FilmMaker8706

Q: 4K Slow - FCPX

Using Final Cut Pro X, Version 10.2.3, I've started using 4K footage, and never before has FCPX worked this slow.

 

I'm running OS El Capitan Verzion 10.11.5 on a 13 inch Macbook Pro with a 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, with 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory, with Intel HD Graphics 3000 512 MB.

 

Do I need a new computer, or new software, or a new update, or new memory or what? I can't run FCPX this slow if I'm only shooting on 4K footage from now on.

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory

Posted on Jun 30, 2016 6:46 PM

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Q: 4K Slow - FCPX

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  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H Jun 30, 2016 6:55 PM in response to FilmMaker8706
    Level 7 (21,765 points)
    Quicktime
    Jun 30, 2016 6:55 PM in response to FilmMaker8706

    Not sure what you mean by running slow. Dropping frames? Beachballs? Lagging? Long exports?

     

    4K is a heavy lift for a 13 inch MBP. To improve performance, keep your media on an external USB3 drive, Set Quality to Better Performance. If that is still unacceptable, transcode to Proxy.

     

    Good luck.

     

    Russ

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Jun 30, 2016 6:56 PM in response to FilmMaker8706
    Level 10 (118,081 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 30, 2016 6:56 PM in response to FilmMaker8706

    (1GB recommended for 4K editing and 3D titles)1


    That's in the minimum tech specs for the application.

  • by Alchroma,

    Alchroma Alchroma Jun 30, 2016 8:36 PM in response to FilmMaker8706
    Level 6 (18,906 points)
    Video
    Jun 30, 2016 8:36 PM in response to FilmMaker8706

    FilmMaker8706 wrote:

     

    Intel HD Graphics 3000 512 MB.

     

    Beef this up to 2 gig. Probably means a newer computer.

    As Russ suggests, a fast external with Terabytes of space.

     

    Al

  • by FilmMaker8706,

    FilmMaker8706 FilmMaker8706 Jul 1, 2016 7:15 PM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Jul 1, 2016 7:15 PM in response to Russ H

    Good point, saying "slow" is vague. I'm not sure what beachballs means, its not really lagging, haven't tried exporting yet; i would say when I hit play in the timeline, it strobes. Dropping frames perhaps. It doesn't do this with any other kind of video except 4K, so I'm guessing it's just too big of a format for my computer to handle, but my problem is how do I fix it since I'll only be using 4K from now on.

  • by FilmMaker8706,

    FilmMaker8706 FilmMaker8706 Jul 1, 2016 7:16 PM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Jul 1, 2016 7:16 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

    1GB what? Intel HD Graphics? What do I need to buy and install to be able to handle 4K?

  • by FilmMaker8706,

    FilmMaker8706 FilmMaker8706 Jul 1, 2016 7:20 PM in response to Alchroma
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Jul 1, 2016 7:20 PM in response to Alchroma

    2 gig what? What do I need to buy and install to handle 4K? Is it something I can install myself or does it have to be a specialist? Am I better off buying an entire new computer?

     

    I'm rocking a 4 TB external hard drive with about 1.5 TB of space available. Is that still not good enough?

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Jul 1, 2016 7:36 PM in response to FilmMaker8706
    Level 10 (118,081 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 1, 2016 7:36 PM in response to FilmMaker8706

    1GB VRAM graphics card. 512MB is not sufficient. It's in the tech specs for the application.

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Jul 1, 2016 7:37 PM in response to FilmMaker8706
    Level 10 (118,081 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 1, 2016 7:37 PM in response to FilmMaker8706

    What kind of an external drive? Should be Thunderbolt RAID.

  • by Alchroma,

    Alchroma Alchroma Jul 2, 2016 4:30 AM in response to FilmMaker8706
    Level 6 (18,906 points)
    Video
    Jul 2, 2016 4:30 AM in response to FilmMaker8706

    FilmMaker8706 wrote:

     

    2 gig what? What do I need to buy and install to handle 4K? Is it something I can install myself or does it have to be a specialist? Am I better off buying an entire new computer?

     

    I'm rocking a 4 TB external hard drive with about 1.5 TB of space available. Is that still not good enough?

    2 gig VRAM or a minimum 1 gig.

    You would be best to update to a more suitable computer IMO.

    Space is not the only consideration, speed of the data transfer is important.

    Thunderbolt Raid 0 is a good place to start.

     

    Al

  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H Jul 2, 2016 5:44 AM in response to FilmMaker8706
    Level 7 (21,765 points)
    Quicktime
    Jul 2, 2016 5:44 AM in response to FilmMaker8706

    You might check Video Quality in the Viewer options drop down to see whether playback is set to Better Performance. You could also transcode your clips to Proxy in the Browser and switch to  Proxy in the Media section of the Viewer options drop down. But as already mentioned, for the best 4K experience, you should have a computer with a stronger graphics card.

     

    Russ

     

    edit: BTW, I do realize that I'm repeating myself. But remain unsure what settings you're using.

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Jul 2, 2016 10:15 AM in response to FilmMaker8706
    Level 6 (11,770 points)
    Jul 2, 2016 10:15 AM in response to FilmMaker8706

    FilmMaker8706 wrote:

     

    2 gig what? What do I need to buy and install to handle 4K? Is it something I can install myself or does it have to be a specialist? Am I better off buying an entire new computer?

     

    I'm rocking a 4 TB external hard drive with about 1.5 TB of space available. Is that still not good enough?

    It might. It is all fine and dandy to use the fastest machine there is but before you go all in on a new computer try the good suggestions you already got. You may find that your machine can handle it well if you use proxies. These are a quarter the size and encoded with prores proxy which a very edit friendly codec. Your current drive may well be able to handle that without dropping frames. Don't forget to switcb back to optimized/original before exporting, in order to export in glorious quality.

     

    One other thing: 4K iz great not so much for exporting as such, but mai lh for all the extra pixels you get to work with, if are editing an HD project.

  • by FilmMaker8706,

    FilmMaker8706 FilmMaker8706 Jul 2, 2016 8:21 PM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Jul 2, 2016 8:21 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

    WD My Passport Pro with Thunderbolt

  • by FilmMaker8706,

    FilmMaker8706 FilmMaker8706 Jul 2, 2016 8:24 PM in response to Alchroma
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Jul 2, 2016 8:24 PM in response to Alchroma

    I use WD My Passport Pro Thunderbolt. Any suitable laptop computer recommendations for editing?

  • by FilmMaker8706,

    FilmMaker8706 FilmMaker8706 Jul 2, 2016 8:38 PM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Jul 2, 2016 8:38 PM in response to Russ H

    Copy on the graphics card.

     

    Can you give me a step by step (or link to one) on checking the video quality whether playback is set to Better Performance or not?

     

    And the same for transcoding my clips to proxy and switching to proxy in the media section?

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