Windows-based video processing on Mac Mini?

[WorBry]

Hi,

Well my ten year old PC running XP has finally given up the ghost. The wife, who now lives out of her iPAD and baulks at the notion of me getting another ugly big desktop, has suggested 'one of those' Mini Macs. I scoffed at first but, from what I've read, they are well regarded and considering my budget, they do seem a good option. So, I'm looking at maybe the Quad core i7, 4GB RAM version, with standard 1TB drive; the Fusion SSD option would be nice, but beyond budget.

Question is though, what about all of the Windows-based video processing software I've come to know and love, and particularly my favored AVISynth/MeGUI combo? As I understand there was briefly a MAC version of MeGUI (X.) but it vaporized, and development has stalled on the cross-platform AVISynth 3.0.

So, probably the best/only option would be to run Windows as a dual boot on the Mac Mini using Boot Camp. It would have to be XP Pro, initially, as that's all I have (that's not OEM). As I understand, Boot Camp does physically install Windows on a created drive partition and not merely as a virtual machine, but I'm wondering whether it would perform well enough to be able to run processor-intensive AVISynth routines (QTGMC etc) ?

Any Mac users who have experience with this?

Edit: Is this true - the newer Mac Mini's don't support XP/Vista through Boot Camp ?

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/running-windows-anything-else-your-mac/279572-running-xp-new-mac-mini.html

If so, it's a non-starter for me. Would seem crazy to purchase a copy of Windows 7/8 just to run on a Mac. What about Linux on Boot Camp? There's Handbrake of course and I think there is a Linux equivalent of AVISynth, but can it frame serve to Handbrake? Otherwise, any small form factor PC's that could be recommended?

[smok3]

Bootcamp way is running windows natively, and yes afaik you can't officialy install xp like that any more.

I just run an old copy of winXP in virtualbox, you can easily setup shared folders and windows will be able to work with your video files directly without any paint-full reboots, (but that will not support gaming very well, if you are into that).
Also you can disable internet access to that virtual machine easily. Actually that vm is mostly laying keeled on my drive, but it is there if needed....

For day to day transcoding tasks i have my own ffmpeg setup with some presets (click "ffdrop" if you are interested), but yes there is nothing like QTGMC.

Handbrake is not something I would recommend to anyone, perhaps only if you need to rip DVDs and you are really lazy.

[WorBry]

OK, thanks a lot for the advice.

No I'm not a gamer.

QTGMC was more of an example; most of my camcorder video is recorded progressive these days, although I do occasionally pull out an old interlaced file for re-encoding.

I'll have a look at ffmpeg.

Thanks again.

[smok3]

I do occasionally pull out an old interlaced file for re-encoding.
I'll have a look at ffmpeg.

ffmpeg has yadif which is reasonably good and plenty fast.

[WorBry]

OK, thanks.

Meant to ask - so, it is a Mac Mini that you have, and, if so, would you consider they are worth the price? For the Quad Core i7 2.3Ghz version, with 4GB RAM, integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 and 1TB SATA drive I'm looking at $800 here in Canada (Apple Store) - never seem to get specials on Macs in the electronics stores. And that's assuming my existing peripherals could be hooked up OK.

Only other compact PC option here would be a Zotac. Are they any good?

[qyot27]

If you'd rather not have to run Windows at all, AviSynth and VirtualDub (if you turn off DirectX overlays in VDub's Preferences) can both be used through Wine; not sure if MeGUI can, but avs2yuv or a Windows build of FFmpeg can pipe out of Wine to an OSX build of FFmpeg or x264:
wine ffmpeg -i test.avs -f yuv4mpegpipe - | x264 --stdin y4m [other options] -o test.mkv -

There's also AvxSynth, which runs natively on Linux and OSX but is limited mostly to the core functions (x264 and FFmpeg can use AvxSynth for .avs input on Linux and OSX since earlier this year; x264 automatically enables the support, FFmpeg requires passing --enable-avisynth to ./configure when you build it, so it's questionable if you'll find builds for OSX or Linux supplied by others that have it enabled).

[WorBry]

Thanks guys, but I'll have to admit a lot of this code-based FFMPEG stuff is over my head. Mind you, so was AVISynth at first.

Came across this nice comparison of solutions for running windows on Macs:

http://www.macwindows.com/winintelmac.html

The CrossOver 12.5 software could be a good option for someone like me. Appears to run on Wine code. Both AVISynth and MeGUI are included in the list of supported applications. Something to bear in mind assuming it works as advertised.

[smok3]

Meant to ask - so, it is a Mac Mini that you have, and, if so, would you consider they are worth the price?
No, i have an older quad-core mac-pro (2009), but I imagine the new mini is faster that this.

They are worth the price if you have certain amount of love for OSX.

[WorBry]

They are worth the price if you have certain amount of love for OSX.

Nicely put :p Well my only experience with OSX is an iPAD, so let's say I'm flirting, albeit a little stand-offish, as yet.

I guess, as well as the small form factor, the reputed build quality of Macs has appeal. Only thing that makes me a little wary is the integrated graphics -legacy of experiencing the 'NVidia graphics chip defect' meltdown on a Dell laptop (spits feathers). But this one is an Intel.

Anyhow, I'm warming to it.

I think, for me at least, the Wine/Crossover approach might be the best option for running AVISynth and MeGUI. There's not much else I'd critically need from Windows. Only thought is what to use for backing up the system?

[smok3]

for boot partition(s) I use free version of super duper (http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html), for data you could use "sync to" feature of forklift (http://www.binarynights.com/) (payware) or/and custom rsync script(s).