-
Best hardware/software configuration for video production?
I work at a small production company; we use After Effects in some form for most of the promotional videos we put together – graphical intros, segues, etc. We’re currently looking for ways to increase productivity to keep us from having to re-render all the time due to color differences, etc.
Can anyone recommend software, hardware, or a combination of the two that would allow realtime video output from After Effects to an NTSC monitor and speed up preview/render times? One program doesn’t have to do both; we’re looking at a combination of things right now.
Near the top of my list so far are Echo Fire from Synthetic Aperture for output and Gridiron’s X-Factor for faster previews. I’m also looking at putting together a render farm (possibly using an open source queue manager), but that comes after solving these problems.
Thanks to anyone who can help me out.
-
8 Replies
-
If you have After Effects 6.5, Echo Fire isn’t necessary- you can already preview using firewire with capabilities built into the program. If you don’t have 6.5, it’s definitely worth the upgrade. If you’re working in resolutions other than DV (D1 SD or HD), you may want to consider one of the Decklink products.
I’m not sure X-Factor will give you what you’re looking for. I’ve messed around with it a bit without much luck. I’ll admit that I didn’t put a lot of effort into it and that they’ve released updates since then, but I’ve never really heard great things about it. If it really was the holy grail of Fast AE Previews, I’m sure there’d be a ton more buzz about it. Search this forum and see what you find (or try the free download). You might be better off upgrading your workstation, if you have the cash.
Sean
-
“Best” is subjective, but I would recommend:
AE 6.5 (Don’t need Echo Fire since AE 5 I think?)
Decklink Xtreme Card (www.decklink.com)
Decent Sony monitor (preferably with an SDI card but if not at least component)
A fast comp (if you don’t mind the OS, building custom PCs are super cheap even maxed out, if OS is important, then latest G5 at higher cost).Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Also very important a 3D app to compliment AE, I recommend Cinema4D for motion graphics. The Decklink will allow you to setup your output monitor as a second desktop monitor in apps that don’t directly spit out video (like AE). So in C4D, I set the test render window at D1 specs and put it off screen into the Decklink desktop mirror area. So whenever I hit the render button, I see it on a broadcast monitor to know my colors and levels are in the ballpark.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Thanks for your time and advice, Sean and Chris. I do have one question, though: Most of the work we do in After Effects is exported into Avid to be inserted into a project, so is the the D1 resolution or SDI quality provided by a Decklink card truly necessary for the preview I’d be doing (mostly for color temperature anyway)?
We do have After Effects 6.5; I just wasn’t aware of its monitor output capabilities since this is the first time I’ve even heard the suggestion that they might let me get my hands on an NTSC monitor to hook up to my computer.
As far as the 3D program goes, the current excuse is that “our projects don’t call for that sort of thing,” but I’m going to keep trying, most likely for 3DS Max if the opportunity arises (unless Cinema 4D has a better animation interface; I haven’t had any experience with it).
Thanks again.
-
Well, D1 is standard for Broadcast, especially going to an Avid for output, you will want to stick to the same resolution so yes I would always work in that (unless it’s HD of course).
IMO, ANY work spent in AE that will ever hit a video monitor is worth using SDI or component outs from an uncompressed card like a Decklink. Really Decklinks are so rediculously cheap that there is no excuse anymore not to use them (or others like them). It’s far more than checking color on a monitor, but the quality of your graphics, your edges, etc.. Cheaper compressed cards or bridges like DV will not give you good results for broadcast. They will be OK, but not the real deal.
You can by a Decklink card and a great Sony monitor for the same price as AE itself (used monitor).
As far as 3D, you may not NEED it, but a 3D/2D pipeline can take your work to quite another level.
Both 3D programs (C4D and 3DS) offer demo versions. Download them both and feel them out.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
[Chris Smith] “As far as 3D, you may not NEED it, but a 3D/2D pipeline can take your work to quite another level.”
… especially if you want to make ribbons ‘n’ stuff.
Steve 🙂
-
Chris, I know you’re a big fan of Cinema4D. I’ve downloaded the demo but it looks like there might be a bit of a learning curve…can you recommend any resources, text or ortherwise, for a fairly accomplished AE user wanting to learn C4D…
TIA,
Chris
MacOS 10.4.2/G5 dual2.3/AE6.5 Pro
-
The tutorial section here at the Cow and a LOT of video tutorials over at http://www.c4dcafe.com
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up