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Confused newbie seeking advice
I have only just come over from Avid Liquid to the FCP world and a Mac.
I have a Power Mac 8 core 3 Gz with 8 Gig of ram. I have two 30 inch HP displays on the mac. In addition to the Apple Studio 2 software I use AE and Ps etc.All my work i for my own productions – mainly marine based video.
I use my own cameras only – a Sony Z1 HDV and the Sony PMW-EX1 using HD XDCAM.
I am now looking to do the following jobs:-
1. Colour correction – so I need output to a monitor that can handle that and the means to output the signal.
2. Component output to a plasma 42 inch that I already own.
3. If possible improved rendering speed. I edit the HDV in ProRes and the XDCAM in its native imported QT wrapped form.
So what hardware would be the best route to go to achieve the above?
All advice appreciated. -
17 Replies
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[Paul Burgess] “1. Colour correction – so I need output to a monitor that can handle that and the means to output the signal.”
For that you will need an HD capture card. AJA and Black Magic make cards for this. And then you will need an HD monitor that will accept the signal. For broadcast quality you will need a broadcast quality HD LCD, and they start at about $3500. If you are making DVDs only, then the BlackMagic Intensity and an HDMI HDTV should be a good option for you.
[Paul Burgess] “2. Component output to a plasma 42 inch that I already own.”
For that you’d need the Decklink Intensity Pro, or Decklink Extreme, or AJA Kona LHe.
[Paul Burgess] ”
3. If possible improved rendering speed. I edit the HDV in ProRes and the XDCAM in its native imported QT wrapped form.”The only way you can improve render times is to get a computer with faster processors. RAM helps too, but to a lesser extent.
Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
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Thanks for the advice.
I need to ask more questions to clear up my ‘overinfoed’ mind..1, HD Monitoring – is it not cheaper to get the AJA MXO box and an Apple 23 inch display?
Over here in the UK that would cost about $2500 USA for the pair.
Or will that not provide the quality needed for Colour correction?
Or does the Kona 3 card/bob provide an output that matches the MXO as well as the component for the plasma?2. I was told there was no point in going over 8 gig on the ram because ti would not be used by FCP etc. So I have to accept that thats my limit for rendering but does not the Kona 3 lift off some burden from the Mac and therefore speed up the rendering?
My work is all output to DVD or in various forms to the web. Never the less I am trying to achieve the highest quality so that they may be later used on some specialist TV channels.
So I do some conversion work for the web and of course use Compressor etc.
Looking forward to your response and once again thank you for taking the time to advise.
Paul
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[Paul Burgess] “.1, HD Monitoring – is it not cheaper to get the AJA MXO box and an Apple 23 inch display?”
Yes, that combination is the cheapest way to go to get proper colors. And since you were working with HDV and XDCAM, importing via firewire and via the SS card, I would have recommended it. However, I heard that the PAL version of the Apple Display doesn’t have the proper refresh rate. the MXO and ACD combo need the 59.94 rate…60 Hz basically. You being in PAL land the refresh rate of the ACD isn’t quite right. That’s why I didn’t mention it. It provides the quality you need, but it might not work properly there. E-mail the guys at Matrox and see if you get get a better answer.
[Paul Burgess] “2. I was told there was no point in going over 8 gig on the ram because ti would not be used by FCP etc. So I have to accept that thats my limit for rendering but does not the Kona 3 lift off some burden from the Mac and therefore speed up the rendering?”
No capture cards assist in rendering. Some help with more RT effects with certain formats, like HDV and DVCPRO HD (the Kona 3 does this), but they don’t speed up rendering. And unless you plan on running multiple programs at the same time, getting more than 8GB of RAM won’t help.
Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net -
Now there is some solid advice that could have cost me dearly – i will check the matter out as you suggest.
My system still takes ages doing QT conversions etc.
I assume the Kona 3 would help with this? Help a lot?
It would also provide the component output.
I am trying to base my decisions on longer term needs hence the multiple questions.Once again thanks for the advice and sorry to pester ou with questions 🙂
Paul
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[Paul Burgess] “My system still takes ages doing QT conversions etc.
I assume the Kona 3 would help with this? Help a lot?”You assume incorrectly. The Kona will not be able to help with this at all. It can convert as it captures to many formats, but it cannot aid in conversion via software like Compressor.
[Paul Burgess] “It would also provide the component output.”
That it will do. SDI in only, but Component and composite outs.
[Paul Burgess] “Once again thanks for the advice and sorry to pester ou with questions :-)”
No problem. That’s why we are here.
Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net -
OK. thank you – almost there now.
You wrote, in relation to outputting to a broadcast monitor:-
“For that you will need an HD capture card. AJA and Black Magic make cards for this”
Which exact card would you suggest?
Won’t a AJA Kona LHe do that job as well as outputting to the large plasma?Paul
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[Paul Burgess] “Which exact card would you suggest?”
The one that suits your needs. A Decklink Extreme is only $995, and can input and output HD SDI, Component, Composite and S-Video. The Decklink Intensity Pro inputs and outputs Component, COmposite and S-Video, and costs $400. Both are cheaper than the Kona LHe. But, the Kona LHe adds more RT to HDV and DVCPRO HD in terms of effects handling. So it all depends on your needs.
[Paul Burgess] “Won’t a AJA Kona LHe do that job as well as outputting to the large plasma?”
Yes, as will the Decklink cards I mentioned.
I like AJA, but I also want you to know that Decklink is a perfectly viable option.
Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net -
My plan is now to:-
1. Check out with Matrox to see if I can use the MXO in PAL land – I do not expect a positive answer.
2. In any even get the AJA Kona LHe card as it will let me connect the plasma and the broadcast monitor (I guess not at the same time unless you can suggest some sort of splitter box.) and I will get some RT effects speed benefits as well. I just like the quality vibes coming out of Kona products.
3. If step one is a no go with the MXO what colour LCD broadcast monitors would you go for?
I have no idea of which is best – its purpose would be to colour correct using Colour – or Color as I should learn to call it 🙂 I do not want to go mad on price but would need something that can do the job properly.
Paul
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[Paul Burgess] ”
2. In any even get the AJA Kona LHe card as it will let me connect the plasma and the broadcast monitor (I guess not at the same time unless you can suggest some sort of splitter box.)”Can to. You can go HD SDI to a broadcast monitor, and then COmponent to the plasma. Or component to the broadcast monitor, and with the aid of a HD SDI to DVI box like the AJA HDP then DVI to HDMI, you can connect the plasma.
[Paul Burgess] “3. If step one is a no go with the MXO what colour LCD broadcast monitors would you go for?”
My favorites are, in this order:
TVLOGIC LVM-240D – $7995
JVC DTV 24L2D – $4695
Panasonic BT-LH1700 or LH2600
Sony LMD-2450W HDAll will work with the MXO. And the AJA or Decklink cards too.
Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net -
Thanks once again.
Having decided to investigate the JVC 24L2D I cannot trace it anywhere on Google!
Its only reference is back to your messages?
Have you got the model number right?Paul
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