Video Cards

[Walter Biscardi]

[11thFloor] ”
In regards to the graphics card….does the video lose quality with a lesser card? Basically, is it true that the better the card the better the final output (video quality-wise)?”

Graphics cards do zero with video output. Those are handled by cards such as the AJA Kona series. The graphics cards give you better performance with application such as Motion and the new Final Cut Pro 6.

The ATI 1900 is the best card of the bunch. Yep, it’s the cheapest, but it’s the best one.

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

[Steven Lambion]

Although the Ati looks good, from Apples bench tests the Nvidia has a higher performance, but costs a ton more. I’ve actually had problems with ATIs mainly because they didn’t have Quartz Extreme comatibility. Does the new ATI cards have Quartz Extreme? I can’t seem to find out anywhere.

Video Specialist
Apple Developer
Owner of GranitWorks

[11thfloor]

So…given that I am importing my HD video straight from my firestore drive…that means I will not lose any quality once import it into fcp? And I will still have full quality by exporting my sequence with the new Pro Res codec for the purposes of burning onto a dvd?

Lastly, am I wrong in saying that I will need the AJA iohd for when I export onto tape?

Sorry if any of this is confusing…I just want to make sure that I have full quality and I am just trying to figure out that if I will lose quality at any point, that I have the right tools to ensure that I stay at full quality.

Thanks again for the help!!!

[Jeff Carpenter]

The ATI 1900 is the best card of the bunch. Yep, it’s the cheapest, but it’s the best one.
===

I think you mean 2nd cheapest. The 7300 would be the least expensive option.

At any rate, I agree that the 1900 is the way to go. It’s been working great for me too.

[Walter Biscardi]

[11thFloor] “So…given that I am importing my HD video straight from my firestore drive…that means I will not lose any quality once import it into fcp?”

Nope, that’s just a digital transfer of files. What format are you using?

[11thFloor] “And I will still have full quality by exporting my sequence with the new Pro Res codec for the purposes of burning onto a dvd?”

You would not do this. You would use Compressor to make MPEG-2 files for your DVD.

[11thFloor] ”

Lastly, am I wrong in saying that I will need the AJA iohd for when I export onto tape?”

What format are you laying off to?

[11thFloor] “just want to make sure that I have full quality and I am just trying to figure out that if I will lose quality at any point, that I have the right tools to ensure that I stay at full quality.”

Whatever format you capture in the field with the firestore is the format you should edit with as that will maintain your quality. If you’re editing HDV, that’s a low quality format to start with and not a whole lot will make it better, though when FCP 6 comes out you will be able to edit in a ProRes 422 timeline which should make some of your effects come out better.

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

[11thfloor]

I am shooting in DVCPROHD 720P24

[Walter Biscardi]

[11thFloor] “I am shooting in DVCPROHD 720P24”

If you use a Panasonic DVCPro HD deck that has a Firewire input, you will not need any external devices to lay back to tape.

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