Transcoding 5K with an iMac

[Peter Cote]

I have attached an image with the specs for my iMac. It is the most spec'ed out 2011 iMac you can buy right now. Since you can't use a Red Rocket card on iMac's right now and even if you could I don't have the money for it, could I put a big dent in my transcode times if I put 32 GB of RAM in this current system? Would that even benefit me for transcoding?

Or what exactly is needed to be able to edit 4K/5K without transcode? I would be using Premiere CS5.5

[Paul Ellington]

I have attached an image with the specs for my iMac. It is the most spec'ed out 2011 iMac you can buy right now. Since you can't use a Red Rocket card on iMac's right now and even if you could I don't have the money for it, could I put a big dent in my transcode times if I put 48 GB of RAM in this current system? Would that even benefit me for transcoding?

Or what exactly is needed to be able to edit 4K/5K without transcode?

That's the computer I own which is being eaten by some malware virus.

The new macs aren't as safe as they used to be.

[Peter Cote]

Okay but that doesn't help me. Your computer may be affected by malware but mine is not. Assume my computer is safe, then answer the questions above.

[Paul Ellington]

I have attached an image with the specs for my iMac. It is the most spec'ed out 2011 iMac you can buy right now. Since you can't use a Red Rocket card on iMac's right now and even if you could I don't have the money for it, could I put a big dent in my transcode times if I put 48 GB of RAM in this current system? Would that even benefit me for transcoding?

Or what exactly is needed to be able to edit 4K/5K without transcode? I would be using Premiere CS5.5

I think, but will probaly be corrected, that, you can indeed edit in 4K in Adobe Premiere. Avid probably has this coming as well as Final Cut... Transcode times... It keeps getting better and the answer is, it depends on HDRX vs what kind of compression, vs, straight 5K, 4K, etc... Most people edit in 2K, and maybe finish out to 4.

[Brian Merlen]

I think the answer depends largely on what NLE you are using. Also it depends on footage total, frame rates, hdrx, CG, effects.... There are lots of variables to different sized productions. Even how many tracks you use to cut can make a difference. You can cut Reds on an older system, just need to deal with long encodes/renders. For some people that is not a big deal. There are several thunderbolt pci slots on the horizon as well, you can put in a rocket or a CUDA enabled card that way, using external pci slots. So there is some upgrade potential for the previously self contained Imac with the advent of Thunderbolt.

If you already own the system I would suggest getting some 5k material and trying it out yourself. If you don't already own the system I would suggest waiting until the new Mac Pro is out and then comparing the 2 options (assuming they don't kill off the line like people are worrying about).

you can get 5k files from anyone who took Reducation, or owns and Epic and go see how well it works. I would give you some myself, I had 80GB's of them but I recently had a drive failure on a Raid 0 and lost the material. I know some locals that took the course though and I will eventually get the footage back if I can convince one of them to let me copy paste them and would be happy to share it with people who want to test there systems against 5k Epic material.

[andrewhake]

That's the computer I own which is being eaten by some malware virus.

The new macs aren't as safe as they used to be.

:emote_headwall: Not even going to ask. . .