PC versus Mac in Video Editing.

[Nebben]

I'm looking for comparisons and opinions about different aspects of PCs and Macs for video editing.

Avid versus Final Cut, Hardware performance (which is faster, by how much), stability, etc.

It's for my brother. His current PC caused the FireWire port on his camera to be damaged, this is a rare but known phenomenon that there isn't really a cure for right now. So he's a little afraid to use a PC again, I'm guessing.

But what's his best bet? An Intel PC, an AMD dual-core PC, an insanely expensive overpriced Apple computer?

The one big thing he has going for the Apple side is Final Cut. He prefers it to Avid by far.

 

[remagavon]

Software IMO offsets the performance disparity

 

[thirdlegstump]

It really depends on what kind of Avid system you're working on. If you're talking about the real deal (think $20,000 and up on higher end x86 hardware) then the Avid is going to be far more professional in terms of features and media handling capabilities (uncompressed high res content) For sub $10,000 DV Stream video studio, you absolutely can't beat Final Cut Pro on a G5. But really, if your brother likes Final Cut, there's really no contest but you gotta get it set up right with the right version of Quicktime, the right video drivers, right OS X version etc. When it's all in harmony, it's as solid as rock. When not..well then it can start to suck bad with unexpected crashes and other oddities.

 

[GamerExpress]

Wow, I prefer Avid over Final Cut anyday, I guess to each his own.

 

[Novercalis]

video editor.. it really depending on what the usage is for.
just typical fun video editing or does he intent to enter the industry as a editor?

Currently I asked those question myself since I moved out here to Los Angeles.
For the most part, most studios are on the FInal Cut Pro.
Wether you like Final Cut or not, you need to know how to use it.

But there isnt to say there are those out there in Avid as well.

MY OPINION.. I wanted to go Final Cut Pro route, meaning getting a Mac G5 custom to my needs which prolly ended 5-6k.
however, since the Mac decided to go INTEL.. think future.
3 years down the road, Mac is in a Intel based thus puts the Stuiods in the position to use BOTH avid and final Cut.
Also, through benchmarks results 3 years down, who isnt to say Avid can once again be the #1 editing tool again and the standard.

So, im going Avid personally ause 3 yrs down, the OSX will be hacked and non Apple comp with the intel chip will be running thier OSX on regular computer. Thus I will be able to get Final Cut running in a normal Computer with the hacked version.

So, like I said before.. it depends whats your usage for the video editing purpose?
Student to the game to enter the film industry?
If so, WHEN realisitically your gonna be jumping into the Industry with experience? this should answer your quesiton.


oh btw, no matter, final cut and avid will always gonna be mixxed with adobe after effects.
So do learn adobe AE when video editing on a Mac or PC.