Apple hardware recommendations for Reeltime

When setting up Reeltime, selecting the appropriate Mac hardware is essential. Below, we outline recommendations for Apple silicon chips and corresponding setups to ensure optimal performance.

Apple Silicon Overview

Apple’s M-series chips are categorized by generation (e.g., M4) and size (M, M Pro, M Max, M Ultra). The latest generation, M4, was introduced in 2024. Typically, not all chip sizes are released simultaneously—Ultra versions are often launched later. Currently, the most powerful chips available are the M3 Ultra and M4 Max.

Reeltime Hardware Recommendations

When we suggest a base M4 chip (e.g., Mac mini M4) for the Basic setup, “or better” includes all larger chips (M Pro, M Max, M Ultra) from both the current and previous generations. Generally, chip size impacts performance more significantly than generation.

Basic Setup

• Purpose: Ideal for smaller productions or on-location use with Reeltime Lite.

• Recommended Chip: M4 or better.

• Tested Models: Mac mini M4 (most affordable option), MacBook Air/Pro M4 for mobile setups.

• Features:

  • 2 HD-SDI input slots

  • 2 library slots

  • 1 composite slot

  • 2 HD-SDI output slots

Advanced Setup

• Purpose: Designed for full-featured Reeltime Pro usage, including demanding tasks like chroma key compositing and multiple filters.

• Recommended Chip: M2 Pro or better.

• Tested Models: MacBook Pro M2 Pro.

• Features:

  • 3 HD-SDI input slots

  • 3 library slots

  • 2 composite slots (chroma key compositing)

  • 3 HD-SDI output slots

  • 2 local streams

  • 1 internet stream

Max Setup

• Purpose: For maximum performance with all input/output slots of Reeltime Pro and complex compositing settings.

• Recommended Chip: M2 Ultra or better.

• Tested Models: Mac Studio M2 Ultra.

• Features:

  • 6 HD-SDI input slots

  • 3 library slots

  • 3 composite slots (chroma key compositing)

  • 6 HD-SDI output slots

  • 2 local streams

  • 1 internet stream

Comparison Table

Comparison table of tested setups and recommended hardware

Note 1: None of the recommended hardware setups poses a hard limit. The software does not limit its capabilites depending on the hardware, so you are free to test your specific use cases beyond the given feature scope, or with even smaller hardware. Our recommendations propose the “safe” option for the mentioned features.

Note 2: If you want to test Reeltime with an available, maybe older “M” processor, please keep in mind that some of the M1 processors (e.g. in the first generation MacBook Airs) have no ProRes acceleration and thus will get to their CPU limits much earlier than other machines.

Further reading

To learn more about the underlying testing for the Apple hardware recommendations, read the blog article Hardware recommendations for Reeltime: 3 setups from basic to max playback power.