Before you begin to edit, you’ll need a computer to edit the footage on right. So, whatever your preference, Mac or PC were going to give you a few things to think about when purchasing or building your video editing system.
When buying or building your video editing system, there are going to be a lot of choices and configurations to decide upon for getting the best performance for your system.
Here are five custom hardware considerations to think about to make your editing workflow, speed, and throughput better.
CPU, central processing unit – In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system. The CPU is the brain of the computer where most calculations can take place. A powerful chip will be critically important if you’re doing video editing, so it’s worth the investment in a good chip. These can range in price from a hundred dollars to a thousand and range in options from single-core to multi-core.
RAM, random access memory. When it comes to editing, the minimum you’ll probably need is 4 GB. But the more you have the faster you’ll be able to get the job done. Because, in a nutshell, RAM's function, is to make it easier/faster for the CPU to get the data it needs to process the job it's working on. Video will use a lot of memory so 16 GB and up will help your workflow. Not to mention if you need other programs open while you are editing.
Hard Drive or storage space is going to be very important. HD video will use up a lot of storage space and you’ll use your space up quickly. Consider an external drive or expandable server to meet your storage needs.
Graphics Cards will be important if you’re incorporating any type of graphics into your video. Especially if you're doing heavy graphics like 3d modeling and animation. A graphics card can make your computer more responsive by taking some of the lifting off of the CPU.. The price ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars; this means the performance of particular cards will range greatly. The higher-end card in your computer the better for your video and graphic workflow.
Video Capture card. Using a video card will help your workflow by not only allowing you to input various sources into your computer but also allowing you to output your signal to a monitor while editing. This means you’ll be able to monitor in real-time what you’re editing.