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Apple Updates Professional Video Lineup
BlueGecko writes "Amid surprisingly little fanfare, Apple today updated their entire professional video lineup, including DVD Studio Pro 2 (including a greatly improved menu editor and improved compression abilities), Final Cut Pro 4 (enhanced real-time editing, more customizable workflow, and an improved titling interface), and Shake 3--the first version of Shake to be Mac OS X-only and now sporting enhanced rotoscoping tools and the ability to work directly with Photoshop layers. Combine this with Logic and you've got an entire professional movie studio on your Mac."
Only Windows 2000/XP support has been dropped.
News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters? Like hell.
I know you're just joking, but you probably shouldn't knock to hard on iMovie. For a free video editor (how free is it when you pay $3000 for the machine? SHUT UP U!) it is suprisingly powerful. It handles a fair number of video effects, as well as a fairly powerful yet mind-numbingly easy to use Title Generator. It also sports a variety of transitions. But most importantly it is easy to use and can produce some really nice results without forking over thousands for software. Of course, you could knock on it for being some lame peice of shit with only one video track and two audio tracks, as well as its inability to slow down audio without horrible "shutter-voice," but let's just look at the competition. The most recent release of Windows movie maker finally added Transitions to its tool-box. Nuf sed.
Of course, real men edit movies using text editors under the command console!
YOU SUCK BALLS!
Yeah it should also be noted that there is no longer a version of logic available for PC thanks to Apple buying out the company.
Basically that means that lots of home studio people who can't afford proprietary MAC hardware are out of luck if they want to get any updates for logic audio.
It seems apple's strategy might be to FORCE us to switch... Sounds almost like something MS would do.
GoatPigSheep, the 3 most important food groups
Why, you could buy a kickin' Mac with that price difference!
:-)
Go on, tell me Apple isn't a hardware company. Someone tell me that Apple is destined to release Mac OS X for beige x86 boxes!
Thatr may be true of FCP2 and FCP3, but did you even read the list of what's included with FCP4?
I didn't think so, Mr. Lost-My-Train-Of-Thought-While-Rambling-Barely-Co
if you can get a machine that is anything better than a barebones for 600$ AND slap a windows xp license on it, with a monitor, sound and firewire (gonna need that for a camera, eh?) i would love to buy one. i have an ibook i paid 999$ for last month that is half decent for video (at least capable at some speed) and i do not have to suck satan's pecker to use it.
macs are not 3000$ unless you factor a studio dislay and the finest model, with overpriced memory and hard disk upgrades. the dual 1.xx ghz is 2700$ and that is over 16 gigaflops of pure danger. their are zero intel systems you can buy on the desktop market. alienware, dell and micron will not build you a machine compareable and they will charge just as much for their top end desktop.
you can't knock apple on the price. you are standing with a pabst in your hand telling the world they are fools for drinking guinness, which is like sex in a can.
It will be interesting to see how well Digital Performer 4 works with Final Cut Pro 4. If those two could be work together well, things would be grand!
It's either on the beat or off the beat, it's that easy.
I moderate therefore I rule!
--
The people this stuff is aimed at are ones who aren't computer geeks. They want to use the stuff to make video, not hack around with computers.
You can get a Mac and the software, plug it in, install the programs, and be making video in two hours. Try that with OSS.
Intelligent minds aren't opposed to spending money if the result is making them more productive. If the goal is to be a computer geek, use Linux and open source software. If the goal is to make serious video, then even $10K for a set of tools tou can plug in and run right away with no hacking needed is well worth it.
Disinfect the GNU General Public Virus!
I've called up Apple when something like this happened to me. If you talk to the right people and have a serious issue, they'll frequently do something about your problem.
Now, I'm not sure that 'I bought this software that will work fine for me just before it was upgraded and I want the new version for free' is a serious issue. After all, what exactly is it about the new versions that you *have* to have, and why did you buy the old versions if they wouldn't do what you needed them to?
-fred
Sign #11 of Slashdot overdose: You see the phrase 'moderate Republican' and you wonder if that would be a +1 or a -1.
And to top that comment off, I find that it's physically easier to use the Mac versions of these key commands. With the Windows version, I find that I have to use my pinky to hit the control key and then awkwardly peck at the right key with my forefinger since the keys are separated by a longer distance. With the Apple+key combo, it's a more natural fit to how your fingers want to land on the keyboard.
As usual, Apple gets it right... Windows tries and fucks it up.
You do realise that practically nowhere offers gigabit ethernet plugin at the wall, not even at work? It's mostly for wiring up server farms etc. I seriously doubt your computer can consistantly give a gigabit of throughput anyway - this is like when they bumped the ram up to DDR, who cares that the CPU couldn't actually use it, it made the specs look better!
Uh, no it doesn't. You forgot things like:
Application/games compatability:
Dell: virtually everything,
Apple: almost nothing (statistically speaking)
Choice of hardware:
Dell: everything
Apple: little
Isn't a dramatic difference? What rock have you been living under for the past few months? The P4 smokes the G4, and given that MacOS is notoriously inefficient with CPU cycles, it puts the Dell even further ahead. Comparing a decidedly middle of the road Intel processor with the high-end Mac CPU is hardly fair is it?
This is just so classic product psychology - desperately attempting to justify the purchase of a product by fiddling with numbers and product comparisons. If you like it, that's cool - you don't need to justify that to anybody. If you're having doubts, then posting ridiculously biased comparisons isn't going to help.
I'm sorry but you are just wrong. You obviously haven't done your research. You are off on so many counts that you should be embarrased.
"Processor:
Apple - 1 Ghz G4
Dell - 2 Ghz P4
Winner = debatable but I'll give it to Dell"
Bzzzzt! You're joking right? Debatable? No, it is not in any way debatable. A 2Ghz P4 smokes a 1Ghz G4. You are two years behind the times if you still buy into the myth propagated by Apple that Mhz don't matter.
"Wired Networking:
Apple - 10/100/1000
Dell - 10/100
Winner: Apple"
If you are one of a minority of people who need this, then you can also get it with a pcmcia card for the Dell. Yes, Apple here, but this is hardly a primary concern.
"Wireless Networking:
Apple - builtin card and antennas
Dell - PC card can be added for extra
Winner: Apple"
Bzzzzt! If you choose to configure the Dell yourself an internal wireless card/antenna can be included.
"Graphics Card:
Apple - 64 MB Nvidia GeForce 4 440 Go
Dell - 64 MB Nvidia Geforce 4 4200
About the same performance = tie"
Bzzzzt! The 440 Go doesn't support programmable pixel shaders - that is a major issue.
"Screen:
Apple - 17 in. widescreen
Dell - 15.4 in widescreen
Winner: Apple"
Bzzzzt! We aren't comparing desktops here - we are comparing latops. Either Apple loses here or Apple loses in dimensions/weight.
"Battery: Apple claims 4 hours, Dell claims 3
Winner: Performance is probably close but Apple might have a marginal lead"
Bzzzzt! The Dell has a free expansion port for a second battery (identical to the first). It in fact does double battery time.
"Warranty: both one year = tie"
Bzzzzt! For a small amount if you choose to configure your Dell you can get a 3 year warranty that provides on site service and will optionally cover even ACCIDENTAL damage INCLUDING to the SCREEN.
"Thickness and weight:
Apple - 1 in. 6.8 lbs.
Dell: 1.52 in. 6.9 lbs
Winner: Apple"
Bzzzzt! Again, either Apple loses here or Apple loses in the screen department.
You are either lying through your teeth or you are absolutely ignorant. Your claims are laughable.
You have been DEBUNKED.
Nice.
CXFS is some seriously nice tech, but it is Very Very Very expensive. So unless you have a lot of money on hand don't even think about it. If you do have a lot of cash, CXFS is one of the best ways to spend it.
RAM: Apple and Dell both 512 MB, tie
You didn't mention what type of memory it is. If the Dell had DDR and the Apple had SD 133 I'm pretty sure they advantage goes to dell.
Software:
Apple - Mac OS X, iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, Image Capture, iCal, iChat, Mail, IE 5,
Dell - Windows XP Pro, Dell Jukebox Premium, Dell Picture Studio, Dell Movie Studio Essentials, Outlook Express, IE 6
Winner: most definitely Apple
For most desktop users only the IE and iTunes/Jukebox would be used very much. IE 5 is nothing to brag about and neither is Safari so far. As for Ichat, The dell likly has or can download MSN/ICQ. And both of those would find a greater chance of having friends on that system than Ichat.
Graphics Card:
Apple - 64 MB Nvidia GeForce 4 440 Go
Dell - 64 MB Nvidia Geforce 4 4200
About the same performance = tie
I hope this is a typo, else your going to start claiming that your G3 will out perform A P4 3gzh.
Price:
Apple - $3299
Dell - $2640
Winner: Dell
In summary, while the PC is a little bit cheaper and the processor a little faster, in virtually every other area the Mac comes out ahead. With a Mac, you get what you pay for. Sure the processor may be a little bit slower, but it isn't a dramatic difference and the overall value of the product is just as good as a PC.
A bit cheaper? With 600$ you could buy another computer, or upgrade that version of the dell. For 600 hundred dollars you could make that dell come out ahead in non-virtually every other area. As for Value, Value is defined as
Value:An amount, as of goods, services, or money, considered to be a fair and suitable equivalent for something else; a fair price or return.
now if it's just as good as you say, how is it also good value at 25% greater cost than the PC? If it was 25% better over all, then they would be equivilent values, but the only real edge the Mac has is in some of it's software and few bits of the hardware it offers.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
Choice of hardware:
/. for karma you can buy one and connect it to the usb port. The Apple keyborad has two usb ports on the side to allow you to do this without using up an extra usb port on the back.
Dell: everything
Apple: little
Err, what are you saying here? That I can't go out and buy a hard drive and hook it up to my Mac? I can - an IDE one that would also (last time I looked) work with a PC too.
Anything with a USB connector - works on both Mac and PC
Anything with a firewire (1394/iLink) connector - works with Mac out of the box, might need firewire card on a PC, but will work.
Anything that conforms to memory standards (DDR, PC133 etc, depending on motherboard) - will work on both PC and Mac - I have swapped PC133 modules from my PC over to the Mac since I don't use the PC any more.
I can take the IDE-equipped drive (HD, CDRW, DVD etc) drive out of my PC and connect it in my Mac and it will work.
Hell, I can even use floppies if I buy a usb equipped floppy drive (I'll admit that the Mac lacks an internal floppy connector, but big deal!)
Monitors - anything with a VGA connector will attach to a Mac or a PC with a VGA port. Anything with a DVI port will connect to a DVI-equipped Mac or PC (you might need an adapter if the Mac has an ADC port instead of a DVI port)
Again, I have used my 17" Sony Trinitron with both my PC and my Mac with no special connectors needed.
Mice - any usb mouse will work on the Mac, so if you reallyreallyreally want two buttons on your mouse, rather than bitching about it on
Printers, Scanners - ok, some don't work, but most do now. Nearly all Canon, Epson, HP and Lexmark printers work, along with a host of others. Also, no drivers need to be installed, they're already there (but you can delete them if you need the space).
Gee, I'm running out of common hardware to compare.
I bought a 2.5" laptop hard drive the other day - a 40Gb IBM Travelstar 40GNX. A bog standard 2.5" IDE laptop hard drive, bought from a PC-centric online store. I installed it in my iBook and put OS X 10.2.4 on it and I now have 20Gb more space than I did last week.
The old 20Gb drive that I took out is in an external firewire enclosure - guess what, I connect it to my PC and use it to keep large files I need backed up for short periods.
Pray tell, where does this "almost none" come from in my choice of hardware for the Mac?
Oh, I see! Processors! You have a choice of Intel or AMD (and minor others). We have a choice of Apple (Motorola/IBM, depending on G3/G4), and we only have one motherboard manufacturer.
Well, to be honest, that doesn't bother me all that much.
Doing music on Windows ... it's like asking to be hit in the mouth repeatedly by Bill Gates while you're singing. In my studio, we have about one crash per year that interrupts a take, and that's just an application crash. We haven't had a system crash in two years. You can't get that stability day-in day-out from MS Windows while moving dozens of audio, MIDI, and video tracks around. You are better off with a Fostex 4-track. Truly.
... in my studio there are at least 50 devices hooked into a central Power Mac G4 that does not crash.)
... I was really pissed ... I got a Mac ... hey this fucking thing actually WORKS! ... holy shit this fucking thing actually WORKS! ... man, I am glad I'm using Mac OS X ... Logic is better than ever ... my tracks are always in sync, the audio always works, I don't get interrupted by crashes or error messages all day."
... close your eyes to the Microsoft bubble for a second and look at what's going on in the studios. Lots of us tried Windows out at some point in the last five years and then we went running and screaming back to the Mac and the new Mac OS X platform that was BUILT FOR US.
I have a friend who bought a PC last year and a copy of Logic Audio and it took him three months to admit he couldn't get the system to work. (Stress "system"
There simply is no reason to do music on Windows except for "well, uhh, I already had this PC" or "I can also play games on the PC" or the mind-numbing "the PC is cheaper (if I completely ignore productivity, downtime, tech support, and all the missing or lower-quality tools)".
I have talked to a lot of formerly-Windows-based fellow Logic users since the discontinuation of the Windows version, and it invariably goes like this: "I was pissed
Just purely from a technical perspective, dropping Windows works. To me, you have to criticize Microsoft for simply NOT BUILDING IT. They said they would, and then they didn't. There is nothing in MS Windows to compare to QuickTime, CoreAudio, and CoreMIDI. It's just not there and Emagic would have to build it for Microsoft. It took them much, much more engineers to do the Windows version, and 65% of their users (almost all of their pro users) were on the Mac. Where is Microsoft's answer to Mac OS X for content creators? It's not there. They're after servers and game consoles and PDA's and whatnot now, but they have not done the work for our market. MS Windows is not a suitable platform for Logic 6. If you use a Logic 6 system running on Mac OS X you'll see what I'm talking about. It's not controversial; it's not rocket science
When an article is posted on a PRO
PRO
P r o f e s s i o n a l
PROFESSIONAL audio/video tech, could you guys who are still running Linux on a 286 give us all a break? These are cheap, cheap, cheap everyday tools by every measurable standard in our industry, and they are top-quality and they actually work, and they work for a living. They pay for themselves very quickly.
I hardly ever rent out studio time anymore because my demo studio just got better and better until it turned into a project studio, primarily thanks to Apple and a handful of other brilliant companies in the pro audio market. We used to have to go to hundreds of dollars an hour to get the quality and utility I get now from two Macs and maybe $10,000 to $15,000 in additional instruments/hardware/software that I can even admin and run myself (I'm a singer for chrissakes), and we don't count the studio hours anymore except to say that it's Wednesday so we might want to take a break and sleep a bit.
"Masses" is very much appropriate, because this really is about the workers owning the means of production. Fuck the rhetoric and think about what that really means: the tools go away and there is just communication, art, culture, business, etc. I don't have to become an indentured servant in order to make art.
Others have talked and talked because our industry is sort of sexy, but decades later it is still Apple doing it for us in 1000 ways. The promises have only been fulfilled by Apple.
AND, if you are not a pro and would like to get your feet wet in media creation, you can get an iMac and you are DONE. And that is also from Apple. They are anything but the elitists that Bill Gates and Michael Dell would like you to believe that they are because they want to sell you something that looks like a Mac but is still really just a typewriter. Audio and video are full of people who glow when they get close to an Apple logo because they did their first album or movie 5 years earlier than they would have otherwise simply because Apple made it affordable for them to have their own systems.
If I sound emotional about it, it's because I am. I don't think I can stand to hear from another teenager about how their fucking MS Windows is crashing and how to we handle that in a real studio? "Get a Mac."
All pro Macs have had Gigabit Ethernet for over two years now. Even the notebooks. There isn't a Titanium PowerBook anywhere in the world that doesn't have Gigabit Ether. There are only a handful of very early Power Mac G4's that don't have it. So, your network of Macs IS a big disk array with like 12 Altivec units per CPU. And, you're not going to send uncompressed video ... even plain DV has built-in compression ... it is ALWAYS compressed.
... sheesh. These aren't throw-away machines like many other PC's ... they are actually built with an eye on the future and obviously Rendezvous and Gigabit Ethernet and Mac OS X just fucking love each other.
... it paid for itself so long ago but after 3 years the warranty is up and we consider them retired and we either repurpose them or sell them and this one always found some use due to having a complete feature set that was forward-looking and media-oriented. It's got 300GB of disk space or something and it plays DVD's, too, and it still updates its own software automatically and there are no known viruses for it or any of its software.
If I had a penny for every time some bullshit PC Magazine nerd reviewed a Mac and dismissed Gigabit Ethernet as an irrelevant feature (along with FireWire) and then proceeded to compare with some Dell that's good for MS Office (maybe) and has probably long-since been retired
I have an old Power Mac G3 from early 1999 that is now an iTunes jukebox in my house. It is 4.5 years old but it has a flat-panel display, FireWire, 1.5GB RAM, and runs iTunes/Mac OS X like a champ. Even the Mac OS X was free because we had an extra license in a multiple pack. Every day we use this Power Mac G3 (people LOVE it at parties) is all gravy
I already replied, but I have to say one more thing ...
... don't make it a hurdle when a used iMac with iMovie and a FireWire port can be had for paper route money. Seriously. Easy desktop video on the cheap is news in 2000, maybe. It's 2003 and we expect a cheap system to also have iDVD and a DVD burner, because you can get those systems for $50/month assuming a three-year working life and they don't even need IT staff.
> In some ways this is a good thing - there is nothing
> wrong with high schoolers coming away with a little
> technical knowledge.
By technical here, you mean CS-technical, computer-technical.
Video is a technical field, but students who want to make movies or TV have their own universe of technical details to master. Like cameras, lenses, light, colors, composition, DV, MPEG-4, audio sampling rates and bit depths, color depths, narrative, storytelling, dialogue, theme. Go to an Apple Store and just look at Final Cut and imagine that all the things you don't understand about its dials and buttons and meters and functions were a penalty you had to pay just to program a computer.
The attitude that it's "good" for students, in addition to the subject their studying, to also get a castor-oil like lump of computer science medicine is really, really educationally damaging. When a kid who lives and breathes MOVIES shows up at a VIDEO LAB, do not teach them CS. Do not require them to jump CS hurdles. You didn't start programming by being force-fed movie-making so why should they know UNIX to make movies. iMovie is free and it runs on a UNIX that doesn't require any admin.
There is a ridiculous bigotry amongst CS-types that somehow the computer is the only technical thing in the world and everyone has to get a taste of it. It completely ignores that a doctor or lawyer or architect or movie maker has their own technical world to master. Just because a computer is general purpose and can be used to instantiate a video-editing system at will, that doesn't mean that video editors will want to learn to work a command line. Maybe they will, maybe they won't