NVIDIA Studio and Acer ConceptD, laptops certified to improve creators' work

Officially launched last year at the Taipei Computex, Studio is the platform designed by NVIDIA to optimize the workflows of the so-called creators. A project that involves the main hardware manufacturers and the most popular software developers in the sector to create an ecosystem widely optimized and designed to put in the hands of professionals the machines that can always guarantee high performance and great stability.

Everything is obviously based on presence of NVIDIA graphics cards in their most recent versions and on the software stack (NVIDIA Studio Stack) provided by the black-green company to the software houses. Through SDKs and special APIs, developers can update the programs most used by content creators because they work in symbiosis with the hardware allowing to derive from it the best possible performance in all conditions. Users, for their part, will instead have the Driver Studio always up to date in order to make the production software and hardware communicate better with each other.

In other words, the ultimate goal is to reduce the loading time as much as possible ideally make the classic waiting wheel disappear from the work flow thus bringing the professional to move from the idea to the finished project in the shortest possible time. In optimal conditions we speak of completion speed of a project up to 12 times faster than a standard hardware thanks to the possibility of use the GPU in processes that would normally be CPU-dependentthus freeing up resources that can be used in other tasks.

In the field of video editing, for example, the GPU GeForce RTX Studio enable with graphics acceleration the advanced management of video streams up to 8K thanks to the optimization achieved with the Adobe Creative Cloud software allowing you to enrich your productions with visual effects and animations without excessively affecting the timing and quality of the renders. The solutions equipped with these GPUs are recommended for all those who work on content accessible on web platforms, for gamers and streamers who want to share high quality content with their community. Software such as OBS Studio or XSplit Broadcaster are optimized to take advantage of graphics cards and obtain better coding while lightening the CPU task.

Using products equipped with the latest RTX Studio framework all this is further amplified e recording studios and major companies in the world of cinema they can thus enjoy the same benefits on an even larger scale. Among the software optimized to work in perfect symbiosis with the NVIDIA hardware we have DaVinci Resolve, which can take advantage of the computational power of the GPU to speed up the use of tools for editing and color correction based on artificial intelligence.

All without forgetting the amateur or the beginner who, with a lower spending ceiling, can still begin to familiarize themselves with certain tools thanks to the solutions GeForce GTX, able in the same way to take advantage of the Studio platform to improve the user experience of certain software.

Up to here we have talked about theory but it is also right to understand if all this has real feedback in everyday life and in the production process. We will do it below through our "lens" – since we consider ourselves to be our creator – and that of some professionals who have been provided with notebooks Acer of the ConceptD line certified by NVIDIA Studio.

The goal, for everyone, is to understand if and in what way these solutions can bring a concrete advantage in daily work.

As just said, we wanted to get involved in the first person and so we used a Acer ConceptD 7, exactly the same model that we reviewed a few months ago and which is part of the NVIDIA Studio certified product line. Our configuration is equipped with a graphics card GeForce RTX 2060 and 32 GB of RAM, I would say the minimum union for those who do a lot of video editing.

When it comes to choosing a notebook to work, it is always good to keep in mind all the needs that we can meet and that's why this ConceptD 7 can be a solution that is well suited to the way we operate. First of all we need enough power to manage our video streams but at the same time a good portability to ensure that this power can also be exploited on occasions such as trade fairs.

Also with quite complex timelines projects are always managed very well and the addition of graphics and text doesn't seem to bother the available resources. Have we noticed concrete differences compared to other solutions? Absolutely yes, especially in the timing of rendering. With a gaming notebook equipped with an eighth generation Core i7 H processor and discrete graphics, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 takes on average a third of the time to complete the same rendering.

But not only, in Premiere Pro is the GPU that manages the preview video, the application of the effects and their export and this greatly reduces the timing of rendering and in general of project management.

With its 1.8 cm thick and approximately 2 kg in weight let's talk about a solution that is still portable. Of course the impact in the backpack is greater than that of the most recent ultrabooks but with those solutions we could never have the same rendering speed and the same fluidity in the management of the Premiere timeline that we have here. We say that the size is in this case a compromise that we digest very willingly because it is rewarded with performances that allow us to significantly speed up production times and to be online in the shortest possible time when the real added value is in timeliness.

We must not forget the Pantone certified display, calibrated at the factory to have 100% Adobe RGB coverage, which we have verified, and Delta E contents that indicate good fidelity in color reproduction. They are fundamental features when producing visual content and the AI-based editing tools to manage color correction are supported to a great extent by the hardware available and the instructions provided by the Studio drivers.

Mariana Martini she is the first of the three young professionals we wanted to involve in this project, she is one architect and interior designer who has for some time left his job as an employee to open his own studio with two offices, one in Rio de Janeiro (2013) and one in Milan (2017). In just three years of activity, the Italian studio has won several AWARDS, followed more than 100 projects and has become Ambassador of Archiproducs Milano.

The creative process that leads Mariana from the idea to the final result has several steps. It starts with it development of floor plans in Vectorworks, which allows you to work both in 2D and in 3D, then move on to renderings with 3DS Max and Vray and post production with Photoshop. In short, a nice routine that engages the machine in an important way, especially from a graphic point of view.

To this must be added the need for show customers the work presenting the projects and following with them the various stages of implementation to better understand the needs and adapt the initial idea to the needs of those who commission the work. It therefore becomes essential to have a good-sized and quality displays, better if equipped with touchscreen and pen to be able to take notes instantly.

I found it wonderful to be able to present and put notes on the layout as I do with my iPad, with the difference that the graphic power of this ConceptD allows me not to interrupt the presentation while waiting for uploads

Some renderings made by Mariana

The choice for Mariana therefore fell on a ConceptD 7 Ezel with GeForce RTX 2070, the most recent version of the notebook which is equipped with a touch panel but above all with special hinges that allow you to rotate it and flatten it above the keyboard in a format similar to that of a tablet. The advantages of having a similar solution are different. First of all, the possibility of being consulted by several people at the same time and of being able to examine the plans in an agile and above all fast way.

PLANIMETRY 1 – PLANIMETRY 2

However powerful, the iPad Pro previously used for this purpose, in fact, does not allow Mariana the same ease and speed in navigation of the plans exported to PDF. The graphics acceleration and GPU power makes the difference in this case and albeit with a larger footprint than the tablet you have a better usability. The pen in the pack is another point in favor because it allows you to take notes on the plans and in general helps to fix the main points of the meetings in the development of the various arguments.

I found this ConceptD 7 Ezel a fast and silent notebook, it's a little heavier than my old MacBook Pro but I don't have to carry the iPad with me anymore.

Working on three-dimensional renderings with 3DS Max the GeForce RTX 2070 then becomes a fundamental element also in modeling and rendering, made more fluid thanks to the joint optimization of hardware and software. Thanks to this combination, physically accurate graphic displays can be created very quickly. Do not forget the ray tracing, thanks to which the simulation of the behavior of light in real time environments allows projects to take on a much more realistic appearance.

And let's move on to Paolo Baccolo, a freelance filmmaker that is also Adobe Premiere Pro certified instructoras well as ambassadors of several companies that produce high-level software and hardware for content creation. I met Paolo some time ago at an event and it was on that occasion that I understood the level of complexity that a video project on Premiere Pro can reach. It was the timeline of a concert with over 30 tracks from as many different cameras positioned around and above the stage. Obviously my professional deformation immediately led me to think about what hardware was needed to develop such a project and if all this could also be managed on the move.

As you may have guessed, Paolo spends most of his working life in close contact with Adobe suite, mainly Premiere Pro and After Effects, and precisely for this reason an NVIDIA Studio certified solution such as the ConceptD 7 with RTX 2080 is a decidedly sensible choice. The optimization I have already told you about is related to Adobe software is undoubtedly one of the most appreciated features but it is not the only reason why this notebook can be suitable for a videomaking professional.

Within After Effects, the GPU can be of great help for projects that require the use of various highly articulated 3D layers and compositions. The cuda cores speed up playback and export in addition to giving great help in all the assembly and post-production phases.

The 4K displayfor example, it is one of the most appreciated aspects by Paolo who in his studio uses two professional EIZO monitors with high color fidelity characteristics and who has found in the ConceptD panel a valid ally for mobile editing. Obviously we cannot expect the same precision of the studio solutions but in any case we remain on an excellent level considering the type of solution and what are the alternatives on the market. The 15 inches, especially if with a 4k resolution, are then the correct size to be able to have a portable product but still with enough space on the screen to not have to scroll too much left and right along the timeline while maintaining a sufficient preview size.

Autonomy is surprising. Despite the important hardware, the good work of integration between integrated and discrete graphics carried out by Optimus technology allows to reduce consumption and to be able to cover an entire morning of photo editing lessons on Photoshop without access to the power. 4-5 hours of real use therefore unthinkable for products of this type until recently.

The 15 inch matte and UHD resolution monitor is perfect for managing complex projects even on the move.

And then there is the USB C with Thunderbolt support, essential to be able to connect a 10 Gigabit ethernet adapter thanks to which it is possible to work directly connected with the NAS and make the most of the bandwidth for accessing files on external media as if they were local. The same Thunderbolt that, far from the office, can be used to connect external SSDs from which to access projects quickly, projects that often exceed the capacity of the single 1Tb disk inserted in the notebook.

A ConceptD 7 that has not batted an eyelid even when Paolo's workstation has been under the knife for a week and the notebook has been used to replace it without disappointing expectations, proving to be a reliable alternative in many situations.

And we close our triptych with Alessandro Meraviglia. By opening your Linkedin profile, you are really spoiled for choice: content creator, videomaker, graphic designer and at times photographer; in short, the ideal profile of the recipient user of these notebooks designed for creatives and which are increasingly making their way into the market. Solutions created to meet the needs of those who would like the power of a gaming laptop with a more sober design and ad hoc optimizations for the production of multimedia content.

The spot for Acer shot and edited by Alessandro

Alexander says his mission is to tell and communicate with images and that in order to do his job at best, he is always looking for tools and ideas that offer him the opportunity to make new projects come true and to do it in the most effective, fast and safe way possible. In order to best express his creativity and the potential of his ideas, it is necessary that the work flow from the idea to the final result is constant and uninterrupted.

I always thought that to make exciting and quality videos, in addition to the sensitivity of the author, the equipment and the technique, it is necessary to work with tools that return the true value of intentions.

In recent weeks he has tested the ConceptD 3 which turned out to be a concrete notebook and with all the credentials to satisfy what are the desired characteristics. Optimization with the Adobe suite becomes even more important here, where the discrete GPU is a GeForce GTX 1650, the entry level model regarding the current NVIDIA range. The more the software is able to communicate with the graphics card, the better the fluidity of the elaboration process.

Photo: Alessandro Meraviglia

Transportability is also appreciated notebook. Alessandro has often collaborated with resorts and hotels around the world for video and other digital content productions. Traveling is therefore an important part of his job and in the future he does not rule out the possibility of making this ConceptD 3 his travel companion. This is also thanks to the battery that surprised him positively and which is obviously a fundamental requirement when working very far at home.

The screen calibration (DCI-P3) of ConceptD 3, certified Pantone, allows a truly exceptional image rendering

Alessandro's final message is emblematic, explaining how working with brands of the caliber of Ferrari, Adidas, Redbull and Gillette, for whom the image is a primary component of communication, you cannot afford to work with tools that in some way can limit the expression of one's creativity e ConceptD 3 with its NVIDIA Studio certification it's a product that guarantees that awareness of being able to think only of one's own idea and its development, forgetting the car.

Content in collaboration with NVIDIA and Acer