knowledge i'll get similar use out of the new machine!