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Nitris DX HDW – real world advantage please
The Nitris DX Box…we work always in DNxHD so I am under the impression that the box will perform better. However, I have not been able to determine what exactly the box does that is noticably better than the AJA, for example. Obvioulsy there are the assorted connections but I would love to hear an explanation in an everyday workflow of how the box outperforms the AJA.
We seldom deal with tape sources, all files now. P2, animations from AE artists and other assorted files from specialty cameras. We master to files…DNxHD, and now ProRes. These go to encoder station for conversion to the distribution format. However, our edited segments are FX heavy composites with Saphire, etc. Not much traditional “story telling”. So we need power for multi-layer composites, nested fx and processing speed. I am thinking the Nitris DX would help here. But if the AJA will come close it obviously is way better on the budget.
We also work with non-standard resolutions so FCP and Premiere are of interest in that respect. We would like all three on same workstation. Will MC and FCP work with the Nvidia Quadro 4000? If I understand correctly Premiere utilizes this card to assist rendering? OR is there a better option?
Phil
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4 Replies
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If you want to run all 3 on the same workstation the AJA makes a lot more sense. I believe
you can use the same IO for all 3 apps. (though i may be mistaken about that)I work on a symphony Nitris DX and love it, wouldn’t trade it for any 3rd party hardware.
But it wasn’t my money that purchased it, so the budget is not my concern.Scott Cumbo
Editor
Broadway Video, NYC -
Yes the AJA looks good for all 3 apps.
My question still remains…what real world advantage will I see with the Nitris DX when dealing with mostly file-based workflows and heavy composite rendering.
Phil
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I don’t think the DX adds any hardware acceleration.
So no real advantages except for the differances in IO function.By the way if you work a lot in 23.98, I would confirm the AJA
suports display and output of all frame rates.Scott Cumbo
Editor
Broadway Video, NYC -
In addition to all frame rates, you may also want to double check that the AJA will do downconversion, cross conversion and up conversion while being used my the Avid. This is not via switching the project type. This is simultaneous output via the video output tool settings.
The Nitris DX does a great job at this without slowing anything down. Pretty helpful, even if you are just monitoring or distributing screening copies.
All outputs are active all the time. It will also do 4:4;4 RGB. It is a solid, full featured piece of hardware.
BTW, we are becoming predominately file based but still find need to downconvert to SD tape or ingest downconverted HD layoffs as the hardware scaling beats anything we can find in software for creation of DVDs.
DNXHD decoding occurs in BOB which should also speed a few things up but only in realtime “mode”. Once you have to render something there is no benefit.
If you plan to work in AVC INTRA via Panasonic P2 or otherwise, the new Nitris DX box has hardware decoding for that as well. Same caveat, as this should only benefit real time playback of multi-stream content…although I cannot say for sure.
Also by sticking with the Avid stuff you we be able to side step any future issues by knowing it will support the full feature set without excuse.
Nitris DX is one thing Avid got right. It is a little pricey though. Who knows, if it was more competitively priced maybe FCP or Premiere guys would begging for a version for them.
Chris Magid
RTVFchris magid
chris@gortvf,com
Renaissance Television & Film
http://www.gortvf.com
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