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FireWire vs. RAID
I’m going to be cutting a documentary over the next couple years that will probably amass over 400hrs of footage. I’m using FCP 5 on a Dual 2Ghz G5 running 10.4.3. The project will be shot and finished in HDV. I’m trying to decide if I want to invest in a massive RAID setup or daisy chain a bunch of FireWire drives. What are the drawbacks to using around 15+ FireWire drives for video editing? Is there enough bandwidth to run that much information through FireWire? If FireWire works, why would I purchase a RAID?
Thanks,
Alain -
5 Replies
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15+ firewire drives? At the same time? Don’t think so!
Go for a RAID. Here’s something to think about. If your project will be on going over the next couple of years, chances are the cost of any hard drive is going to go down while it’s capacity goes up. So, what ever you do buy, get something that is expandable… at tomorrows lower prices.
Mark
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Also,
HDV? I would say to be careful. Judging by some of the mixed reviews and the lack of Broadcasters catching on to the HDV craze. There might be not such format in a few years, I know its hard to believe. There are a few formats that just seemed to have “missed its mark”. You might want to downconvert to standard def and keep your masters on HDV for an online in HD. I just finished a doc that was shot in HD on standard def. The broadcasters in canada can’t handle HD so to upgrade the edit suite for HD would’ve been a bit premature. Anyways, just my thoughts…
Good luck in whatever you do!
mike
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Any recommendations?
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That’s 5 to 10 Terrabytes. Whew. 400:1 shooting ratio? If you really have to shoot that much, how about logging tapes & pulling selects? Maybe a few frame grabs from scenes you’re not completely digitizing, so you’ll have a visual reference? If you could get total capture down to 2 TB or so, your options increase dramatically.
As for RAID, I’m a big fan of HUGE Systems. Run mine in RAID3 for data safety. Drives die. Don’t let your data. (Many others say they don’t mind recapturing from tape, true, but I also store project files (art, effects, text, etc) on it.Bob Woodhead / Atlanta
Quantel-Avid-FCP-3D-Crayola
G5 DP 2G, 10.3.4, 3.5GB RAM, FCP 4.5, Aja IO, Huge 320R [raid3] -
The G-Raid from G Tech is also an outstanding choice! Been using one on a dual 2.7 G5 with an AJA IO LA device and it works like a dream.
Also, I totally agree with an earlier post – log clips and dig. selects. Whether you pay someone to be in the field or do it yourself back at the suite. With as much as you’re shooting it would save you a lot of headaches down the road.Good luck,
Bugsy
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