Resolve vs Final Cut Pro

[TheMoInMo]

Hey guys, I have been tinkering with DaVinci Resolve recently, but realize that I am not the person that it is really catering to. I have not ever used Final Cut Pro, and am wondering if it is an easier software, and more beginner friendly. Also, I was wondering what the lowest spec Mac you would recommend for FCPX? I have been looking at the base 27inch iMac, and the 13inch MacBooks, but can't decide what would be best. I like the idea of mobile editing, but I am not sure the dual core i5 would be good enough. I am willing to sacrifice mobility for speed if it is a big enough difference. Thanks in advance.

[DrMacintosh]

FinalCut is much better than DaVinci Resolve for a multitude of reasons. Here is a peak at the latest FinalCut update. 

 

 

Any of the 13" MacBook Pros with 256GB+ of Storage will do very well in FinalCut. 

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro?product=MPXT2LL/A&step=config# 

 

If you want an iMac get at least this one and be sure to give it an SSD:

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/imac?product=MNDY2LL/A&step=config# 

 

For FinalCut you really only need 8GB of RAM but getting more is up to you. 

[TheMoInMo]

2 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

FinalCut is much better than DaVinci Resolve for a multitude of reasons. Here is a peak at the latest FinalCut update. 

 

 

Any of the 13" MacBook Pros with 256GB+ of Storage will do very well in FinalCut. 

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro?product=MPXT2LL/A&step=config# 

 

If you want an iMac get at least this one and be sure to give it an SSD:

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/imac?product=MNDY2LL/A&step=config# 

 

For FinalCut you really only need 8GB of RAM but getting more is up to you. 

Do I really need 256gb+? I have an 8tb external hard drive that I got cheap that I plan to keep all my files on. And then. Do you think that the touch bar is a good enough addition that it should be purchased? Or is it not worth it yet?

[DrMacintosh]

Just now, TheMoInMo said:

Do I really need 256gb+?

Yes, 128GB is anemic for an OS drive. You are going to need a place to store your programs and everything else. 

 

1 minute ago, TheMoInMo said:

And then. Do you think that the touch bar is a good enough addition that it should be purchased? Or is it not worth it yet?

And no. However the TouchBar MacBooks have higher wattage CPUs so they can clock higher but however due to the thermal situation the MacBooks without the Touchbar equal the performance of the ones without the touchbar after a while. 

[TheMoInMo]

5 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

Yes, 128GB is anemic for an OS drive. You are going to need a place to store your programs and everything else. 

 

And no. However the TouchBar MacBooks have higher wattage CPUs so they can clock higher but however due to the thermal situation the MacBooks without the Touchbar equal the performance of the ones without the touchbar after a while. 

What thermal issues do the touchbar ones have? I guess I haven't seen anything about them having extra issues...

[DrMacintosh]

1 minute ago, TheMoInMo said:

What thermal issues do the touchbar ones have? I guess I haven't seen anything about them having extra issues...

They are thin. The Touchbar models have dual fans but the higher power CPUs make the cooling only adequate. Same story with the non Touchbar models only they have one fan since the CPU is much less power hungry.  

[GDRRiley]

I found that daVinci resolve is easier in most ways to PP but I don't use final cut even tho i have access to it at school 

for macs look at 2010 or 2012 mac pros. get a base one then go to 16gb of ram a new gpu(or 2) (rx580 should work) add an SSD, 1-3 large 4+tb HDD (I would run raid if you care about the og footage) and get a 6 core.

Edited December 18, 2017 by GDRRiley

[DrMacintosh]

5 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

look at 2010 or 2012 mac pros. get a base one then go to 16gb of ram a new gpu(or 2) (rx580 should work)

He asked for lowest spec, not how to blow every video editing PC made within the last 5 years out of the water. 

[GDRRiley]

1 minute ago, DrMacintosh said:

He asked for lowest spec, not how to blow every video editing PC made within the last 5 years out of the water. 

well for about 1000$ thats the way to do it. 

[Streetguru]

1 hour ago, TheMoInMo said:

 

Well first, never buy a mac

 

2nd Just use Vegas or Premiere on an R5 1600 system? Do you actually need it to be mobile? Do you plan on doing any gaming?

Budget/Country?

[TheMoInMo]

7 hours ago, Streetguru said:

Well first, never buy a mac

 

2nd Just use Vegas or Premiere on an R5 1600 system? Do you actually need it to be mobile? Do you plan on doing any gaming?

Budget/Country?

I do kind of want it to be mobile, and I do not plan on taking on it. That's what my desktop is for. And around 1500 USD in America.

[Eduard the weeb]

I prefer premier but yeah In your situation I would use Final Cut Pro  

[Streetguru]

6 hours ago, TheMoInMo said:

I do kind of want it to be mobile, and I do not plan on taking on it. That's what my desktop is for. And around 1500 USD in America.

Then buy a used business laptop with a quad core i7 and you're good to go, they'll be under $500 easily just upgrade to 16gbs of RAM and an SSD, possibly replace the battery as well.

Something like this
Lenovo thinkpad W530 intel quad core i7 3720qm intel hd 4000/nvidia quadro K1000m

wouldn't worry about the iGPU

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA7HS6CX5951

Or replace your desktop with a mobile workstation that has an R7 1700 in it, battery life is pretty bad though
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-ROG-Strix-GL702ZC-Ryzen-7-1700-Radeon-RX-580-Laptop-Review.247548.0.html

[Streetguru]

7 hours ago, TheMoInMo said:

I do kind of want it to be mobile, and I do not plan on taking on it. That's what my desktop is for. And around 1500 USD in America.

And you can get Vegas Pro 14 here for $20, it probably has everything you need for editing

https://www.humblebundle.com/software/vegas-pro-creative-freedom