What You Need To Smoothly Edit 4K Videos
For many of us, a computer or laptop is a life-long friend. In fact, some of us may have computers that are at least 10 years old! And investing in a new one can be a pain to go through, so you just stick through it, and update the software, other hard drives and hardware. But this can make editing videos challenging, especially if you’ve been handed terabytes worth of 4K video footage. So, how do you cope? What do you need to smoothly edit 4K videos? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. From actual added hardware and graphics cards to using proxy files and software, we’ll tell you what tools you need to edit your 4K videos.
1. Good CPU & GPU Are Vital
One of the essential parts of a computer is the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Basically, the CPU is the core of the computer, it’s where it gets all of its instructions from, and the more cores in the CPU the better. In fact, the highest you can probably get nowadays is called the Deca-core CPU, which can be found in many smartphones, like Meizu Pro 6, Elephone S7 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 4. It’s with these Deca-core processors, these phones act just as well as, or even better than, any computer or laptop. So, having a fast CPU will definitely help you smoothly edit your 4K videos.
Another aspect of your computer that you need to consider, when you edit your 4K videos, is the GPU. This helps to render the graphics of your video. Not only that but it helps to greatly reduce the export of your final video, especially if you’re working on a major feature film (like a Marvel blockbuster, if you’re lucky enough). Unlike CPUs, which currently have 6 types, GPUs only have two, the integrated and the discrete. While many computers can work well with the integrated GPU, having an additional discrete GPU will most certainly help with rendering and export runtimes. So, when you’re working through your edit, and you’d just like to preview what you’ve done so far, you won’t need to wait for hours, for your video to render. Similarly, you won’t need to wait for hours, when you’re done editing, while you export the video. All of these functions should work within a matter of minutes, if not seconds.
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2. It’s All About The RAM
For many gaming and video editing PCs, the RAM (Random Access Memory) is one of the most vital parts of a computer or laptop. It’s what helps us work on the projects we work on. Meaning, it’s what allows us to edit videos, or play video games. Essentially, it is temporary storage for the things you’re actively using. Think about it this way, when you’re writing up a document, on Word, you’ll find that the app itself saves temporary formats of the document, in case your laptop or computer decides to crash, and you need to re-open everything again. Rather than having to start all over again, you’ll find a recovered document, ready for you, and in a place that’s not as daunting as the start, right? This is essentially what RAM does. It temporarily stores everything you’re actively using, so you can retrieve it, whenever you need it.
RAM is vital for heavy-duty work, like video editing, because the more RAM space you have, the faster the processes can work, especially if you’re working with massive chunks of 4K videos. Of course, at the moment, the highest capacity for RAM is 32GB, depending on the make, model, and manufacturer of the computer. However, these sorts of computers will come with a hefty price, and usually, they’re used for massive amounts of data (like for AI technologies, robotics, etc.). So, you don’t need to go that high. In fact, the most you’ll need is 16GB, even if you’re editing 4K videos.
3. Storage
It should go without saying that storage is a necessary part of the video editing process. After all, footage, no matter what format, will take up a significant amount of storage, and as 4K is top-of-the-range quality, you can bet that it’ll require a massive amount of space. So, you’ll need extra storage, just to store those files, somewhere accessible. After all, any computer or laptop will come with a set amount of storage, and the more videos you edit, the more storage you’ll need. After all, even those that don’t make it into the final edit can still be used for your own portfolio, or for a later project!
So, you’ll need to have a decent amount of extra storage space, for your archive videos and for the videos you’re working on now. One of the most recommended storage devices out there would be SSDs (Solid-State Drives), which are very different to HDDs (Hard Disk Drives). The difference is that SSDs don’t require any mechanical parts to save data on their drives, whereas HDDs do, and this mechanical process can make the process rather slow. So, SSDs are much better equipped at storing large amounts of data, because they can be much faster at storing data. So, if you have 20 pieces of footage, each one at least an hour long, and in 4K, you can store your videos on these drives without waiting for it to download.
4. Using Proxy Files On Your Software
One of the worst-kept secrets in video editing is the use of proxy files. Essentially, by creating proxy files, you won’t be working with the original 4K videos, which can greatly reduce the strain they’ll put on your computer when you’re editing. Proxy files are less demanding formats of the footage you have. Don’t worry though, you can always restore the files to their original state, once you’re done editing, and your final video will be in 4K, just as the originals are intended to be.
Many video editing software programmes use proxy files, and one of the best ones to use is Adobe Premiere Pro. Not only does it have a built-in function, to create proxy files, but if you’re working across other Adobe programmes, then anything that may clash with the files, won’t corrupt the original 4K ones. So, you’ll be both protecting the original files and smoothing out your video editing process.
Don’t Suffer The Headache, Let Us Handle Your 4K Footage!
Of course, sometimes it can be a pain to do all this research and trialling each method. So, take it out of the equation by trusting experts in the field. We at Cut Pro Media have extensive backgrounds in video editing, so we will have the tools at hand to create high-quality video edits for your 4K footage. So, trust us with your videos, and get back to doing what you love, shooting that next blockbuster film! We’ll do the heavy lifting in the post-production department! And don’t worry, we’ll match whatever vision you have, no matter how “out there” or how popular your style is. And if you’re worried about the bank, you don’t need to! Our prices are affordable and reasonable. Plus, if it is your first time with us, and you’re not happy, your first video edit will be on us! Interested? Check out our price packages on our website now!
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