-
Self building a new FCP system
We need a second FCP suite. Is it relatively straightforward to self build/intergrate a MacG5/FCP edit suite, or is it better to leave it to the professionals? I’m reasonably computer savvy and feel that I’d understand more about a system I’d built myself. Thoughts?
-
14 Replies
-
Depends on how well you understand storage options, hard drive options, Audio / Video connections, computer networking and the like.
I had ProMax design my first Final Cut Pro system. I’ve designed the rest though I always order from and get assistance from my VAR.
When it came to integrating all three suites together, I called on Bob Zelin from the AJA Kona forum as he is an engineer by trade. He did all the design work for me and the bulk of the installation.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comStop Staring Start Grading with Apple Color The new Color Training DVD now available!
https://store.creativecow.net/p/66/stop_staring_and_start_grading_with_apple_colorRead my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
-
Build my own systems, nobody in the area that knows Macs better than me at the Apple or 3rd party stores. Having some “professional” build a system that are 2500 miles away just don’t make sense to me.
But I do a lot of reach before I buy/build and most of the time I buy the right stuff. My advice, make sure you think in terms of the completed system and build with what formats you will be editing with. The main issue is making sure you have the right hard drive system.
The good thing about Apple is there are not a lot of choices other than where to buy.
But a plug for the real professional systems builders, if you are putting in a mission critical system that down time (or the lack of) is of the most important than they are worth their weight in gold. But you pay for this in several ways, normally I’m looking to get the most power for the money and live on the edge. 🙂
-
[msacci] “Having some “professional” build a system that are 2500 miles away just don’t make sense to me.”
I can speak for ProMax to say that those “professionals” do truly build a great system. And they build that system and test it before it’s shipped to you. If there’s anything wrong when you receive it, they have to fix it and they will.
So in the case of ProMax, they truly are professionals.
Once you’re comfortable with all the facets of the Computer, Apple software, third party software / hardware and storage, then by all means, build your own from scratch. But as I said, even today I rely heavily on my local VAR whenever I purchase / build a system.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comStop Staring Start Grading with Apple Color The new Color Training DVD now available!
https://store.creativecow.net/p/66/stop_staring_and_start_grading_with_apple_colorRead my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
-
Go for it, it
-
Walter, I’m just too cheap to go the VAR route. 🙂 But I know I pay for it at times w/ time and fustration, but I make sure it is mostly time spent up front with research. I wish Nashville had a real VAR in town but they don’t, I do order stuff computers from ProMax as much as possible but I build everything myself. Where I save is ordering internal HDs for Mwave, external drives and ram from OWC, all this adds up to cost savings but I also realize that I take on more responsibility in problem solving since it is not a closed, one vender system. (I didn’t mean to make it seem like I was questioning the professionalism of VARs but I think it came across that way. They are professional, especially ProMax)
So another way of looking at whether or not to go with a VAR is what type of person are you, if you like more security and want the ease of calling one person/place for help then the VAR is well worth the money. If you are like me in that money saved is more important (at least at the time of purchase 🙂 ) than the risk then it makes sense to build your own. Neither way is wrong in itself.
-
[msacci] “I wish Nashville had a real VAR in town but they don’t,”
WH Platts has an office in Atlanta that services Nashville. http://www.whplatts.com.
Excellent VAR that sells both FCP gear and broadcast equipment.[msacci] “If you are like me in that money saved is more important (at least at the time of purchase 🙂 ) than the risk then it makes sense to build your own. Neither way is wrong in itself.”
In some areas I agree with you. RAM is cheap on your own, hard drives for the Mac cheap on your own. But whenever I purchase major purchases, like the Mac Pro, I order from my VAR instead of directly from Apple. Why? If something is wrong with it, he has to make all the phone calls, pick it up from me and handle all the problems.
I have on-going issues with Apple and Adobe over both Final Cut Studio 2 and Adobe Creative Suite 3 and he’s been dealing with that for over three months. Three months of back and forth I haven’t had to deal with.
So it all boils down to how much time you have. For major purchases, I like the VAR. For smaller things, I purchase it myself.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comStop Staring Start Grading with Apple Color The new Color Training DVD now available!
https://store.creativecow.net/p/66/stop_staring_and_start_grading_with_apple_colorRead my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
-
There are really 2 questions.
The 1st is what are your needs. Not just your current needs, but what are your likely future needs over the 18-36 month lifespan of this system? And beyond that? This is not always such an easy question to answer. It involves some wishful thinking and some pragmatism at the same time.
The 2nd is how much do you know about all of the odd little subsystems that are involved? How much do you want to know? This is pure pragmatism. If you can handle a screwdriver, & already understand more of the general & a few of the finer points about networking, storage, audio & video formats, then you can easily put a system together yourself.
Arnie
Now in post: Peristroika, a film by Slava Tsukerman
https://www.arniepix.com/blog -
[msacci] “Build my own systems, nobody in the area that knows Macs better than me at the Apple or 3rd party stores. Having some “professional” build a system that are 2500 miles away just don’t make sense to me.
“This reminds me of my 1st FCP system. I live on a big island and had bought fcp1 on the mainland and went into the local mac store to buy the computer. An argument developed because they wouldn’t match the price of the same machine as I could buy it for on the mainland. “what are you buying a computer for anyway?” the salesman asked. “I’m going to edit video” I replied.
“AAUUGGG!! You can’t edit video on a mac!!! YOU”RE BUYING THE WRONG KINDA COMPUTER BUDDY” was his reply. I went back to my shop and ordered my G3, a 19″ lacie monitor, some hard drives and an ata controller card from Vancouver over the phone.I remember thinking to myself “Steve Jobs would love to hear this guy”
Sales people are not always the best informed. -
Hey my son is going to UVic.
Retail sales – talking to them is scary or maddening, which ever way you look at it. That is why seeing Mac back in Best Buy worries me.
-
[walter biscardi] “In some areas I agree with you.”
In some areas I agree with himself also. 🙂 But I have been known to argue with myself.
Thanks for the contact, I will be sure to look them up next time I need something.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up