hardware acceleration for DVCPro HD project

[Shane Ross]

[Andrei Bocharnikov] “we are looking for solution of hardware acceleration for editing in FCP.”

No such thing. All the capture cards will take the anamorphic scaling of the footage (from 960×720 to 1280×720) off of the processors, so that will help with RT a little, but no true hardware acceleration for FCP exists. None for Avid either.

[Andrei Bocharnikov] “Is Matrox MXO2 is the way to go?”

Well, unlike the Matrox RT for PCs and Premeire, the MXO2 does not provide hardware acceleration. But, it is a great box to have. I have one and really like it.

[Andrei Bocharnikov] “I like option to have video monitor with any HDMI TV for color correction and preview.”

Then this is a great option. Perfectly fine for you, especially since you are not going to broadcast. This box offers a large variety of inputs and outputs, ability to calibrate a monitor via HDMI, upconvert SD to HD, cross convert 720p to 1080i on input and output. Usable on a tower or laptop. VERY good box.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Andrei Bocharnikov]

Thank you Shane!

Maybe then I do not really need MXO2 just for monitoring?

Do you have any suggestion for alternative solution to have reference monitor for video color correction? How do you have picture reference from your FCP timeline or from Color?

Other thing is confusing for me. Why FCP do not take advantage of 8 cores of MacPro? FCP struggling to playback some heavy effects or to render non-RT stuff in timeline but CPU graphs show that all my 8 cores are busy maximum up to about 20% and just taking rest. Any idea how I can engage the power of 8 core processor to do the job?

MacPro Dual Quad 2.8 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, Leopard 10.5.6, QT 7.5.5, FCS2

[Shane Ross]

[Andrei Bocharnikov] “Maybe then I do not really need MXO2 just for monitoring?”

Well, you need SOMETHING for monitoring, right? AJA, Decklink, Matrox are your companies. You can use the original MXO if you want, but that takes up a DVI port. But you can then use a computer monitor to monitor (click on my head to find the article on that).

[Andrei Bocharnikov] “Do you have any suggestion for alternative solution to have reference monitor for video color correction? How do you have picture reference from your FCP timeline or from Color?”

Well, the MXO and Dell 2408 or 2409…or older Apple 23″ (newer ones have different connection types). Or the MXO 2 and HDTV. I use the MXO 2 on my own system connected to a PVM-14L5 HD CRT. At work I have a Kona 3 connected to the same.

[Andrei Bocharnikov] “Why FCP do not take advantage of 8 cores of MacPro?”

That is something APple knows but isnt saying why. Blame Apple.

[Andrei Bocharnikov] “Any idea how I can engage the power of 8 core processor to do the job?”

Not possible yet. Maybe soon. Never know.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Andrei Bocharnikov]

Thank you Shane!

MacPro Dual Quad 2.8 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, Leopard 10.5.6, QT 7.5.5, FCS2

[Andrei Bocharnikov]

One more question. What min. specs HDMI LCD monitor i have to buy to meet hd video reference monitoring? I found some very cheap:

— LG Flatron W2442PA-BF
https://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=437379

— ACER H243Hbmid
https://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4242611

— ACER P244Wbmii
https://www.itechnews.net/2008/11/17/acer-p244wbmii-full-hd-lcd-display/#more-15514

— ASUS VW246H
https://reviews.cnet.com/lcd-monitors/asus-vw246h-lcd-display/4505-3174_7-33411725.html

They all have:
– 2ms response time. Is it enough?
– TN matrix. Trace Free Technology (TFT)
– HDMI in

Are the specs acceptable for video monitoring? Should I expect color bending?
Price for all these monitors are under 250 euro (uround $300)

MacPro Dual Quad 2.8 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, Leopard 10.5.6, QT 7.5.5, FCS2

[Andrei Bocharnikov]

actually they have 2 ms grey-to-gray response. i am not sure what does it mean but maybe normal response much longer?

MacPro Dual Quad 2.8 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, Leopard 10.5.6, QT 7.5.5, FCS2

[Andrei Bocharnikov]

[Shane Ross] “Well, the MXO and Dell 2408 or 2409…or older Apple 23″”

what do you mean by “older 23″? what is the problem with connection? I found some local offers of second hand ACD 23”. How to be sure they sell older model?

MacPro Dual Quad 2.8 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, Leopard 10.5.6, QT 7.5.5, FCS2

[Shane Ross]

[Andrei Bocharnikov] “what do you mean by “older 23″? what is the problem with connection?”

Yes…not the NEW Apple 23″ monitor. That one has some special connection that only works with the new MacBook Pros and MacPros…it does not have a DVI input. So by older I mean ones that sport a DVI connection. But the Dells are cheaper by almost half, so I’d aim for one of those.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Andrei Bocharnikov]

i see…

an what about cheap LCDs I listed in one of the previous messages? are they ok for monitoring or it will probably give ghosting on movements and bending on gradients? I noticed that plasma TVs have faster response and big number of grades. But plasmas are little too much for our budget. About at least 4x more expensive then mentioned LCDs.

Thank you Shane for your input,

MacPro Dual Quad 2.8 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, Leopard 10.5.6, QT 7.5.5, FCS2

[Shane Ross]

You get what you pay for. Buy cheap, get cheap. Will cheap work as just a way to see what you have on a big screen? Sure. Will it be an accurate representation of what your footage really looks like? I doubt it. The better the monitor, the better the image…just like a cheap TV compared to a nice expensive one looks, well, crappy.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def