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capturing HD for FCP
Hi – I’ve searched through the archives, but I’m not really getting a clear answer to my question. I have a G5 Dual 2 PowerPC. I need to capture HD. I’m using a firewire drive to capture to. I would like to get a card, the last time i used HD Targa was the recommended card – what now?
Do I need anything else to ensure that I can capture uncompressed HD.
I do need to increase my RAM – is there a big difference between makers of RAM?
thanks.
Geralyn
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7 Replies
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[Geralyn Abinader] “I need to capture HD.”
What format of HD? There are many. If it is one capturable via firewire, it might be HDV, DVCPRO HD or XDCAM.
[Geralyn Abinader] “I’m using a firewire drive to capture to.”
This really isn’t recommended…unless you are capturing HDV or DVCPRO HD. Even then, it would be advisable to get a separate firewire card, as your mac, even though it has many firewire ports, has only ONE firewire bus, and you are using one for the camera. eSATA is the way to go, or a second internal hard drive if you have a MacPro or G5.
[Geralyn Abinader] “I would like to get a card, the last time i used HD Targa was the recommended card – what now?”
http://www.aja.com – Kona LH or Kona 3 – depending on you needs.
http://www.decklink.com – Decklink HD extreme or Multibridge Pro – again, need based.[Geralyn Abinader] “Do I need anything else to ensure that I can capture uncompressed HD.”
Yes…NOT FIREWIRE DRIVES. They cannot handle uncompressed HD. eSATA drives like the Sonnet 500P or CalDigit S2VR HD, or ePCIe like the CalDigit HD PRO and Sonnet 800P and Dulce Systems ProDQ (search the forums for drives…talked about weekly)
[Geralyn Abinader] “I do need to increase my RAM – is there a big difference between makers of RAM?”
Get at least 4GB of RAM…and really, as long as it is MacPRo compatible, you’ll be fine.
OH…and you’ll need an HD LCD monitor as well…those start at $4000.
Welcome to the expensive world of HD.
Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net -
[Geralyn Abinader] “Do I need anything else to ensure that I can capture uncompressed HD.”
Geralyn,
Firewire is a long way off from what you need for capture and playback of uncompressed HD. You’ll need a raid array with at least eight hard drives striped.
Keep in mind that most workflows for average broadcast editors do not entail editing uncompressed, instead they capture and edit compressed HD formats such as DVCProHD or, Pro Res 422.
YOu seem a bit unsure, so it might help if you mention how you arrived at the decision that uncompressed was the oreder of the day. What precise format were you thinking about? What is the ultimate destination of what you’re cutting?
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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Shane,
You beat me 1-minute. Have you had caffiene recently?
Good to see ya last night BTW…
David
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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[Geralyn Abinader] “what now?”
AJA Kona 3X
[Geralyn Abinader] “Do I need anything else to ensure that I can capture uncompressed HD.”
A firewire drive cannot capture Uncompressed HD. At least a 5 drive high speed SATA array is required.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR
The new Color Training DVD now available from the Creative Cow! -
[David Roth Weiss] “Good to see ya last night BTW…”
Great meeting you last night too. Nice surprise.
And yeah, I am pretty fast. When I want to be.
Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net -
Thank you Shane and Dave, this is most helpful. When I produced for the Museum of Natural History (NY), we had an amazing system, full raid array and worked with umcompressed because we usually projected the images very large in exhibits where visitors could get very close.
Wow, being on my own is a different ballgame. However, this is TV bound and we’re using DVCPro HD. So it seems like I can use FW drive if I get a separate FW card.
I really appreciate your help on this.
Best,
Geralyn
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and thank you,Walter, as well. Geralyn
Geralyn
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