Hope this is the right place to ask this. I’ve been gone from the world of Avid, as well as editing, for several years now. A small job has come up for which I need a system, and I’d really like to stick with Avid (I last used Vers. 7, IIRC) rather than learn FCP X or something else. But, I’m having trouble understanding what I need to put together a system.

The project is pretty simple; documentary-style shot on a Canon XF-305, 50MBs 24P. So I would probably do AMA linking (I think...). Cuts and dissolves. Probably not do finishing.

What I have available to me isn’t much. I have an old Mac Pro mid-2010 2x 2.4 QC Intel Xeon with an NVIDIA GE Force 8800GT, 512 MB. Won’t run vers. 8x or 7x I’m told. Have tried to figure out the legacy matrixes and gave up, it was too confusing. What would this box run, if anything, and would I be foolish to try and use it? BTW, I don't have to run Vers 8 or even 7...

Second available to me is a Mac Mini Late 2014, 2.8 GHz Intel Core i5, 16g RAM, Intel Iris 1536 MB. I don’t see any 2014 Mac Minis listed in the qualification charts, but a reseller offers a system using them. Can I use this, and on what version MC?

According to the qualifications list, I could also use a Mac mini Late 2012 or Server Mid 2011, could pick up one of those pretty cheap. Also saw a MBP Mid-2012 for $1329 that qualifies.

I will get another computer if I have to, but this is a limited project without a lot of income potential, so I don’t want to spend big $$$.

What could I use? Or, should I just buy FCP X and learn it, for $299?

Thx

Chris

The MacMini 2014 will work fine...even the 2011 Server will. I have a friend running Avid MC 7 on the server and he cuts longform docs.  Even that mid 2012 laptop will work.

You will have to run Ver 7 or 8, as those are the only ones available for download...not sure 6.5 is even out there anymore.  Any of the computers I point out will work fine with the latest version though.

change the nvidia card to a new nvidia with 2GB or better 4GB (for 4k) at the macpro

be shure he has more than 16GB RAM and best with 10.0.5 or 10.11.6 (not 10.12.x!)

and you will have a great computer for avid, resolve and other

Hi, Shane, thanks much for your reply. I will probably download the trial version and try it, and maybe FCP X for comparison. Thanks for your help!

Wolfgang, the reseller says Ver 5.0 is the latest that would run on the Mac Pro, maybe that's just what is "qualified" and others will work. The new video card would help I'm sure. But I'm not confident that MC V8x would work. Thanks for your response!

We are running MC 8.7 on 2010 and 2012 MacPro towers at work.  

Chris Ogden:

But I'm not confident that MC V8x would work.

Happily running MC 8.7.2 daily here on an Early 2008 MacPro, 2x Quad Core Xeons, NVIDIA GeForce8800 GT 512MB, 24GB RAM and OS 10.10.5.

AndrewAction:

Chris Ogden:

But I'm not confident that MC V8x would work.

Happily running MC 8.7.2 daily here on an Early 2008 MacPro, 2x Quad Core Xeons, NVIDIA GeForce8800 GT 512MB, 24GB RAM and OS 10.10.5.

Huh. I guess Avid's qualifying certain systems doesn't mean other, lesser ones won't work. Currently using the Mac Mini with the trial version and seems to be running ok. Thanks for your input.