Tech Tip: Dual Boot
Most intensive NLE applications are closely tied to the versions of various software installed on the machine. Typically this is at the OS level, but also can encompass such third party applications as Quicktime. This bottleneck can be remedied by creating a dual boot system – something developers have been doing for years.
This is especially useful under Mac OS X. Since the OS is not serialized – that is, you can install it as many times as you want on the same machine, thus creating multiple boot partitions – without violating licensing agreements. The Mac OS installer, when launched, has the Disk Utility application, which allows a user to partition one hard drive into multiple virtual drives – partitions. Slicing up 1 hard drive (or simply installing OS X on multiple physical drives) allows for each instance of the OS to have updates applied without conflicting with the other. This means those updates you need to apply for Adobe CS4 won’t break, for example, your older version of Avid. You can even create a “test” partition – a space just to experiment with software and updates. As an example, my MacBook Pro has 3 partitions: 1 with Final Cut Pro, 1 with Avid, and 1 with Pro Tools.
Of course, read the fine print with your software to verify multiple installs on the same CPU are allowed under their license agreement.
In his current role as Senior Applications Editor at Key Code Media, Michael consults on and demonstrates workflows benefiting the post industry: acquisition, storage, editorial, audio, finishing, and encoding. His background of integration and configuration of both hardware and software, coupled with his production experience, gives him a keen insight into the future of the post industry.
Michael has spent many years on the technical, consulting, and demonstration side of post production. He’s been involved in the design and build of hundreds of NLE systems and facilities, and consulted on even more. He’s also had the privilege of working on many new media and interactive media based projects, from web design to DVD to interactive kiosks. He’s been a keynote speaker at colleges, conventions, technology retreats and symposiums.
His post audio experience encompasses serving as a Dialogue Editor, SFX Editor, ADR Recordist & Editor, Re-Recording Mixer and Supervising Sound Editor on dozens of film, television and internet based projects.
He is currently a member of the MPSE (Motion Picture Sound Editors), an Apple Certified Trainer (Final Cut Pro – ACT FCP), an Avid Certified Support Representative (ACSR), and is constantly becoming certified on latest and greatest post technology has to offer.
Plus, he really, really, digs Post.
Has there been any testing with a PC doing Dual Boot?
Avid has been doing it for years – in fact, they are a proponent of it. Until recently, they were selling Dual Boot systems – Symphony and DS, and still recommend doing it for Media Composer Systems to remedy the 4GB RAM limitation the OS has.
It’s not as necessary on the PC as it is on the Mac, but I have done several Dual Boots with 32 Bit & 64 bit Windows (or Server), as well as XP and Vista.