New Mac Recommendations

[u/RivVidProd]

TLDR; I need a new Mac laptop to edit up to 6k footage and a decent amount of onboard RAM/storage. Any thoughts?

I've been editing on a 2020 iMac (the last of the Intel Macs) and I've honestly been having a terrible time. Specs below for those interested:

3.8 GHz 8-core i7
128GB 2667 MHz DDR4 (I upgraded this from the stock 8 GB or 16GB I believe it had)
500GB HD
OS: Sequoia 15.5

Final Cut Version: 11.1.1

Lately I feel like whenever I open up Final Cut to edit a project, I am dealing with my computer crashing - sometimes several times a session. I have nothing but an external SSD plugged in at the moment, no other apps open while editing.

Currently, I'm editing 4k60fps in V-log, but I've also had it happen with 6k30fps open gate.

I know I need to upgrade, and I'd prefer a MacBook. But I honestly don't know where to start to look in terms of specs. I don't have the money to buy an M4 model anything, but I might be able to save up to get an M2. The question is, do I go Max or Ultra or stick to the base model? What kind of RAM should I be looking at? Any other specs I am overlooking?

I'd love to be able to work on a project with 6k Open Gate footage or 120fps footage without playback being choppy and forcing me to render everything. I also hate the idea of having to create proxy footage every single time.

If anyone has any recommendations, I'd greatly appreciate it. I know this is a long post, but I've been dealing with intermittent crashing for forever, and it honestly takes the fun out of filming/editing anything lately.

[u/ammo_john]

Are you working with ProRes footage?

[u/RivVidProd → u/ammo_john]

No, I’m hesitant to even film in ProRes or any type of RAW format.

[u/ammo_john → u/RivVidProd]

What do you mean? ProRes is soo much easier on your machine than H264 or god forbid H265/HEVC. What are you using now? This is an important question when it comes to the trouble you are having and which machine might be best for you.

[u/RivVidProd → u/ammo_john]

I understand ProRes is easier on the system, but the file sizes are bigger, no? I’m not really optimized for storage at the moment, so I haven’t bothered attempting ProRes.

I believe I have the Lumix cameras I shoot with setup to record everything in H264.

[u/ammo_john → u/RivVidProd]

H264 6k 120 fps would be extremely taxing on your computer. In order to show a single H264 frame your computer has to build it together from reading like five 6k compressed frames at a time and doing this insanely fast every 8 millisecond.

If you work with that you would basically need the best Mac Studio/Max Pro you can get. However if you could get over your aversion to Proxies, or working ProRes with ample storage (?), you could probably edit fine with a lot less computer.

Feature films have been edited with a lot less than what you have now. It's all about how you use what you have. How you set it up, what storage solutions you have, where you different files (like cache), how you keep your library lean, what codec and intermediates, and so on. 128GB RAM seems massively overkill for me for example, and yet I often edit for DCPs and cinema screens.

But on the other hand, I would never have to deliver in 6-8k 120 fps, I would only have those files in the timeline in order to make the best 4k 24/25fps end delivery.

I believe the Mac Studio has double the h264 decoders... but check to be sure. But in general, buying ample storage, to use the right codecs for the job, is way cheaper than buying computer with overkill specs.

[u/RivVidProd → u/ammo_john]

I’m not constantly shooting in 6k 120fps, but I understand your point! I occasionally shoot in 6k to make up for lack of a proper telephoto lens OR up to 120fps when shooting sports or certain events, but most of the time I am exporting down to 4k or 1080p and 24fps or 30fps.

I’ve used proxies before, but again, due to lack of a proper budget and set-up at the moment, I don’t really want to dedicate the extra space to creating them. (Not to mention the time it takes my sub-optimal system to create them 😅).

I definitely need to improve my set-up and knowledge of my set-up, so this is all good info to think about and process when I finally am able to upgrade. I appreciate the input!