I spent last week shooting video for this week's webinar on "High-End Media." Using both a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and a Panasonic EVA-1, I was shooting all the different formats those cameras support. It's been interesting just getting back into shooting - something I haven't done personally for a long, long time.

I also discovered that it is impossible to see the viewfinder in either camera in California daylight. This inability to see what you are shooting adds extra challenges in both framing and focus. Makes me appreciate the value of a SmallHD monitor for daylight shoots.

Working with all this media gave me a much better opportunity to compare the impact different frame sizes and codecs have on our computer gear. In fact, my research became my lead story: " RAM, CPUs and Libraries in Final Cut Pro X." In this article, I look at how much RAM is "enough," and how to pick the best CPU for video editing. Next week, I'll write a similar article for Premiere. I think you will enjoy the article - it's my lead story.

This also allows me to invite you to join our webinar this week: " High-End Media in Final Cut Pro X." (The Premiere version follows next week.) I'll share what I've learned on codecs, HDR, LUTs and high-end codecs. It's a huge subject. My goal is to help us all make better sense of it. Registration for my live events is always free. Sign up for either webinar here. And see you this Thursday, July 18, at 9 AM Los Angeles time! You'll learn a lot!

As I wrote last week, another challenge I'm facing this month is that I'm migrating my main editing system from a 2013 iMac to a 2017 iMac. (In fact, it was what I discovered during this migration that was the impetus for my lead story this week. All things were NOT equal!) Part of this means shifting from Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3. Unfortunately, my long-standing favorite monitor - the Apple Cinema Display - no longer works in Thunderbolt 3. So, this week, I bought a new one from LG. I have a review of it in this issue as well.

Thinking of cool tips, Richard Day sent in a nice one about how to create effective DVD chapter markers in Final Cut Pro X. If you create DVDs, this is worth reading.

Also, a common question in my email is how to deal with backing up Final Cut Pro X libraries using Time Machine. I did some homework and learned that Apple has not changed this behavior in years. So, I'm rerunning an article I wrote a while ago that explains this in more detail.

Thank you for your responses to my two training surveys. I received almost 1,000 comments and you've given me a lot to think about. I'll let you know what we decide later this summer. I hope you are taking some time for your self this summer. Even though I seem to be allergic to, ah, "taking time-off," getting some rest is always a good thing. Once IBC rolls around in September, we'll all be back in the thick of it.

For now, though, I'm spending the next several days researching and writing this week's webinar. Chat with you next Monday. In the meantime, edit well.