[Craig Alan]

Hey Todd,

Is playing clips like this back on a computer monitor an accurate representation of what the shots look like on a TV monitor?

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Yeah, the panasonic has 2 sdi in and the ki pro has sdi out.

So that makes sense. Not sure if the ki pro would pass the signal through to the monitor even if the settings are wrong. Are you sure the ki pro out is what you see is what gets recorded?

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Thank you so much, Bob. Going with all your advice. SDI as much as possible. DVI out board for 42″ monitor. SDI for 17″ and Ki Pro. and AJA HDMI in and SDI out from cam to mixer. So hard to know without trying. Have one shot to order gear a year. You and Chuck saved me a world of hurt.

Craig

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Thanks so much. I agree on interconnects. HDMI cables are really stiff too. I’ve decided to invest in the out board. I’ll use short HDMI cables for each cam velcroed to tripods and long BNC SDI cables to the mixer.

I get one shot at ordering this stuff and its hard to know without trying the gear out. You’ve been very helpful.

Craig

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Thanks so much Bob,
I get why I want a computer signal for the multi-view now.

Two follow up questions
Instead of the Panasonic –
AV-HS05M5 DVI & Analog Component Output Board for AV-HS400

Can I use a
AJA HDP2 HD-SD/SDI to DVI-D Converter?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/626535-REG/AJA_HDP2_HDP2_HD_SD_SDI_to_DVI_D.html

to connect the switcher to the 42” plasma?

And can I just use a SDI-to-SDI cable to connect the switcher to the Panasonic BT-LH1710W 17″ Widescreen HD/SD LCD Video Monitor?

If not I’ll get the Panasonic –
AV-HS05M5 DVI & Analog Component Output Board for AV-HS400

Will this one card allow me to send the DVI signal to the 42” plasma and the component signal to the 17” monitor? At the same time?

I’d like to record to an AJA Ki PRO which has SDI in — so I assume I can just use a SDI to SDI cable?

Thanks again

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Thanks. I don’t think I would use both monitors. And I’m not sure which will work better for me until I experience it. But I will have both and want to order what I would need to use them. So you are suggesting using a Hi5 HD-SDI/SDI to HDMI Video and Audio Converter if I am using the 42″.

I would prefer to use the 17″ which does not have HDMI and its why Bob’s post caught my attention about needing a DVI out card.

But good to know the aja out will work with the 42. Plus the 42 and the 17″ has DVI in and Bob was saying that is the way to go…

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

The problem lies in how to get a TV signal to the monitor. The Matrox MXO External HD and SD Video Output for Mac is $1000. From there you can use a panasonic plasma which if properly calibrated will give you good results. Together we’re looking at almost $2000. If you do a search for MXO, you’ll see I was asking about this very topic and came to this very conclusion. There just is no way out the macbook pro alone that gives you a real TV picture. If you just want extra space for edit windows then its easier and cheaper.

Now if you want to use your express card slot (if you have one) then you can use the mxo mini for laptops and that will come to only $500. But I like to use my express card slot for my media drive raid.

Also I’d suggest getting a portabrace bag to store the monitor in so you don’t scratch it going in and out of safe.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

That was my experience when I used them (different model) on some consumer mini-cams. If the beachtek does not have any power source (battery or plug-in) then how could it provide any amplification? It can’t. When I used them, I never had any need to use the “gain control dials.” Basically you leave them all the way up and hope they don’t add too much extra noise. The one thing I liked about them is they took the strain off the mini-plug on small cams. And yes accept an xlr cable.

But now I just use https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=COCSMMXF1.5&N=0&InitialSearch=yes Comprehensive EXF Series Stereo 3.5mm Mini Male to 3-Pin XLR Female Cable – 1.5′
that I velcro to the tripod or camera strap. A lot cheaper to buy and replace and unless the cord starts to got bad does not add any noise.
A right angle plug might be nicer depending on where your cam has its mike in port.

Much easier set up than balancing your cam on a beachtek.

Beyond that, you need a mixer. For $1300 the sound devices 302 is a great way to improve your productions and will most likely outlast whatever cam you are using it with. I wish that sound devices would sell a mounting cage that would sit under the camera (something like https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=KI-EXO-R0+Exo-Skeleton+for+Ki+Pro&N=0&InitialSearch=yes)

Ty,
I find it ironic that BH lists your book as an Accessory for the Beachtek DXA-4P adapter.

Craig

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Thanks. The KiPro import was new for me so I just wanted to make sure. I got an error message after one import that said the file was optimized for FCP. Get info said it was a ProRes 422 file so I just deleted it and reimported it and did not get any more error messages.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Thanks Jeremy,

In my render folder, each project has its own folder.

In my Capture Scratch, each project has its own folder.

Same with audio render folder.

I also have a QT export folder.

If I want to organize this by project in order to archive, can I just create a project folder move all parts of the project in there and then, if and when I need this media again, point FC to the files as needed?

In the past, I’ve just copied the fcp media folders to a new hard drive, wiped my raid clean and started again using FC default file set up. But Pro Res files are much larger than what I’ve used in the past and this system might get messy sooner than later.

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz
; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.