ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

4 years, 5 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

If you use a proxy workflow (ie SD/720p for the edit, then you can do the colouring/conform on a fancy machine), you can use pretty much any modern laptop. Proxy workflows have been used forever, see if your NLE will support it :)

4 years, 5 months ago - Maria Crowcroft-Alexander

Thanks very much. I'll look into that! Maria

4 years, 5 months ago - Alwyne Kennedy

If you're still looking, and can put together a system from parts, then you might want to look at this video about putting together a budget 4K-editing-capable PC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_HKRUPN1Mk&t=704s

I haven't watched it myself, but I do know the channel and the fella is a reliable source of information.

4 years, 5 months ago - John Lubran

A £1,000 plus £200 VAT, if one is not VAT registered, is enough for a powerful tower based PC capable of processing most things in 4K in real time. We have been able to to build a few such machines. There is a skill in correct procurement when specifying the parts build for a PC edit computer; and there's a good few reputable builders available; it's why traditionally Macs have been less challenging, but that advantage for Apple has long passed.

One of the main drivers of the exponential improvement of PC editors, and the parallel 'Moore's Law' decrease in costs, has been the processing hungry needs of ever more sophisticated photo and motion realistic gaming computers. It's also the shear numbers of gamers, compared with editors, who have changed the business models of hardware manufacturers. There's a bit of a surprisingly luddite drag influencing institutionalized film makers and facilities houses who still cling to a belief in megabuck post production tools. Admittedly they are happy tp spend thousands on very nice control tools. One can see them in the adverts of those who produce them and use them. You know? those fabulous post production suites with banks of monitors and arrays of really rather handy controllers that do genuinely make the work quicker and easier, once one learns to drive the thing. They also help reassure commissioners and clients who enjoy the Champaign on ice and luxury room service who sit in on the process, that they are getting value for the fee charged. However the fundamental computer power and the graphic processors are now as cheap as chips, if one will pardon the pun.

Lap top versions are much more expensive and lack comparable optionality for upgrades and systems networking; nevertheless even laptop versions are relatively cheap now and are just the thing if one needs to travel or work on location.

What that £1,000 plus VAT wont include are monitors and software. However even here a bit of well informed nouse can keep those costs down. Some domestic high end 4K and even 6K TV's are mow capable of fine calibration and connectivity. They really are usable in the real world compared with the thousands of pounds asked for a 'broadcast monitor; especially if one wants a big screen of 40" or even much bigger. Being able to see ones work on a very big screen can trump seeing it on a broadcast screen a fraction of the size.

Edit software can be expensive for new independents. If one is a student Adobe Creative Suite offer super deals, but they are not free. Adobe Creative Suite is very powerful and a skilled operator can pretty much simulate anything that the megabuck suites can do at a fraction of the price. Increasingly there are free or very low cost edit software products available, that can meet most people needs. I'm not update on what's available but others here are.

What's really the glass ceiling breakthrough is that it's possible now to set up a powerful Realtime 4K and even 6K and 8K post production suite, with enough bells and whistles to satisfy 90%+ of most needs for as little as £2,000. Teenagers and 20 year
olds all over the world are proving it.

4 years, 5 months ago - Jake Gaule

I'd recommend holding out for a little while if you can as Graphics Cards are currently being massively price gouged! I'm also needing to build a new PC for work right now so just thought I'd share that incase you were not aware :)

4 years, 5 months ago - Alwyne Kennedy

Jake, are the price hikes you speak of due to the global chip shortage?

4 years, 4 months ago - Maria Crowcroft-Alexander

Hi Jake No I was not aware of that! Thank you for that information. Thanks everyone for giving me so much food for thought. At Dell they said the Aurora Ryzan is the best graphics card at £1900 and a 4 k monitor from Samsung on Amazon would fit that. As it was a gaming computer I said I needed more space and they said it would be £400 to put 4 terrbytes of space onthere. Then someone from there sent me a message saying this computer is not right for editing. So I'm holding off to think about things and try to save a bit more. Items. A friend recomended this...any thoughts? Thanks

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