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Updating FCP/Mac Editing system for HVX-200
In preparation for the release of the the HVX-200 I need help in deciding which route to take for updating my system. I currently have a PowerMac G4/933 MHz/1 GB memory and lots of FW IBM/Hitachi 7200-rpm HDs, Sony DSR-11 deck and a Sony DSR-250 camera. I currently do mainly DV/DVcam projects, 60% internal 40% outside clients.
Should I update my PowerMac with just a HD capture card, such a AJA Kona card, or do I have I update to a new PowerMac and a capture card or can I just get away with just a new PowerMac?
I also know I need some new storage options, any suggestions?
As a one man operation I do have budget limitations so I can’t buy everything at once.
Thank you all in advance for your help.
Randy Mason
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7 Replies
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You won’t need the capture card- P2 is tranferred via Firewire or USB-2 from the camera or the P2 drive. It would come in handy if you wanted to monitor in HD without using the camera for play through but again not required. I would go for a new Mac- you’ll find it a lot more responsive in HD than the G4. Grabbing a SATA array would also help though you could get away with a FW800 raid too.
Noah
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Good info Noah,
Where could I find info on the best Mac/FCP config
for use with P2? I have the HVX200 on order as well.
Looks like I have time to make decisions on the edit set-up.
I will use the system at first for SD projects. My goal is to
be able to go P2 or from harddrive and deliver HD on some
sort of disc (Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, WMV-HD, QT-H264) I realize
the Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD is dragging on but at this time
I do not need to deliver HD on a tape.
Thanks -
Mike
You will in fact need a G5 to play back DVCProHD footage – I would suggest a dual processor or dual core. My 1.6 G5 iMac won’t handle the job despite the fact the screen has the rez.
I don’t think it’s about the frontside bus as the stream isn’t very big at 14.1MB/s but the processor as a bit of work to do to uncompress the codec in RT.
Having updated your Mac you can then look to something like a BMD HD card and HDLink which, when used with a 20″ display, will display the pictures pixel for pixel – very handy for keying etc.
Good luck. Can’t wait for these cameras to land Downunder so I can get my hands on one.
Cheers
Bettsy
Burra Films -
Absolutely drop any firewire based media scratch disks.
SATA internal or PCI SATA external with two or four drive enclosure.
David S.
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[Bettsy] “You will in fact need a G5 to play back DVCProHD footage – I would suggest a dual processor or dual core. My 1.6 G5 iMac won’t handle the job despite the fact the screen has the rez.”
Not true – My I.67ghz laptop is quite enough for playing back DVCPROHD of all flavors and My I gig tibook was prior to that. I have been working in DVCPROHD since before it was available to the public and I have always had it on my desk.
Saying that – remember that I only use it for cuts or ingest. I do the major part of my work on state of the art desktops with more storage than most people ever see ( currently over 20T on fibre).
But I do not know what I would do if I was not able to do my day to day work (cuts mind you) on my trusty powerbook.Gary Adcock
Studio37
HD and Film Consultation
Chicago, IL USA -
More good info. I am coming from PC and right now
I could go AVID (Don’t want to go there) or
Canopus.
So after years of seeing and hearing about FCP
I have decided that now is the time to switch.
But the Intel debate is now in full swing.
I was ready to get a powerbook to start with.
Then everyone is saying wait to see what MacWorld
announces (Jan 9-13) OK I wasn’t going to order this week
anyway.
I would like to hear other FCP editors stories about
how their are working with the HVX200 and DVCPRO HD.
Thanks -
Gary’s right of course. From the FCP specs:
Q. Do I need a Power Mac G5 to edit HD?
A. No. You can edit HD on any Power Mac G4 with a 1GHz or faster processor and at least 1GB of RAM.Please excuse me, I’m a little rusty;-)
Cheers
Bettsy
Burra Films
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