Anybody out there who's serious about video editing will have by now given some thought to the new Mac Pro's and if you've already got your hands on one then chances are you'll be well aware of the issues outlined below.
For those of you who are still considering investing there's a few things you'll need to consider in order to get the most of this lightning fast machine.
First things first - the new Mac Pro is unlike any other workstation.
By now we're all well aware of the specs and if you're not then visit the Apple website here to see them in detail. One thing people have expressed surprise at is the fact that Apple have elected not to include a keyboard and mouse. It's fair to say this has ruffled a few feathers and with the Mac Pro's starting £2,499.00 (inc vat) it's easy to see why customers are annoyed when something considered so basic isn't included as standard but as we said before - the new Mac Pro is unlike any other workstation and Apple is unlike any other company (which is undeniably part of their appeal.)
By choosing not to include something as basic as a keyboard and mouse Apple are making a very bold statement which leaves no question about the fact that the Mac Pro is a new breed of workstation designed to be extremely powerful while remaining as minimalist as possible. This is something Apple fans should be used to and it's important to note that the new Mac Pro isn't just minimalist - it's also highly expandable.
"Expandable" is the key word here and while the lack of keyboard/mouse will undoubtedly be an issue to many we're certain it won't hinder sales of the Mac Pro in the slightest. So Apple haven't included a keyboard and mouse. Big deal. They also don't include monitors, Thunderbolt cables, PCI adapters or additional storage as standard which is probably exactly what they'll say to anyone disgruntled enough to call up and complain.
Anyone lucky enough to be in a position to purchase a new Mac Pro will no doubt be well aware of the fact that they're going to require additional storage - after all the Mac Pro's are essentially built for working with media whether it's hi-resolution photo's or 4k video. As a result users will need someway of storing (and backing up) all those large files and with no less than six Thunderbolt 2 ports it would be a shame not to make the most of what is undoubtedly one of the fastest interfaces in the world.
Here at Planet PC we'd recommend taking a look at some of the newer Pegasus drives by Promise. Built with media professionals in mind Promise manufacture a range of high end RAID solutions which you can view here on our website. We're particularly impressed by the Pegasus 2 with Thunderbolt 2 capabilities which makes this one of the best hard drives money can buy. Admittedly these aren't cheap with the 8TB version retailing at around £1015.00 (ex vat) but as the old saying goes - you get what you pay for. These drives are ideal for a 4k workflow and feature hot swappable drives along with dual Thunderbolt ports for daisy chaining. They also include a Thunderbolt cable which will no doubt come in handy.
Another product we'd consider essential for anyone using a new Mac Pro is an expansion chassis. This is due to the fact that the Mac Pro doesn't feature PCIe slots so chances are you'll want to invest in a little box of tricks such as the Echo Express III-D by Sonnet. This device costs just over £600.00 (ex vat) and allows you to connect up to three full size PCIe cards to the Mac Pro. The Sonnet Echo Express III-D also utilises lightning fast Thunderbolt 2 technology and is a great way of increasing functionality by incorporating specialist video capture/audio interface cards into your setup. Obviously no PCIe cards are included but chances are they'll seem relatively cheap when you've finished purchasing everything else.
By now you're probably wondering if there's anything else you'll need to purchase to compliment your set-up and believe it or not the answer is a big fat expensive yet. What you purchase and how much you spend will ultimately depend on what you're looking to do. Capture cards and 4K monitors will be standard for some and redundant for others and these is before additional costs such as software are considered. Visit our website at www.planetdv.net and check out all the accessories mentioned within this post along with many more. Alternatively give us a call on 01274 713400 and we'll be happy to talk Mac Pro's and anything else to do with video.
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