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Need help configuring a new FCP system…
I’m trying to figure out exactly what I’ll need for a new system. I haven’t done much editing in the past couple years, so I’m a bit out of the loop on equipment. I could really use some advice. I am replacing an original G5, which has passed away.
I have actually gone back to school to do an MBA, so I will only be using the system part-time (at least for the next year or two). I have a corporate video project I’m going to shoot in a couple weeks. I’d like to shoot it on an HD camera – will probably use a Panasonic P2 or Sony XDCAM. After that, I envisage using the system for editing the occasional documentary/corporate video, as well as the occasional short film. I would like to be able to use it for editing HD. The system will only be used p/t at best, and unlike like a post house doing broadcast work where time is of the essence, speed is not so critical.
I only have a budget of about $4-5k. The less I can get by on spending the better. I do already have a display (a Dell 2408wfp), a broadcast monitor and some Edirol speakers. I could lift some of the parts from the old machine, but I imagine the only thing I could use might be the memory or hard drives (which are probably too small and slow). Here in Canada… the 2.66 single quad core Mac Pro (with Apple Care) will be $2900… that is just with the min 3gb of memory. The two 2.26 quad core is $3500. I’m thinking going for the former and spending the money elsewhere may be the best idea.
Any advice of what configuration I should get memory, storage etc would greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!!!
Shane
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4 Replies
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If you are going back to school, you may qualify for an educational discount.
If you say you are planning to use the system part-time, you may think about leasing a system.
Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Board of Directors
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group -
Yes indeed – the prices I mentioned do include the educational discount. I could look into leasing. I suppose the main reason for purchasing it is simply that it would be nice to get, while I have the chance, especially for low paid or unpaid work where I wouldn’t have a budget to cover the costs. I did always rent certain equipment such as a VTR. Also, I’m assuming if I leased a whole system for 2-3 weeks the costs could be quite substantial. Steve, are you thinking the budget I mentioned would not be adequate to get a system capable of handling HD?
Many thanks. -
As with any system, get the most you can afford. Sometimes you can get a great deal on the refurbs.
Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Board of Directors
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group -
I really think that the refurbished 8-core 2.8Ghz computer is a great price. To get 8-cores for $2400 is a bargain. I’d much rather put the money into a nice capture card like the AJA Kona LHi.
I would order 8GB of ram through crucial.com
I also think the using the CalDigit RAID card with four internal drives is a great way to get into a RAID 5 set up.
-Russ
Russell Lasson
Colorist/Digital Cinema Specialist
Color Mill
Salt Lake City, UT
http://www.colormill.net
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