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Which Drive Array for FCP?
So after a year of mulling over whether to make the jump the time has come to jump to FCP from Avid. One question though; Which storage solution? We’re looking at either the CalDigit Firwire VR External series or CalDigits S2VR SATA arrays. Both are great for the price but which one?
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12 Replies
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All depends on what formats you will be editing. And do a search on the forum for HARD DRIVE and RAID ARRAY. This question comes up a lot.
If it helps, eSATA is faster, so the S2VR Duo is pretty quick. Or, if you have a MacPro, you can get the CalDigit RAID card and use cheaper INTERNAL drives.
Shane
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Thanks. For the Avid we use the old Avid RAID SCSI drives. As we move forward obviously more HD will be introduced its just a matter of which camera we decide on. So for now I’m leaning towards the SATA drives.
The creative urge is the demon that will not accept anything second rate.
-Agnes DeMille -
Let me strongly suggest… before you decide to switch, make sure to really do your homework. If building effects is your deal, then FCP will suit you fine – much better than Avid. If straight editing is what you need, you’ll like Avid better.
Do some searches on FCP and timecode handling. Apple doesn’t seem to think timecode is very important to editors. There’s no support for LTC out. Timecode searching from the timeline is not impossible but it’s much more difficult than your Avid.
Yeah, I’m on a timecode rant! It’s the little things that no one will tell you…
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I’ll agree to a point. My last stint at ESPN with the latest FCP and XGames had me editing fast and efficiently. I was to say the least, surprised, I believe FCP is all grown up now from where it was six years ago. It can only get better. Plus FCP customer support is far better than any dealing I have had with keeping this system alive. In fact after looking at my paper work for my Avid all the support, repairs, and replaced drives either in warranty or out totaled almost 10k. A friend that works here at a news station in CT said they are the Cadillac of the systems, “They cost a lot to buy and cost even more to keep runing.”
The creative urge is the demon that will not accept anything second rate.
-Agnes DeMille -
[David Roche] “Let me strongly suggest… before you decide to switch, make sure to really do your homework. If building effects is your deal, then FCP will suit you fine – much better than Avid. If straight editing is what you need, you’ll like Avid better. “
Just depends on your needs and editing style. I much prefer FCP for straight editing than Avid. Avid’s interface is just too clunky for my tastes, but that’s me and my style. We’re delivering a lot documentary style work here and in fact have four feature length documentaries on tap for 2009 which are all pretty much straight cut editing.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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If you’re going to be editing a lot of DVCPro HD or ProRes, you want to go SATA. I would highly recommend the MaxxDigital EVO HD series and the arrays as those are what we run here, the 8TB models. Upwards of 500MB/s and more in RAID 5.
The Dulce and Sonnet are also very good arrays.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
Read my Blog!
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You know, I won’t disagree about the expense (and aggravation) of support for Avid. The terrible support by Avid, in my thinking, is one of the major reasons for the rise of Final Cut. It was certainly a major factor in our decision to buy Final Cut – that and our Avid is ancient.
Chris, it sounds like you already have FCP experience, but for those readers who don’t, there are significant differences in the two systems and the transition is not as straightforward as many would have you believe. My advice – read the forums, talk to everyone you can – not just the Apple evangelists and make sure that you understand how the transition will affect every aspect of your workflow.
As Walter pointed out, it’s really whatever works best for you. So far, I’m not a fan of either of them.
By the way Chris, I wouldn’t buy any drives from Ciprico right now. They’re bankrupt, although still in business.
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[David Roche] “By the way Chris, I wouldn’t buy any drives from Ciprico right now. They’re bankrupt, although still in business.
“Very sad fact of the industry right now and I would agree. Purchasing from Ciprico right now would not be a good idea until we find out if they are able to survive the bankruptcy filing. Facilis makes an outstanding Fibre array
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
Read my Blog!
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Some good points from all, thanks. We are looking at CalDigit for our drives. Either thier firewire or SATA. Of course now with all the imput we’re of course leaning towards SATA. Great bang for the buck! A terabite for 690.00?!?! Tech. is moving way to fast for me or maybe I’m just getting to old.
And yes editing style plays a factor but while I have over eight years on an Avid I have done some work on FCP. I have worked on Eidius (blah…I shiver at the thougt of ever editing on this platform again), the old Sony ES3 and a plethora of other platforms. I figure if I can make the transition between all these FCP shouldn’t and so far hasn’t been that hard.
The creative urge is the demon that will not accept anything second rate.
-Agnes DeMille -
Shane Ross likes the CalDigits, I don’t recommend them anymore due to major failures with multiple units in a span of 6 months.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
Read my Blog!
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