Macbook Pro...Still not enough?

SageGibbons wrote on 11/21/2014, 12:54 PM

I bought a Macbook Pro this last year which has the processing power and graphic capabilities of a well souped up PC counterpart. With this in mind, I partitioned about 65 GB of the hard drive to Bootcamp, installed Windows 7 as well as my version of Vegas Pro (9e). It opened up fine, and I began to put in a few clips and test it out.

Poor results. Certainly very laggy Preview display. Even on Preview Auto it could hardly get through a simple crossfade. And then about 5 minutes later it crashed. Over a couple weeks this kept happening. I've seen other posts about Vegas working fine on Macbook Pros, and from the specs Sony recommends the computer certainly exceeds them all.

I don't get it. This computer is more powerful than my past PC desktop which ran Vegas almost perfectly. Any ideas on what to do, or is it a lost cause?

Comments

Kimberly wrote on 11/21/2014, 1:08 PM

I ran VP 12 and now VP 13 on a 2012 Dell XPS laptop. Sometimes I must adjust the quality of my preview depending on my footage and FX.

Render times are "slow" compared to a workhorse desktop, but it gets the job done for me. For example, a 3 minute AVCHD segment rendered to a Blu-Ray compatible format takes 15-30 minutes depending on how many key frames, color corrections, etc., are appled. I can live with that based on my unique setting. I queue up my renders in Ultimate S and walk away for awhile.

Seems like a new MacBook should be able to get the job done but perhaps not on a par with a powerful desktop. But of course it's harder to take the desktop with you : )

Regards,

Kimberly

JohnnyRoy wrote on 11/21/2014, 1:54 PM

You didn't say what your specs are and your profile is devoid of specs so we really don't know what you have. The MacBook Pro starts at an Intel Core i5 2.5GHz Dual Core and goes up to an Intel Core i7 2.8GHz Quad-Core with Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz. Dual Core i5's are barely adequate for video editing while Quad Core i7's are what's required for smooth editing.

Also make sure that you are using the latest GPU drivers for your graphics card. The Windows 7 Bootcamp drivers for my ATI Radeon HD 5870 in my 2008 Mac Pro were not recognized by Vegas Pro so I had no GPU acceleration at first. Once I downloaded the latest AMD Catalyst drivers I was back to smooth editing.

~jr

SageGibbons wrote on 11/21/2014, 2:49 PM

My Specs are:

Processor: 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7
Memory: 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Graphics: Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB

It is Quad Core. I will investigate more on your advice about the AMD Catalyst drivers and post my results. I haven't heard of that. I see it is applicable to Macs running Boot Camp, but is it for the built in graphics or only for their graphic's cards?

If it's not for the built in graphics any advice on what is the equivalent of that check up? I run Windows 7 64 bit on Boot Camp.

-Sage

ddm wrote on 11/21/2014, 5:34 PM

Forget the AMD drivers, you've got an Intel Iris GPU (on the CPU) which should be a decent performer. Clearly something is amiss, you would need the latest Intel driver, but that's a pretty beefy box. What type of footage are you using?

SageGibbons wrote on 11/21/2014, 6:46 PM

I am using footage shot on my iPhone 5S, which is innately Quicktime of course, but I have converted it using HandBrake and this has always worked on my PC desktop I mentioned. Vegas doesn't like Quicktime videos of course, which is why I convert. I am perplexed as you are. In every respect, this computer outperforms any others I have used to edit with Vegas, yet is struggling the most.

Vegas Pro 9 System Requirements:
Pentium 1 GHz or higher processor, multi-core or multi-processor is recommended for HD editing
200 MB free hard disk space
1 GB RAM, 2 GB recommended

MacBook Pro Specs:
2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache
Intel Iris Pro Graphics
16 GB Ram

-Sage

HyperMedia wrote on 11/21/2014, 10:21 PM

My system works great. That's why I haven't been on this forum in three years. Once, I went to a Mac. Now, I'm producing syndicated TV shows internationally. Using Vegas Pro 13.
Here are the specs at the bottom. I'm running it on Bootcamp. But, I will be looking to upgrade with the latest iMac 5k or MacPro.

Let me say this" My Mac help me produce over 51, one hour long TV show in the last 3 years. I got a lot backlash from the PC community on this forum. About Vegas needs to go on the Mac platform. But of course I got the last laugh!

Furthermore, producing a full show with CC,FX and Speed changes is hard on your computer. Incredible render time in the beginning. My HP windows kept failing after 5 hours.
But, with this Mac... now I can go sleep knowing this Mac can render a 10 hour project without a glitch.

I would never go back to a PC!

Computer Brand/Model: IMac 21.5
Operating System: Other
RAM: 4 1333 Mhz DDR3
Processor: 2.5 Intel Core i5
Video Card: AMD Radeon HD 6750M 512 MB
Sound Card:
Video Capture:
CD Burner:
DVD Burner: Super DVD
Camera: Sony A7s and NEX VG20
Add. Comments: Apple iMac...Mac OS X Yosemite 10.10.1

SageGibbons wrote on 11/22/2014, 2:11 AM

That is why I bought this computer and what I was expecting from it. Something must be wrong. It might be the way boot camp is being run, or some other more technical problem I have not thought of. It's encouraging to hear, but also frustrating not knowing what steps to take.

OldSmoke wrote on 11/22/2014, 5:43 AM

@SageGibbons

You are running VP9 which doesn't provide GPU acceleration. Try and download the VP13 Trial and see if that can make use of the Iris Pro.

TheHappyFriar wrote on 11/22/2014, 7:14 AM

My HP windows kept failing after 5 hours.

So the moral of the story is don't buy junk and it will work. :) (Junk is relative too, lots of Intel stuff is just, just like AMD & Apple) Nothing to do with brand name (My AMD renders long projects w/o issues too).

I would never go back to a PC!

A Mac *IS* a PC. :) Even before it starting using Intel components. Now it's even IBM Compatible! :D I've got nothing against Mac's but I have a system as reliable as yours and cost a fraction of as much (which outperformed iMac's at it's release). My wife's old Acer something-or-other ran Vegas 10 w/o issues and could render (in the field) w/o issue too. I think it was $600 at Walmart when we bought it (same time as my system).

That being said, I'm sure your skill as an editor sells your content, not the hardware you use. Unless you got hired because a job said "Need FCP". ;)

OldSmoke wrote on 11/22/2014, 8:20 AM

THF I am with you, I just didn't want to start another PC vs Mac thread.

SageGibbons wrote on 11/22/2014, 11:53 AM

UPDATE: I tried the trial edition of Vegas Pro 13 and it worked MUCH better. It was cleaner and able to get through the little problems VP9 had. Now I just have to see how to transfer projects flawlessly.

Jillian wrote on 11/22/2014, 2:55 PM

I am clearly missing something here. You spend a lot of money to purchase an expensive MacBook Pro to run out-of-date PC software to edit iPhone video. This doesn't seem very sage to me.

Now you're thinking of purchasing up-to-date PC software to run on your MacBook.

Why not just spend the time and money to switch to an appropriate program to run on your Mac and edit your iPhone video???

Again, I must be missing something!

HyperMedia wrote on 11/25/2014, 12:50 AM

(I partitioned about 65 GB of the hard drive to Bootcamp, installed Windows 7 as well as my version of Vegas Pro (9e).

That could be your problem. I'd partition 250 GB to run Windows 7 program( After Effect, Photoshop and ProAnimator etc.

But, I have all master/work footages comes from a external harddrive.
Yeah, 65 GB is too small. Actually, the first time I had 100GB. It didn't run to smooth. So, I changed it to 250GB.

I hope that help!