-
Which SD Capture Card?
I have just started building a post production suite and I need some advice. I have a dual 1.8 GHZ G5 and I want to outfit it with an SD capture device. I am going to move to HD later this year, but for now, I need a good SD system.
I have 4 commercial spots on the horizon which I’m going to shoot with the Panny Varicam and then downconvert to SD.
What’s a good SD card that will work with Final Cut Pro 5 seamlessly? I have heard of the Kona LS and the Kona IO LA but I don’t see the difference in the two.
-
10 Replies
-
[Derek Doublin] “I am going to move to HD later this year, but for now, I need a good SD system.”
Then you want to look at the Kona LH or the LHe if you have a PCIe machine. SD today, HD tomorrow on the same card. Doesn’t really make sense to purchase an SD only card if you already know that HD is in your near future.
Kona 2 and 3 are even more powerful, but digital inputs only. I run the Kona 2 with the Io LA for additional analog inputs.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
-
Actually, I HAVE to purchase an SD card because my dual 1.8 GHZ is not PCIe. That means I’d have to buy a whole new G5 again. I don’t have the money for that right now and frankly I’d rather not build my HD system until the new intel Powermacs come out and the new Final Cut Pro is shipping. For now, I need to buy a decent SD card.
Any recommendations? IO LA, Kona LS?
-
Love the Pipe Studio from Aurora Video Systems…excellent codecs (see Marco Solario’s site) and an excellent breakout box with all inputs and outputs “live” simultaneously. No delay from computer monitor to NTSC monitor. Works in G4’s thru G5’s. Has full support for both 480 and 486 DV, DVCPro50, uncompressed 8 and 10 bit and the rest.
It does’t get the hype that the Kona products or Aja products get, but IMO it is simply a better product.
The Pipe card comes in three different configs, depending on how many decks you might have etc.
Have a look at http://www.auroravideosys.com.
If by chance you have a Betacam (component with analog XLR audio) and a DVCAM or DVCPro deck (SDI video and digital audio) the Pipe card will solve your entire SD workflow issues.
Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media -
As much as I would like to back the Aurora (I love mine, GREAT quality)…
I’d go with one that you can bring with you. The I/O LA. That connects via firewire and can migrate when you migrate your system.
-
[Shane Ross] “I’d go with one that you can bring with you. The I/O LA. That connects via firewire and can migrate when you migrate your system.”
Actually, that IS the best way to go. Since it’s a firewire box, it will move with you to the new machine when you switch to PCIe. And it plays very well with the Kona series. As I mentioned before, I have the Io LA that works with our two Kona 2 systems.
It has all the Analog Io you need today and it will play with an HD system tomorrow. Good call Shane.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
-
Thank you everyone for the help! I hate buying into a dying technology and I want to make the smartest decision I can make.
Walter, just curious… does the IO LA act as a breakout box for your Kona 2? I’m confused as to how it works in conjunction with an HD card.
-
[Derek Doublin] “Walter, just curious… does the IO LA act as a breakout box for your Kona 2? I’m confused as to how it works in conjunction with an HD card.”
Nope, they’re two independent devices that can work together.
Basically all my Digital and HD I/O is handled by the Kona 2. I can capture / edit from / to any digital source. The Io LA handles all input of analog devices, but I can also use it as my playout device of SD if I need to.
For instance, I have the Component output of my Kona 2 feeding directly to my HD Monitors, and I have the Component output of my Io LA feeding my old Sony UVW-1800 BetaSP machine. Normally I have the Kona 2 set up as my external A/V device, but if I want to master to that Beta Machine, I just switch the output to the Io LA.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
-
Derek,
You don’t HAVE to buy an SD card, the Kona LH will work just fine in your 1.8. I’m using one in a 2 gig dual and it works great for SD. And when I run the output to my HD monitor I can watch HD in real time.
Have a wonderful day.
-
But see, he can’t get the LH. If he does, when he buys a new G5 like he plans to, that G5 will be PCIe, and the LH won’t work in it. He will then need the LHe. Thus the suggestion for the I/O LA, as it can go from machine to machine, and all it needs is a FW port.
-
Musta missed that part.
Have a wonderful day.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up