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FCP edit system with Varicam
Hi,
thanks for the great forum… I’ve read through almost every thread from the past 6 months and learned some great info.
We recently purchased a VariCam package and love it. We’ve been shooting BetaSP for years with a Sony D600WS and editing on Media 100. With the VariCam, we’re making the move to FCP and are hoping to get some advice on the best configuration for a system.
Our biggest question is about firewire vs. HD-SDI for input. From what I’ve read so far, there seem to be two camps at odds over this question. I find myself leaning toward HD-SDI (real time frame rate conversions, more real time effects in FCP, no “re-rendering” long sequences that have numerous layers with graphics or composites, elimination of sync problems/monitor flicker, etc.). But if I’m also reading correctly, HD-SDI input means an uncompressed signal and that means lots more storage space, right?
So here are some questions I have:
1. If we go HD-SDI, are we automatically signing up for RAID storage, or is it possible to utilize Firewire 800 storage with this option?
2. What is the best HD-SDI card to use with the DVCProHD-FCP system? I’m hearing Kona2 from our friends at Panasonic, but I’ve also heard Black Magic makes a nice board for less $$. Any comments?
3. What is the best way to hook up an HD program monitor? We’d like to have a dedicated HD monitor so we can see what we’re doing! We’re planning on using an Apple 23″ display for editing and probably a Panasonic 17″ HD monitor for a program monitor. I’ve heard the Kona 2 card would also provide a continuous signal to a program monitor… is this true?
4. Now here comes the crazy question… would it be possible (as a very short term solution) to digitize some test footage directly from the camera over HD-SDI? I know this is not optimal, but it would help us tremendously to be able to work with our test footage as we get ourselves up to speed on the camera and FCP. A 1200A deck is in the near future, but for now, it would be great to be able to work with our test footage without having to rent a deck every time.
Thank you very much and thanks for the excellent forum!
Jennifer
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7 Replies
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Jennifer,
1) Yes, if you go HD-SDI, you will need fast RAID storage. Firewire 800 not fast enough.
2) I have been told that KONA 2 is better. I have a client who uses Blackmagic, and there is noticabale compression and banding. I am told the KONA does not have this issue.
3) You will want to hook up your monitor via the HD-SDI out of your Mac. Panasonic is releasing a new 17″ 16×9 HD LCD Monitor later this year. It will be priced in the 3k reigon, and will be perfect for edit systems. I tried the apple lcd/blackmagic HD Link… I found it to be ok, but not great. Go with a true broadcast monitor, designed for maximum performance.
4) I don’t see why you can’t do a “capture now” out of the camera.
For what it is worth, I have been using Final Cut 5 with HD footage via firewire. The footage is noticbily better, with far less noise and very clean.
Chris Bell
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Thanks, Chris. I appreciate the info a lot.
So you are using firewire for input… what do you use for storage? Just curious as we explore all our options.
Thanks again.
Jennifer
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And one more quick question… do you have sync problems when you playback your video to tape (or at any point in the post production process)? I’ve heard that monitor flicker/glitching is a problem with firewire. Did FCP 5 fix that?
thanks again,
Jennifer
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I use internal ATA or firewire 800. Both work well, I prefer the internal drive. The monitor glitch will never be fixed. While I cannot remember the specifics, an engineer at Panasonic explained to me the issues and why a fix was not possible. I plan to buy a KONA card soon so I can monitor via HD-SDI to my Panasonic LCD. Please note this glitch is only present in the monitor via firewire though the deck… there are no issues recording out via firewire.
Here is a good site with more FCP workflow info:
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/dvcpro_hd_workflow_balis.html
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[Chris Bell] “I prefer the internal drive. The monitor glitch will never be fixed. While I cannot remember the specifics, an engineer at Panasonic explained to me the issues and why a fix was not possible.”
OK
Do not capture to the internal drive your system folder is on, it will fail and you WILL drop frames,sooner rather than later.
The issues with monitoring footage over the FW bus is a problem with the bandwidth of the FW 400 buss — it can cause a momentary blanking of video being played back from your computer out the FW port to the 1200a deck to a HDSDI display, while it is annoying it does not affect the playback to tape.
it just trying to do too many things at once.gary adcock
Studio37
HD and Film Consultation -
[Chris Bell] “I prefer the internal drive. The monitor glitch will never be fixed. While I cannot remember the specifics, an engineer at Panasonic explained to me the issues and why a fix was not possible.”
OK
Do not capture to the internal drive your system folder is on, it will fail and you WILL drop frames,sooner rather than later.
The issues with monitoring footage over the FW bus is a problem with the bandwidth of the FW 400 buss — it can cause a momentary blanking of video being played back from your computer out the FW port to the 1200a deck to a HDSDI display, while it is annoying it does not affect the playback to tape.
it just trying to do too many things at once.gary adcock
Studio37
HD and Film Consultation -
Thank you both, very much. I’ll check out the FCP link, too.
Jennifer
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