Firestore Vs Decklink tape capture for FCS2 workflow??? …PLZ help.

[Walter Biscardi]

If you never plan to ever use a tape source, VTR or have the need to master out to tape ever, then get rid of the Decklink.

Personally, you’re talking about two different things. Your need to capture video in the field, you don’t want to use tape. Your need to provide editing services for which you have to decide if you want to be ready to do what the client needs to get their material into your system, or if you simply don’t have to worry about that.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

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[Steve Eisen]

Sell the Decklink and buy a Kona LHi. Sell the DVX and buy the HPX-170. That will eliminate your tape workflow.

If you really want a Firestore, I’ll sell you mine.

Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Board of Directors
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group

[Alan Okey]

Hi Adam,

I have just a general comment, not specifically tech related. What part of filmmaking do you enjoy the most? If you are doing everything right now (shooting, editing, finishing, etc.) then you’re going to find that it’s extremely expensive to do everything really well. On limited funds, it might be a better idea for you to partner with others who have specialized interests in the field rather than trying to do everything yourself.

Figure out what you love the most, whether it’s editing, shooting, directing, etc. and concentrate on that. Most people who aren’t independently wealthy or who don’t want to owe their first and second born to the bank can’t afford to pay for a great editing system (complete with a proper video preview monitor, good audio monitors and large/fast RAID storage), a great camera, a great sound package, a great lighting package, etc. And even if you can afford the gear, it takes a lot of experience in each aspect of production and post production to achieve master level status.

You can certainly rent what you need whenever you need it, but it’s hard to be an expert in everything. Pool your talents and resources with others in your field so that you can concentrate on playing to your strengths while you develop your skills in other areas rather than becoming a slave to the process or being overwhelmed (both technically and financially) to technology.

[Michael Gissing]

The most important thing about your Decklink is to use it to monitor your FCP output. If you never use it to ingest, it will still be vital to your professional monitoring. Use the component outs to your Samsung monitor for starters.

[Adam Coyle roach]

Thanks Michael, the damn samsung only accepts DVI or HDMI…so i believe Ive cornered myself on that proper decklink monitor option. *sigh*

for the rest of you, im still trying to process all your great answers, thanks a bunch. If a firestore were cheaper id get one immeidately, because i cant see any downside to it…can you, anyone?
-adam

I don’t have a message signature, and I’m comfortable with that.

[Michael Gissing]

There are boxes to convert SDI to HDMI. Don’t forget your Decklink will also be handy for edit to tape if you need to play your sequences out to digi beta or HDCam etc.

[Steve Oakley]

or… sell the decklink and get a MXO2. then you can take it mobile with a laptop to record from the camera when practical, as well as use it when editing. it has color managmenet on the HDMI port specifically to work better with LCD monitors.

however, your decklink _should_ be playing back. the reason it isn’t is that your video out setting doesn’t match your TL settings. both have to match. yet another thing that desperatly needs to be fixed in FCP – that FCP can tell hardware what setting it should use directly and just do it.