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Best Setup for Final Cut HD on Macbook Pro…
I will be using a Macbook Pro in the field and want to edit on Final Cut HD using a HD camera. I will have 3 of these shooting/editing stations so I’m looking for the right setup that is easy to handle in the field but not at the expense of quality. Can someone recommend a good setup. I am more of a user and less of a technical person so any info would really help.
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5 Replies
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I shoot with a Canon A1 and edit on a MBP with 4 gigs RAM, I have a two bay Firmtec 1 terabite RAID 0. But you can get much more storage at RAID 5 or 6 with this same setup. But it works very well.
Have a wonderful day.
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I’m putting a budget together. How much do you think approximately this setup would run.
Thanks for your input by the way. I had a Canon XL and loved it, so the Canon XH-A1 looks like the right camera for me.
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It’s down to how much you want to spend. For what you’re after I would recommend using a camera that records to some type of media card rather than tape. It will save you time and in my opinion tapeless is the way the industry is going in the long run – jump on the bandwagon!
There are loads of different cameras out there and it’s difficult to suggest something without knowing how much you expect to spend on them.
Laptop-wise, just get the most powerful one you can afford along with the relevant software – Final Cut Studio, possibly Adobe Creative Suite too. You should look further into your external storage though, as you shouldn’t be editing with files on your internal system drive. A minimum is an external drive with firewire 800, but have a look at e-SATA and different RAID options.[Steve Gill] “Can someone recommend a good setup. I am more of a user and less of a technical person so any info would really help.”
Ok, here’s my suggestion, without the technical stuff above:
3x JVC HM700 (when they come out) – they might of course turn out to be terrible but if they do what it says on the tin then I think they sound great
Macbook Pro with the most RAM and fastest processor, standard internal drive.
e-SATA express card
2 drive SATA/e-SATA enclosure + 2x 1TB harddrives in RAID 0 (for editing)
2 drive enclosure + 2x 1TB harddrives in RAID 1 (for backups)With a tapeless workflow you must remember that the files the camera creates are essentially your master tape – lose them and lose clients! You have to back these up and be sure that you don’t wildly delete things while you’re running out of harddrive space in the field.
Good luck,
Alex Elkins -
I appreciate the info. I’ll check prices out elsewhere. I’m not sure about tapeless cause I really care more about optics and picture quality. The rest I can certainly get used to… tapeless or not. Good suggestions and I thank you for your time.
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[Steve Gill] “I really care more about optics and picture quality.”
Then why in God’s name are you going with HDV? Very prone to bad digital breakup that is very unacceptable in my book.
https://lfhd.blogspot.com/2009/03/hdv-pixelization.html
If you want good optics and GOOD recording, go tapeless. Sony EX1 or EX3. Panasonic HPX-300.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def
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