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New to Mac, new to FCP–what do I need to upgrade?
I kind of hijacked this thread, and have more questions so I thought I’d start a new post. Here’s the original thread:
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/8/956318
Background:
I’m an Avid user who just took a job where they use FCP. I’m determined to give it a fair shake, but I’m pretty new to FCP and Macs in general. Here’s my system as best as I can recall (not in front of it right now).G5 PowerPC
Dual 2.0GHz (or 2.2GHz, can’t remember exactly which)
2GB RAM
RAID 5 with about 650 GB Storage (it’s an XServe or XSan or something. I can’t remember exactly it’s called–I power it up and down with an XServe RAID Admin app)
Not sure about the graphics card, but I think it’s an AGP 64MB card powering an Apple Cinema Display. Not sure of the size monitor.
Aurora Studio Pipe capture card PCI-X (that’s giving me hell)
OS 10.3.9
Quicktime 7.0.3
FCP 4.5I also have Livetype, the DVD program, and Soundtrack.
I would love to upgrade to FCS 2.0. If I’m going to learn FCP, I’d prefer to have the latest and greatest. We shoot entirely on DVCPro DV50, usually 60i but possibly 30P for greenscreen work, occasionally anamorphic. We do receive Beta tapes from some clients so I’ll need analog component capture for that. Our DVCPro deck is SDI In/Out, embedded audio.
Question:
What do I need to upgrade to run the newest version of FCS? It seems (based on the thread above) that I can run FCP 6.0, but my capture card is from a now deceased company. I don’t expect it to work with FCP 6. If so, what capture card do you suggest? We may be doing HD in a year, but probably not. Otherwise, how does everything else look? Do I need a new graphics card (I’ll post exactly which one I have when I get back to work), more RAM, better storage?There isn’t a budget for a new Mac or I’d just suggest that to the powers that be (or sell this one and go the Avid route, but I’d rather learn another tool. You can’t know too many!). If this were your system, what would you do with it?
Thanks in advance for any and all help. I’ve searched the forums but I’m just not even sure what to search for, so maybe you can just point me to the right thread? Again, I’m a hardcore PC guy coming from Avid, but I must learn Mac and FCP if I plan to compete in the future, so I promise to accept all advice with a big smile and a thank you! 🙂
Michael.
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4 Replies
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Sorry for the double post. Ignore this one please!!
Michael.
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Very simple… Upgrade to at least 4gb RAM and get yourself an AJA Kona LH for video I/O, its PCIx and will handle all you can throw at it, plus analog audio I/O. All the rest is perfectly fine.
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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Thanks so much!
However…I had one of the specs wrong. There is no PCI-X, it’s PCI only. With Dual 2GHz processors. So, now I’ve given you accurate information, would you still suggest the Kona LH? It looks like it’s available in PCI/PCI-X, so I’m guessing it will work?
Again, thanks so much for your advice. This is the number one thing on my upgrade list and I’m hoping they’ll end up going for it.
Michael.
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[MHancock (promoboy)] “would you still suggest the Kona LH? It looks like it’s available in PCI/PCI-X”
Nope, Kona LH is PCIx and LHe is PCIe. That particular Mac was the last one with the regular PCI bus and its very limited in terms of available upgrades.
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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