• Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy

  suggestions for computer to run FCP 5.1.1 to edit HDV/master format?

  Posted by Brian Lindstrom on October 16, 2006 at 5:20 pm

  Hi Everyone:

  I have over 50 hours of documentary footage shot on the Sony HVR-A1U in HDV mode. I need to start editing, and I’m told my current computer (550 MHz PowerPC G4 with 512 MB SDDRAM) can’t handle FCP 5.1.1 and hdv. Can anyone suggest the best (and most economical) computer I should get so I can start editing? It is not crucial that I edit on a laptop if there is substantial money to be saved with a desktop.

  Is FCP 5.1.1 the best and most up-to-date version of FCP for HDV?

  Also, has anyone out there edited cinema-verite style documentaries (meaning very long takes) shot in hdv on fcp 5.1.1? I have heard horror stories about having to re-render whenever making a cut–I’m hoping that isn’t the case.

  And finally, can I master on HDV? If not, what is the best format? I will be screening the finished piece in an auditorium using a video projector.

  Thanks,
  Brian

  David Bogie replied 19 years, 10 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  David Bogie

  October 17, 2006 at 3:37 pm

  > Can anyone suggest the best (and most economical) computer I should get so I can start editing? It is not crucial that I edit on a laptop if there is substantial money to be saved with a desktop.< Visit apple.com and look up the prices. You didn't state your budget nor the rest of your offline peripherals. The best is not going to be the most economical unless you know how to set it up yourself. > Is FCP 5.1.1 the best and most up-to-date version of FCP for HDV?< Nope, check the FCP marketing pages for the latest information. > Also, has anyone out there edited cinema-verite style documentaries (meaning very long takes) shot in hdv on fcp 5.1.1? I have heard horror stories about having to re-render whenever making a cut–I’m hoping that isn’t the case.< HDV is not a linear fdigital ile format like DV, it's an implementation of MPEG2 so every cut requires serious CPU time to do the interpolation to create the missing frames. You probably need to research the format more closely before deciding on your editing platform. Try these: https://www.expandore.com/product/Sony/Proav/model/HDV/QNA.htm
  HDV is a “consumer high-definition video format” proposed by a consortium of manufacturers, the core of which is composed by JVC, Sony, Canon and Sharp. These companies proposed the basic format specifications in July of 2003, and the formal announcement of the format came in a press release from the HDV consortium on 30 September 2003. HDV is native 16:9 with supported frame rates of 60i (frames-per-second interlaced), 30p (progressive), 50i, and 25p. All HDV variants record to existing standard DV format digital video cassettes, the most popular form factor of which is the Mini-DV shell. The transport stream interface conforms to IEEE 1394 (FireWire). HDV1 (from JVC) is a 19 megabit-per-second MPEG-2 transport stream with a resolution of 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels tall. HDV2 (from Sony and Canon) is a 25 megabit-per-second MPEG-2 transport stream with a resolution of 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall.< > And finally, can I master on HDV? If not, what is the best format? I will be screening the finished piece in an auditorium using a video projector.
  < You can but "best" is always relative. You will need something to play it on that will hook into your projector. bogiesan This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

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