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Upgrade to FCP w Color
I am assuming it would not only make sense but be neccessary to upgrade my old dual
2Gb G5 to a new Intel version to get the most out of Color. That also means a new Kona3 or Blackmagic card plus most likely at least one, possibly 2 interface surface to expedite the use of Color. Assuming I go with the cheaper J.W Cooper interfaces, how much will this setup cost me? Where can I get training to slash the learning curve? -
15 Replies
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[Dave Allen] ”
I am assuming it would not only make sense but be neccessary to upgrade my old dual
2Gb G5 to a new Intel version to get the most out of Color.”We can run the current Final Touch HD just fine on our Dual 2.0 G5. It’s the graphics card that really makes a difference, that machine has the top of the line ATI AGP graphics card.
[Dave Allen] “That also means a new Kona3 or Blackmagic card plus most likely at least one, possibly 2 interface surface to expedite the use of Color.”
Kona boards work much better with Final Touch/Color. I don’t run any peripherals with Final Touch, we only use our tablets. Really don’t need to spend $5,000 minimum for the control surfaces here. I would strongly suggest you start by CC’ing with whatever you’re using now and then decide, you can always add them later. One thing about the app is you can save endless looks so once you’ve graded a few shows, you’ll find yourself pulling from these stock looks and tweaking them.
[Dave Allen] “Assuming I go with the cheaper J.W Cooper interfaces, how much will this setup cost me? Where can I get training to slash the learning curve?”
For questions on the control surfaces, do a search in our Apple Color forum. I just put a link to a training book in that forum as well for another thread.
https://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_view_posts.cgi?forumid=223#2
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
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[walter biscardi] “We can run the current Final Touch HD just fine on our Dual 2.0 G5. It’s the graphics card that really makes a difference, that machine has the top of the line ATI AGP graphics card.”
Walter, which model is the top of the line graphics card for that machine (no PCI express) ?
I’d really like to go another year on my dual 2.0 G5 before getting an Intel box. -
x800XT or the 1900, can’t remember at the moment and the machine is turned off, I’ll find out for you later.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
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I think you’re stuck if you have a PowerMac G5 that uses the AGP graphic slot. Two of the best cards, ATI’s 9800 Pro and X800, are nearly impossible to find (Mac Sales lists both with a 27 day wait for shipment and that wait never seems to change). The 9600 Pro seems readily available, but it’s not nearly as good as the two cards above. You can always check eBay and see what’s there.
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[walter biscardi] “x800XT or the 1900, can’t remember at the moment and the machine is turned off, I’ll find out for you later.”
Wow, been a while since I looked at that machine. It’s actually the nVidia 6800 Ultra which takes up two slots. Forgot that was a top of the line card at the time. But as I said, FT works just fine with that card and Apple actually prefers nVidia cards for some reason. I like ATI cards more myself.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
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Apple posted the Color tech specs:
https://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/color/specs.htmlColor-Specific Requirements
The standard graphics card in any Mac Pro, 17-inch MacBook Pro, 24-inch iMac with Intel Core Duo, or 2.5GHz or faster Power Mac G5 Quad:
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
ATI Radeon X1600
NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT, 7600 GT, 7300 GT, 6800 Ultra DDL, 6800 GT DDL, 6600, or Quadro FX 4500
A display with 1680-by-1050 resolution or higher
A three-button mouse for full functionalityColor-Specific Recommendations
The following graphics card is highly recommended:
ATI Radeon X1900 XT
Dual displays with 1920-by-1200 or higher resolutionChi-Ho Lee
Film & Video Editor
Apple Certified Final Cut Pro Trainer
http://www.chiholee.com -
We run our FinalTouch HD systems with the X800XT cards. If they will work with Color who knows. We’ll find out soon.
In the beginning, we started color grading with the mouse. After a few feature films and other long form projects, we decided to get the panels. The wrists really take a beating with the mouse under long sessions.
I would recommend getting the panels if you decide to make color grading a serious part of your career or business.
They don’t come cheap, but they will definately make the work a lot easier.And remember that one panel doesn’t do it all (Tangent Devices), unless you buy the CP100.
Stuart Ferreyra
Timecode Multimedia
President
Santa Monica, CA 90025
https://www.timecodemultimedia.com -
[Timecode Multimedia] ”
In the beginning, we started color grading with the mouse. After a few feature films and other long form projects, we decided to get the panels. The wrists really take a beating with the mouse under long sessions.”That’s why we run WACOM tablets. Much easier on the wrists and make both editing and coloring a breeze. Mice just don’t work for me, my wrists start to ache pretty quickly into a session. Been using a tablet 9 years now and would never go back to a mouse.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
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I agree. Every one of my machines is equipped with a tablet. I’m a total mouse-spaz after using the Wacoms for all these years…
Tom -
The only thing I say right now is this, ATI1900. Floating point rendering is FAST!
Nvidia does not render in Float. This may change in the long run, but I love my ATI 1900.
I have 3 of the Tangent panels, although expensive, they helped me grade 50-75% faster. I have the CP200 BK, K and S. The deal that bummed me out the most was we told Tangent last year that the panels should be Black. We have the Silver…what’s in Apples booth this year…BLACK ONES…AHHHHH.
So, as we build out our new DI room at Splice, I’m hoping to sell the current tangents we own to upgrade to Black. Or, wait and see if something cooler, better and cheaper comes out. Trust me though, although the Tangents are $$$, there is a reason why, way more controls for everything on the Tangents.
Michael Sandness
Colorist-Finishing
Splice Here, Minneapolis MN
http://www.splicehere.tv
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