[Ben Holmes]

FCP is not yet efficient at using 8 cores. To get a better idea of this open the cpu usage window in the Activity monitor utility. Fundementally, it’s just too old a piece of software, and needs a major re-write, and a better OS to utilise the cores. Interestingly, Compressor is fantastic at some 8-core action, but was presumably a lot less work to re-write.

We’re all hoping that FCS3, OSX10.6 and the new Grand Central code in it will speed things up. Who knows, you might see some progress on this in the next 3-4 months.

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[Ben Holmes]

With your budget, go for the best quality HDV camera you can afford – it downconverts to SD very nicely, even better if you can capture it via component, rather than firewire.

Have a look on a review site like camcorderinfo, and then look somewhere like Amazon for good electronics prices – in the UK they are pretty good, and reliable (and returnable).

Ben

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[Ben Holmes]

If want to edit with the clips, don’t make them mp4 – that’s a delivery, not an edit codec. Use a DV codec, or ProRes, or DVCPro or something that’s not a web codec….

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[Ben Holmes]

Use Mpeg streamclip to convert DVDs to quicktimes. No problems.

Ben

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[Ben Holmes]

I’m with Warren on the gfx card. However, I’d save the loot on the 2×2.93Ghz machine and go with the 2.66 – it’s still going to be a screamer (should be faster than the current 2×3.2Ghz quad core) and represents much better value. You can spend the extra money on a proper video monitor.

I use the G-Speed ES – it’s a great product. I have two connected together at home RAID 5 – and regularly run uncompressed HD footage on this converted from a 4K RED camera. Good choice IMHO.

I use the BX5a’s and I think they’re incredible value and quality. They use an XLR or audio jack connection though, so I connect them via my Blackmagic Multibridge Pro.

You could get an internal card from BM for a few hundred dollars, and a decent CRT monitor. This will allow you to see the interlace properly, as well as aiding colour correction for DVD work. You won’t see a proper quality output on your canvas, and this is why you will ALWAY find people here recommending a decent monitor.

Other than that – sounds good to me! If you’re US based, check out ProMax for systems. I’m UK based, but have used them before, and found the prices and service excellent – they’re not just box shifters…

Ben

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[Ben Holmes]

Wow, loaded post, considering you just bought the card. Robbed of what? Do you think it’s an elaborate con?

Have you contacted BM support – they’re pretty helpful.

What type of audio are you trying to input, via what connection – analogue, digital, embedded?

A little more detail mat reveal the problem – or you may just have a faulty card.

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[Ben Holmes]

I know this is a wild rumour, but I’m kinda buying the timing on all of this.

Apple won’t be at NAB, I imagine, so announcing this before NAB gives third party vendors a chance to pre-announce their OWN software to support it.

It also makes sense in terms of the recent (and quiet) Mac Pro updates, and even makes some sense (since it’s pre-release) in terms of Snow Leopard’s (probable) release in June.

In other words, they need to announce before NAB, but the actual release will not be before 10.6 is out – as it likely needs the support of the new OS.

Also, a stable version of new pro apps wouldn’t be possible until 10.6 was stable – so it’s not suprising it’s still buggy.

Mmmmm. Whatever, we’re still a way off from getting this to play with. Unless they announce a PUBLIC BETA! Hey – it could happen….

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[Ben Holmes]

Hi Stephen

People are always sensitive about this on forums as the people who run them don’t want to be seen to be encouraging illegal activities. If you work in broadcast or corporate video, you’ll know what an utter mess the licensing rules for music are – and why everyone is so careful. I do wish, however, that when the question is asked, we were not all so keen to assume it’s for nefarious purposes.

If you can avoid having to use mp3’s (if you have access to the original files) then save yourself the headache. Without using additional software to convert audio to .wav files, I think using iTunes to burn a CD, then copying the .aif file is the easiest way to solve the problem.

There’s two caveats:

1) Audio from CD’s is 44.1Khz, and most video audio is 48khz. This means after you drop the .aif into the timeline, it needs the audio rendering. This only takes a second – you’ll know if it’s not rendered if you hear beeping when you play back your timeline. If this becomes a pain (because you have a lot of other audio layers you are moving around or adding, and you have to keep rerendering) you could create an empty timeline with no video and just your audio, export it as a quicktime movie (with no video) and re-import it. This will give you a file with 48Khz audio that works in your timeline without any rendering. If you have NO OTHER audio in the timeline, you could, alternatively change the sequence audio settings to 44.1 Khz to fix it.

2) Don’t make the mistake of importing the audio straight from the CD. This will actually work, but FCP will access the audio directly off the disk – fine until you eject the disk! Make sure you copy the .aif file elsewhere first.

Hope that helps. Of course, you can use any of a huge number of bits of software to convert .mp3’s to .aif or .wav. If you’ve got access to them, save the disks….

Ben

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[Ben Holmes]

See my post below – .wav is another option.

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[Ben Holmes]

Do a search here for ‘out of memory’. It has nothing to do with RAM.

Revert to an autosaved version of the project – cures this usually.

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