It’s no secret that Macs are known to be the best computers for video editing. From their inception, Macs have been positioned as the machine of choice for creatives — but what about today? With so many options available, it can be hard to tell which system and software is best for your needs.
- Best Mac Laptop For Video Editing
- Best Pc For Editing Video
- Best Mac Computer For Video Editing
- Apple Computer For Video Editing
Aug 06, 2020. Jun 17, 2013.
Professionals using tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro for Mac might require a different system to someone making casual YouTube videos. Either way, a quick exploration of what specifications and software fit you just right can go a long way.
Why Mac Video Editing Is So Popular
Originally, Apple was recognized for building better tools for creative work than Microsoft due to a collaboration with Adobe (known for its design software suite), followed by a clever strategy of distributing Macs into design schools and making creative workflows very user-friendly overall.
Apple also leveraged its exclusive partnerships with market-leading software, such as Final Cut Pro for Mac, so that it wasn’t available on PC. Being first to this market spelled the beginning of a long-lasting loyalty among creatives and design-savvy users who were educated on Macs exclusively.
Additionally, the physical design of Macs was a breath of fresh air compared to the more cold and clinical PCs at the time, further lending to Apple’s brand position amongst creatives.
Eventually, PCs reached a similar level of hardware and software support that could suit any creative work, but by then Apple was already firmly positioned as one of the best computers for video editing, graphic design, sound engineering, and more.
Specs that matter when video editing on Mac
Video editing on Mac is a hardware-intensive exercise that relies heavily on processing power. From rendering 4K videos to making thousands of edits across feature-length material, having a quick machine can make all the difference. Unfortunately, making sense of Apple video editing specifications can be difficult at best.
For example, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) is at the heart of any machine, and once upon a time it was the most important component when video editing for Mac. However, in recent years the support of Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) rendering has offloaded a lot of the CPU’s work. That said, CPU power is still important when it comes to the general speed of basic operations, so here’s a quick rundown on what to look for:
The CPU should at least be a medium to high-end quad-core unit (not a dual core), ideally manufactured in the last five years. For 4K and 8K video editing on Mac, you may want to look at eight, twelve, or more CPU cores.
Your GPU is arguably the most important component. The first thing to look for is a dedicated GPU unit, not integrated with your CPU. Secondly, you’ll want to ensure you have a minimum of 2 GB of VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) which can render multiple effects at once without having to process them in sequence. Advanced users will want 8 GB of VRAM with a high-end GPU made in the past three years.
System RAM (Random Access Memory) is an important measure of how many assets and processes can be stored in extremely fast memory (think tip of the tongue). When video editing for Mac, you’ll want a minimum of 8 GB and work your way up to 16 GB or 32 GB from there.
Similarly, you’ll benefit greatly from having an SSD hard drive rather than an older HDD. The SSD format can load saved projects and large video files much faster, and is well worth the small investment on top.
Finally, you’ll want to ensure you have a suitable display to accurately edit your videos. Look for an IPS (in-plane switching) panel rather than TN (twisted nematic), with a decent size of 27” for desktops or 15” for laptops. Aim for a screen resolution of 1920x1080 (but ideally 4096x2160), with a brightness level of 1000 cd/m2.
Best Mac Laptop For Video Editing
What is the best Mac for video editing?
By now you have a basic understanding of which specifications matter, but what’s the best computer for video editing? Unlike PCs, Macs come in fewer variations, so selecting the right one for you comes down to your expected usage.
When it comes to advanced, larger projects, you’ll want to opt for one of the best computers for video editing — iMac Pro. It combines up to 18 CPU cores with a dedicated GPU boasting 16 GB of VRAM, plus a 5K display showing unparalleled color and brightness accuracy. Expect to pay top-dollar for this option, best suited for creative professionals.
Leaning towards value-for-money? Try Mac Mini — a small machine that sits nicely between the processing power of a laptop and desktop. The Mac Mini can handle basic and intermediate video editing with its latest-generation Intel CPU, combining four or six cores and an integrated GPU.
For many modern video editors, portability matters. The MacBook Pro is one of the most powerful laptops available for Apple video editing, with the top model offering a dedicated GPU that rivals the powerful desktops of yesteryear. SSD hard drives keep things moving quickly, while the four to eight core CPU units silently get to work in the background.
No matter which option you select, any 2019 or newer Mac is more than capable of video editing. However, the best computer for video editing can set you back financially, and there’s still costly software to consider. Similar to not absolutely needing the best Mac for video editing, you might not need the best when it comes to Mac video editing software as well.
Top alternatives to Mac video editing software
Think twice before investing in the most expensive video editing software for Mac. Despite the perception that Adobe suite is a must-have, there are some amazing alternatives out there that work well without breaking the bank.
CameraBag Pro is a lightweight video editing tool for Mac, once claiming the second spot for the Apple Mac App of the Year. It nicely fills the gap between a simple photo editor and complex video editor, resulting in slick software that perfectly meets the needs of most at-home users.
The app’s clean user interface makes it a breeze to use, and the one-click filters can have your work looking pixel-perfect without getting lost in the details. For those of you looking for more advanced editing tools and settings, CameraBag Pro has you covered with dedicated color, tone, and gamma curves.
Capto is another cost-effective tool for your Apple video editing suite, allowing for a quick and easy way to capture screen recordings on your Mac. Capto is perfect for those who are creating tutorial videos or anything requiring on-screen annotations.
The app’s built-in editing interface can finish the job without having to move to another tool, saving you time and money on complementary software. Basic and intermediate users will appreciate the simplicity of Capto’s tools, strategically implemented to prevent bombarding you with complex workflows.
For perfecting specific projects, try GlueMotion — a drag-and-drop tool which turns your images into time-lapse videos in just a few clicks. It works well with almost any photo format and even has a batch editor for images to make sure things are looking good before committing to a time-lapse.
GlueMotion’s built-in deflickering engine ensures a smooth transition across the whole video, while taking advantage of macOS developer tools to promote quick rendering across a variety of professional formats. Loyal Apple users will enjoy the macOS inspired design which feels right at home.
The best part about CameraBag Pro, Capto, and GlueMotion is that they are all available for a free seven-day trial on Setapp — a Mac subscription service that grants you access to over 160 indispensable apps. You can reap the rewards almost instantly by heading over to Setapp’s website and signing up. No matter which Mac setup you have or what skill level you are, Setapp is a must-have addition to any video editing software for Mac.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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Recently, more and more people began to solve the problem of Mac or PC for photo editing more radically, changing not the old processor to a new and not outdated Windows on the newly appeared, but a stationary PC to the laptop, the traditional x86 on Apple Macintosh and the familiar set “office-Photoshop-Internet Explorer” for analogs for Mac OS X.
It’s no secret that modern photography consists of two parts – shooting and processing, and post-processing takes no less, and often much longer time than the process of photographing. For example, you can read the article “The secret of beautiful photos – what’s left behind the scenes photography” and make sure, that preparation to the photo session takes a lot of time too. Back to our post-processing, modern processing requires modern methods, methods are usually meant software, and for proper and fast work of the programs you need the appropriate hardware.
For example, most salons offering photo editing service with various additional services mainly works for Windows in Adobe’s 2 most popular programs, it’s Lightroom program and universal appeal Photoshop. But progress forges ahead and retouchers, designers and photographers choose “Apple” in increasing frequency, as it is the best Mac computer for photo editing, in the arsenal of which there are their own programs for adjusting photos.
You know perfectly well that modern photographers are quite helpless without a computer. Although the main tool, it’s still a camera. But without a lot of programs, it would not be possible to get beautiful pictures. So now we will understand which computer or laptop is best suited for processing photos.
First let’s talk, why photographer needs a computer. For example, you took a picture of a person. Without any processing on the photo, skin defects will be visible, even minor, perhaps excessive shine, some unevenness. And all this must be removed. Make the skin perfectly smooth, adjust the chiaroscuro, depth of field. And in this we are helped by the world famous program Adobe Photoshop. With it you can change the picture, as you need. You can add absolutely any effects or completely replace the background of the photo. Accordingly, this requires a lot of computer resources. And here any person asks himself: Mac or PC for photo editing?
To select a suitable laptop you need to determine the purpose of its use. For example:
1. Use as a stationary computer for processing photos with the ability to take it with you on a trip.
2. Increase the speed and efficiency of work in photo sessions. The opportunity to see the footage on the spot, quickly send photos to the client via the Internet – now these are the standards in the advertising photo.
3. A means of demonstrating the results of filming the client, friends, relatives.
Functions can be either combined or divided. It is also necessary to forecast further use of the laptop. This directly affects both the selection process and its cost.
10 things to go back from Windows in favor of Mac machines
Best Pc For Editing Video
The fact is that Mac, unlike most other computers of other brands, uses not traditional Windows from Microsoft, but own operating system OS X.
1. One global creator.
The licensure of its operating system is more cost efficient for developer (we can see at Microsoft example) that is why Steve Jobs chose one right way to produce both hardware and software and made it the ace of trumps. But when it’s not about the benefits, but about the convenience of the user – Apple’s choice is better for everyone: and for users who do not need to worry about program compatibility and do not need to rush between the hardware manufacturer’s service center and the OS developer’s support, if something does not working.
One company “Apple” is responsible for all their jambs. It’s convenient for the manufacturer too-again, he does not have to worry about supporting the Chinese hardware that is unknown, do not puzzle over what inconceivable combinations the highly educated user will come to mind to plug in expansion cards and do not have to release a million patches fixing the compatibility problem with some rare application.
2. Autonomy of MacBooks.
However strange it may sound, OS X is much more power efficient than Windows. So, the computer running OS X consumes much less electricity. Here the MacBook Air can work more than 12 hours in normal operation. One more thing of photo editing Mac vs Pc: Haswell PCs have already come out, but they still work for 5-7 hours.
3. Versatility.
Sometimes it so happens that you need to use multiple operating systems on the same computer. If you can work on the Mac with Windows easily, then the reverse situation causes a lot of problems.
Of course, virtual machines are for any system. But as effective as Parallels Desktop – is just for the Mac. You can work with any Windows-based applications as if they were written for Mac. But on Windows this is not. Well, which system is more functional now?
By the way, the myth about the limitation of OS X is just a myth. Often people, who talk about some kind of banal fencing in OS X, confuse this operating system with iOS.
4. This is Unix
The OS X general processor unit is called XNU, and XNU is essentially a modified FreeBSD – a Unix-like operating system, like GNU / Linux, for example. Operating systems, called Unix-like, are characterized by increased stability and high performance due to optimal interaction with computer resources.
5. Cheap and high-quality software.
When you install yourself Windows (or buy a computer with Windows) – which programs are at your disposal, other than the OS itself? Well there is Notepad, Clock, WordPad, Calculator… There is also a set of programs of the Windows Live family (Windows Live, Windows Live mail) that expand the functionality of the computer, but not many of them really want to leave, and they need to be installed separately, spend it your time.
In general, company “Apple” believes that the user should not waste his time tuning the computer – and we fully agree with this. The user needs to write texts, read and analyze data, adjust Images, draw, install video, and not install programs and patches and do not dig into configuration files.
To get more from a Windows computer – you need to put additional software, some of which costs a lot of money. Office applications are also not cheap. All this makes one think, that all the same the best Mac computer for photo editing.
But if you buy a Mac, it’s different. Only turning on the computer, you get the opportunity to use and a full-fledged office suite from “Apple”. There is also an iMovie video editor, its functionality is not compared to the simple Windows Live Movie Studio. And, all this is already installed on your computer and ready to go.
In addition, you can buy (literally two clicks in the Mac App Store) RAW-converter, in combination, the cataloger Aperture, which is more than twice cheaper than the similar Lightroom. And the application Pixelmator, which will be enough for most “masters” Photoshop.
6. Single logical interface.
Microsoft, it seems, still cannot decide what is better: the new-fashioned tiled Metro or the classic “Desktop”. From this suffer users: only get used to tiles, it is worthwhile to launch an application that does not support Metro, as it is necessary to return to the old one. Especially inconvenient to users of tablets: in the classic interface, the fingers are a pain.
OS X does not have such problem. “Apple” did not confuse the essence: the tablet is a tablet. It runs under mobile iOS and is controlled by fingers. A PC – is a PC, it has smart OS X with a familiar graphical interface: the cursor, the window.
Do not think that we are against innovation – perhaps sometime in the computers there will be a touch interface. Perhaps even the release of such PCs will be occupied by “Apple”. But it should be a thoughtful interface, so that if not any application, then at least 90% of all programs support it.
By the way, a single top panel with menus for all programs in OS X is also a very convenient thing. All settings are always in one place.
7. Updates.
OS X, unlike Windows, will never say when shutting down or, more importantly, when turning on the computer: “Hey, user, I do not care about your business, I need to update here, so just wait a minute. Or 10 minutes. Or half an hour, well, you understand, right? Go for a walk”. Of course, you can turn off automatic Windows updates, but why, because you always have an up-to-date OS – it’s convenient and safe.
Most of the updates to OS X are put in the background and do not even need to be rebooted. And if you still need to reboot – the OS will ask if you want to complete it right now or wait until you finish your work.
After all, the OS is for the user, not the other way around.
8. You can forget about viruses.
No, of course, companies that make money selling antivirus software will scare you: you, the user, cannot feel safe anywhere! You are attacked by malicious viruses from all sides and on OS X and iOS and even your Casio digital clock is not protected from malicious infection!
Antivirus companies can understand: the growth of the PC share is gradually decreasing, while the growth of the Mac share is rapidly increasing. So they panic. So official representatives of these companies often act ugly, calling any malicious program a virus, although they themselves know perfectly that this is not so. People just used to be afraid of a virus, that’s why they use this terrible word.
So go to the Mac and forget about viruses and antiviruses. Let your OS X always get the latest updates (after all, you will not be bothered at all, as we have already found out) – and “Apple” will take care of you. Because unlike Microsoft, it does not blame anyone, in which case the user will come to complain to them.
9. Expensive Mac? Cheap Mac!
There is another myth that “Apple” computers are expensive. People who believe in this myth either did not study the market themselves, or consider that the computer consists of a processor, a hard drive, a motherboard and memory slots. A screen (if it’s a laptop) consists of battery, body and other does not matter.
Well, maybe someone really does not care what size a laptop or desktop PC is, how much it weighs, what quality the screen is and how it all looks, after all. But whatever priorities the user has, everything costs money – this cannot be avoided. Two different computers with the same performance will cost different money if one of them is more compact. Compactness is worth the money because a lot of computer nodes (the same hard drive) take up a lot of space. Pushing it all into a compact case, so that nothing overheats, is not so easy – it’s a serious task for engineers who need to pay money. And if the company does not like the first solution, like “Apple”, and it is ready to re-evaluate the concept over and over again until it reaches the optimal proportions that are close to ideal, it also costs money.
If you try to find competitors MacBook Air in all parameters, carry out an analysis of Mac vs PC for photo editing, you will find that these competitors are worth not less than the MBA itself, and even more expensive. And the competitors of the MacBook Pro and iMac for price, performance and size you do not find at all. Some manufacturers (we will not once again point fingers) sell huge heavy boxes at the price of the iMac, with a much less qualitative screen at the same time.
10. Ecosystem
The most obvious thing we left for a snack. Even if other arguments in favor of the Mac did not convince you, then this one is simply obliged.
All Apple devices have a similar design, the principle of operation, and most importantly – they perfectly interact with each other literally at the touch of a button and completely without wires. For example, you can easily connect to the MacBook desktop next to your iMac and transfer files from one desktop to another as if it were a single computer. And portable devices: iPod, iPad and iPhone can be synchronized with the computer also by pressing one button. Just place a check mar – what songs, photos, movies and programs you want to see on your device.
Of course, there are some analogues of such an ecosystem under Windows, but there, alas, everything is far from being so deliberate and to make it all work sometimes you need to press not one but a lot of buttons. Also constantly “google” on the Internet – which button to press, and then did everything according to the instructions, but it does not work. Yes, and Microsoft itself is constantly changing the solution: then it releases the Zune for synchronization, then replaces it with the Windows Phone application.
Mac vs pc for photo editing – Try the Mac machines
“Apple” is the most successful IT corporation in the world. Sales of iOS devices are breaking records. IPad – the most popular tablet, iPhone – the most popular smartphone, and iPod – the most popular player. It would seem that a complete monopoly. But all these are mobile gadgets. In computers, “Apple” does not have everything so smooth. Microsoft still owns the lion’s share of the OS market for computers.
Today there is a trend of transition from PC to “Macintosh” everywhere. The company “Apple” every day expands its range and offers all new and advanced products for its customers. Despite the higher cost, the best Mac for photo editing computers are assembled from traditionally high-quality parts, their design is well thought out, they are not becoming obsolete due to the manufacturer’s policy.
The software on the “Macintosh” also features high stability, convenience, it is well optimized. On “Apple” computers running Mac OS X there are no viruses. Due to the thoughtfulness of the platform, the user does not need to know the details of the settings of the installed programs, think about network administration, cares about the interoperability of utilities, etc.
Nevertheless, the ease of use and beauty of design solutions in the design and interface programs is still secondary. Like any computer, “Macintosh” is useful only as much as you personally benefit from the programs available on this platform. And there are a lot of programs on the “Macintosh”: office packages, development environments, graphics editors, various utilities, games, but not all of them deserve close attention – even in light of the possible purchase of “Apple Mac”. But we will tell you about the iconic products, programs that have the right to take the place of a convenient, everyday tool.
To make sure you are finally convinced that the best Mac computer for photo editing, we will tell you what programs for processing and cataloging photos are offered by Mac.
“Apple Aperture” is a program for complex processing of digital photo images, combining the capabilities of RAW-converter, simple image editor, cataloger and utility for preparing images for printing and posting on the Internet.
The Aperture program was received by users of the Macintosh, fond of photography, with great approval. True, there were also voices of critics – especially since many alternative programs were already presented for professionals on the “Macintosh” and PC, many photographers put Mac vs PC for photo editing, because both has Adobe Lightroom, and a built-in Photoshop converter RAW-files.
Summarizing the above, it can be argued that “Aperture” is aimed at professional photographers and is called upon to compete on an equal footing with competing RAW-converters on PC and for programs of photo editing Mac vs PC. But “Aperture” is winning thanks to expansion the audience, its mission to fill out niche programs for processing and cataloging photos combining ease of use and powerful potential.
Super-tools for demanding users
From the “amateur” functions of programs for photo editing Mac vs PC, let’s move on to tools that are likely to be of interest to both the mass public and the more demanding users. Like any self-respecting program for “end-to-end” photo processing and publishing, “Apple Aperture” editor can help us design and print photo albums of various sizes directly as one of the stages of processing photos. There are several sizes available for page layout, several themes, and the ability to download new themes. Yes, now we do not need to run cumbersome programs, delve into the subtleties of layout, and all this lead to conclusion that the best Mac for photo editing.
Of the essential and unique features of “Aperture” in terms of image processing capabilities, we would like to mention, for example, the possibility of dotted retouching with the help of the “brushes” mechanism. This mechanism allows you to locally reproduce all the effects of “general” editing (lightening, darkening, changing exposure etc) – supporting for this such “thin” things as the degree of pressure on the pen (when working with a graphic tablet) and self-recognition of the edges of the object. Brushes also allow blurring the edges of the objects depicted, improving the skin texture in portraits, correcting light and chromatic problems.
As a true large graphics processor, “Aperture” allow you to change the color ratio in a photo using the finest “curve” setting. The tool “Curves” in skillful hands is able to draw out literally any cadre, turn a good image into a masterpiece.
So, add together all mentioned above, we can say that a very simple and convenient interface with clear logic of actions is the traditional property of most programs for Macintosh, excellent optimization for the hardware of the current line of models of Apple computers and the use of all the features of the 64-bit operating system Mac OS X, the widest set of tools for fine-tuning images from any The complexity of changes, the mass of options that allow dramatically improve the photo and effectively teach it in the network and on paper, accurate and high-quality algorithms for RAW-conversion and support for almost all modern photo formats A tome-meter – that’s what “Aperture”. It is a worthy continuer of the line of fine programs for “Macintosh” and one of the best modern developments of its kind.
7 best Mac-applications for photo editing
Best Mac Computer For Video Editing
Probably often, looking through your digital photos, you said to yourself: “Not bad. But you can do a little better if something is corrected”. Useful utility iPhoto, built into any Mac, allows you to remove the red-eye effect, crop the image and play with color to understand that Photoshop Mac or PC applications are different. But if these functions are not enough for you, we advise you to familiarize yourself with more complex programs.
• Acorn 4
Acorn is an easy-to-use editor, a kind of alternative for those who do not need expensive and complex editors, such as Adobe Photoshop. In addition to a variety of standard functions and filters, Acorn allows you to overlay text over an image, as well as use various drawing tools, including vector graphics. The application supports Automator, AppleScript and JavaScript for more advanced users. Acorn costs money, but fully justifies its price thanks to numerous useful features. The application includes learning the basics, so you will never get lost in it. But if you face some problems and hesitations which program to choose, look at this video “Mac vs PC: Which One Is Better for Photo Editing?”, and Jerad of “State of tech host” will tell you some peculiarities.
Apple Computer For Video Editing
• GIMP
GNU Image Manipulation Program, abbreviated GIMP, is a free alternative to Photoshop. This program is not available in the Mac AppStore, but it can be freely downloaded from the official developer site. And also you can download it on PC, try it both and decide where Photoshop Mac or PC works better? The menu is very different from the standard one, which we are used to seeing in other programs. However, its functions largely coincide with Photoshop. There is also a brush, a pencil and a stamp, there is an opportunity to work with text, apply various filters, and work with exposure and improve photos in other ways with just a couple of clicks. For some users, the program may seem too complicated; in this case, they should pay attention to other graphical editors.
• Adobe Lightroom
One of the main advantages of “Lightroom”, of course, is working with files in the RAW format. When working with photos, their originals remain unchanged, and you can very easily return to the original picture, canceling all previous actions. The difference from its older brother Adobe Photoshop is that “Lightroom” is great for cataloging and processing multiple photos. If you need more in-depth editing of individual photos, in this case, Photoshop is indispensable. In “Lightroom”, you can easily and quickly view the entire extensive library of photos, select or reject images, and then adjust their contrast, brightness, white balance or other important parameters. Any self-respecting company of photo processing has a part of photo editing prices, where they point what type of adjusting they offer, but almost no one share their secrets in which program they fix images.
• PhotoLine
PhotoLine is another alternative to Photoshop, but, this time, it’s not free. This editor is also designed for an advanced user and professional photographer-retouchers, who has already edited a lot of photos, knows the subtleties of processing and the tools he needs. Its user interface is a little weak, but despite this drawback, PhotoLine has an impressive set of useful functions. You can easily download a demo version of the editor from the official website of the developers, try out its features and make about it your own impression.
• Photoshop CC
What to say, this is the king of image editing programs and it does not matter which Photoshop Mac or PC you use. As you can already see, all the listed programs are somehow compared with Photoshop, and this already speaks for itself. This is a truly golden sample for all photo editors. Of course, it is not designed for the average user, but is an incredibly complex tool with many functions. But if you, having spent a lot of time, will understand it, you will get really beautiful photos.
• Photoshop Elements
If your needs are modest enough, and you do not need a full-fledged version of Photoshop, we suggest that you pay attention to another product from Adobe – Photoshop Elements. It also has many useful tools, but the interface of the program is more friendly and understandable. Here you can easily move objects to photos, remove the red-eye effect, enhance the color or create a panoramic image. And for customary user we can offer you to read the article about interesting effects “Best Photoshop manipulation ideas to try” to turn your photos into magazine’s cover.
• Pixelmator
In our opinion, this is one of the most convenient graphical editors for Mac. It supports many formats, it allows you to work with layers, apply various filters and other useful tools and for this is the best Mac for photo editing. Here there is a complete set for a full-fledged photo editing, starting with different ways of selecting objects and many brushes, finishing with the overlay of shadows and applying various effects. On the official site you can download a free trial version and evaluate the convenience of Pixelmator.
Perhaps we have not listed the main features and benefits of Windows, but you probably know about them. Of course, you can read a lot of such articles and eventually choose: Mac or PC for photo editing?