What Rik said, I'm pretty sure even a CS6 license will allow two installs as long as they are not simultaneous. I actually use FCP & compressor to automate the workflow with a Qmaster cluster, so I'm using all cores on my macbook pro and the mac mini at once - although this really works best for huge multi-clip encodes, as Qmaster is sort of finicky. 

I have two PC workstations, a mac mini, a macbook pro, and a standalone Synology NAS server with external backup, all hooked up to a 5 switch auto-uplink netgear hub (this one http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-ProSAFE-5-Port-Ethernet-Desktop/dp/B00002EQCW) at 1000 mbps which tops out around 115 MB per second between all machines, which is usually disk-limited. For really demanding stuff I have two 750 GB SSDs in RAID1 that get about 800 MB per second read/write on my main workstation.

The mac mini can use bi-directional windows SMB file sharing and the NAS will read / write easily with mac or pc so it makes my studio platform agnostic. You don't even really need OSX server, 10.9 works just fine. There are a few small things you have to set up right between systems but it's way easier than it sounds. And everything gets archived to both the NAS and a bare external drive every night - I use the drives like tape storage for old projects, 1TB disks are pretty cheap these days. 

On Sun, Mar 23, 2014 at 1:43 PM, rik bogusz <rik.gaijin@mac.com> wrote:

with the cc subscription, two installs is authorized

On Mar 23, 2014, at 10:09 AM, "Mr. Eric D. Kirk" <kirkproductions@gmail.com> wrote:

I guess the only problem with that is that I would have to have 2 licenses for AE wouldn't I?

On Sun, Mar 23, 2014 at 1:06 PM, rik bogusz <rik.gaijin@mac.com> wrote:

I have a similar workflow, create/ render to 16bit .png sequence project on a windows machine. import .png folder to after effects on a Mac mini, (both machines on a gig Ethernet network) output to prores4444.

On Mar 23, 2014, at 9:55 AM, "Mr. Eric D. Kirk" <kirkproductions@gmail.com> wrote:

Teddy,

Thanks.  So what is the workflow then for this?  So, I get a mini mac (not sure what that is but will research) and then I presume you copy all your files to a USB drive from PC, plug in to mini mac and then?  What are you using then for the conversion on the Mac?

Thanks,
Eric

On Sun, Mar 23, 2014 at 12:28 PM, Teddy Gage <teddygage@gmail.com> wrote:

I skip prores exports from PC altogether because of those issues, and either send DNxHD QTs direct or encode Prores from lossless files on my mac mini / MBP. I'd highly recommend a used recent mac mini as a standalone encoding device / server, it works great and speeds up workflow

On Sun, Mar 23, 2014 at 11:31 AM, Mr. Eric D. Kirk <kirkproductions@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello,

I've been using this thing now for a year or so with sort of mixed reviews.  I sometimes get perfect conversions and then other times, it will add a white frame at the end or just slap on a random 5 frames or so of black.  Has anyone had this problem?

Is there an application out there that people have had better luck with?

Thanks,
Eric

--

Eric D. Kirk | Kirk Productions

Hidden in the Woods | VFX

The Night Visitor | VFX

443.206.1347

www.kirkproductions.com
kirkproductions@gmail.com

IMDB:  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3351363/

 

--

_____________________________

VFX & Motion Graphic Artist
teddygage dot com

--

Eric D. Kirk | Kirk Productions

Hidden in the Woods | VFX

The Night Visitor | VFX

443.206.1347

www.kirkproductions.com
kirkproductions@gmail.com

IMDB:  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3351363/

 

--

Eric D. Kirk | Kirk Productions

Hidden in the Woods | VFX

The Night Visitor | VFX

443.206.1347

www.kirkproductions.com
kirkproductions@gmail.com

IMDB:  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3351363/

 

--

_____________________________

VFX & Motion Graphic Artist
teddygage dot com