Mac mini now qualified for Media Composer

Good news for all you Mac media maestros: Avid have added the latest Mac mini to the list of qualified systems for the latest version of Media Composer, and released new recommendations for memory capacity.

By Conal Siddall December 31, 2018

The 2018 Mac mini is qualified for use with Avid Media Composer 2018.8, joining the iMac, iMac Pro and Macbook Pro as Avid recommended Apple kit – take a look at the recommended Mac mini here. Mac mini also works with Avid NEXIS storage, (however please note that Avid has not qualified this Mac Mini model for use with Avid ISIS when configured with the Apple 10Gb Ethernet option).

Mac mini is qualified for use with Avid's external I/O devices, but will require cable adaptors to convert its Thunderbolt 3 sockets to suitable connections for the I/O device. You will need:

• • A Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor is required for Avid DNxIO.
• • Both a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor and an Avid Thunderbolt 2 to PCIe adapter for Avid Mojo DX.
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Updated memory recommendations

Avid’s updated memory recommendations are:

• • 8GB RAM minimum for basic standalone Media Composer with minimal effects (no Interplay or MediaCentral) for SD/HD projects.
• • 16GB RAM minimum required to support Interplay or Media Central, background transcode, Dynamic Media Folders, full frame stereoscopic 3D, FrameFlex workflows, RAW format AMA plug-ins, Long GOP media editing, and other high performance HD workflows.
• • 32GB RAM minimum required to support Media Composer | Cloud, UHD/4K/8K media editing, and other high-performance UHD workflows.

RAM listed is what Avid tested as part of the qualification process. Adding more memory is supported as long as it adheres to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Get in touch with our team for advice on how much RAM you’ll need for your workflow.

Avid updates Ethernet usage advice for Apple iMac Pro:

Avid have previously qualified the Apple iMac Pro for use with their popular NEXIS shared storage solution, and improvements were made in the NEXIS v2018.6 client software to solve issues with connections from iMac Pro workstations using Thunderbolt-connected network adaptors.  However, Avid have identified that there is a limitation of the Aquantia Network Adaptor chipset, which is used in the 1/10GbE Ethernet network adaptor on the Apple iMac Pro when connecting to Avid ISIS shared storage systems at 1Gb speeds. 

The iMac Pro on-board 10/1GbE RJ-45 NIC connector:

• • Is qualified for use for 1Gb speed connections to Avid NEXIS shared storage using CAT5 UTP Ethernet or better cables.
• • Is qualified for use for 10Gb speed connections to Avid NEXIS shared storage using CAT6 UTP Ethernet or better cables.
• • Has not been qualified for use with Avid ISIS shared storage at any speed and is known to have problems with 1Gb speed connections.
• • Cannot be used for optical 10GbE connections to switches for NEXIS or ISIS storage. In this case, Thunderbolt to Ethernet adaptors will be the best choice.

With the latest release of the NEXIS v2018.11 client this limitation remains present. The recommended workaround for this is to use one of the following adapters to connect an iMac Pro to Ethernet switches for Avid ISIS 1Gb speeds connections:

• • A Thunderbolt 3 to 1GbE Ethernet adaptor such as the Belkin TB3/USB-C to 1GbE Ethernet adaptor.
• • The Apple USB 3 to 1GbE Ethernet adaptor cable (this is no longer available, but you may own this item already.)
• • Apple Thunderbolt to 1 GbE Ethernet adaptor cable (this item will require use of an Apple Thunderbolt 3 USB-C to Thunderbolt 2 adapter cable.)

Customers using the iMac Pro or Mac mini (late 2018) who need faster or optical connections to network switches, may wish to consider using a Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt 3 to Ethernet device – such as a unit from Atto’s ThunderLink product line. Atto offer a range of Avid qualified 10Gb (optical and RJ-45 wired) and 40Gb (optical) units. However, the 40Gb speed connections are only qualified by Avid for connection to suitably equipped Avid NEXIS storage systems.

PC systems update

Added to the list of qualified PC systems is support for the HP Thunderbolt dock G2, which lets you add extra USB, USB-C and Thunderbolt devices to your PC system through a single connection.

For more information, you can take a look a look at the qualified systems for Media Composer in Avid’s knowledge base.

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