Macbook and HDV editing

Hi All,

I have a HDV camera, Canon hv20, that I would like to edit the footage with iMovie6 and burn to dvd with toast8, now ,would macbook be more than enough for editing HD 1080i footage? Also, if I do upgrade to FCE, would that work, from the forum search, I think the only issue with macbook is "motion", which I don't think I will be using. I know the screen is pretty small for video editing, but I will be hooking to an external 22in display so I am ok. I am trying to decide between MB and MBP...thanks

 

If you want to do encoding/decoding, make sure you go with the MacBook Pro.

 

A MacBook is capable of running Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Express; as you've already seen, the main issue is that Motion needs a dedicated GPU.

A MacBook will certainly handle editing footage in iMovie and burning to a DVD.

Having said that, a MBP is still going to generally be the proper machine if you do decide to get into Final Cut extensively; Final Cut Express will work on a MacBook, and many tasks can be done without dropped frames, etc........ but some more intensive things will really stretch what it's capable of.

 

More on this: this is a bit older (covers the original Core Duo MacBooks and MacBook Pros), but it still makes the main point:

http://creativemac.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=43717

For many tasks, the MacBook itself is pretty close to the MBP in terms of Final Cut performance.

 

thanks for all the replies, for now, I really don't have time to spend to learn FCE or FCP, so probably I would go with imovie editing and then burning with Toast, it seems like, i should be fine with macbook. Most of my work with macbook, would be to do programming, photos,internet, video and run once in a while windows.

One other thing I wanted to ask for macbook users, I will be using macbook with an external display for 18hrs a day or more, I am also planning to buy one of those "notebook coolers" (eg. stands that have built in fan) to keep it cool during such extensive use. Now the questions, is that length of use ok? any one would recommend on a notebook cooler? is notebook cooler necessary? Just your experience from those that use it connected to external display for extended period of time...thanks again!

 

Should be fine. For notebook coolers, I can't recommend any with a fan built in, but one I do like is the iLap:

http://www.raindesigninc.com/ilap.html

This has sort of a dual-use, as it has a cushion for the front edge to use on your lap, and it can be removed so it can also be used on a desk.

 

I appreciate your help Zadillo! I saw those in action, I will take a look into it. Anyone else care to comment?

 

Actually, I forgot to ask one other thing...If I am going to use all the time the external monitor and connect it to power supply (UPS), can I just remove the battery? is that ok? I think at least I can preserve the battery lifetime for the times that I really need to be mobile.

 

Not sure it's worth the hassle, but, sure you could do it.

FOr the same money as the UPS you could prolly just get a second battery if it's that crucial for you to have powered mobility.

 

Encoding is all CPU, so the Macbook would be fine. Santa Rosa does not radically change the game.

Decoding, I hear the Macbook can play an HD stream, but he's only doing cuts editing and simple transitions in iMovie, so he probaby does not have demanding playback needs. HDV is MPEG-2 anyhow, so the Macbook should be fine for that.

Motion definitely wants a video card, but he's not using Motion.

For editing using iMovie or Final Cut Pro, the Macbook, by most all accounts I've seen is up to the task.

I think the MacBook main screen is too small, but it's not like the 1440x900 MBP screen is _that_ much better, especially when teamed with an external monitor.

 

Actually, I already have the UPS connected to desktop, so don't have to spend extra cash, just thought that the battery would not be always kept charged at 100%...which is not good, I hear.

Right, the screen size of MB for video editing is too small, that's why I will have external display.