[Jeff Mueller]

I’m pretty much a newbie here, but I’ve been learning a lot, so I’ll try to share (just take it with a grain of salt):

According to Wikipedia:

IEEE 1394b-2002[21] introduced FireWire 800 (Apple’s name for the 9-circuit “S800 bilingual” version of the IEEE 1394b standard) This specification and corresponding products allow a transfer rate of 786.432 Mbit/s full-duplex via a new encoding scheme termed beta mode. It is backwards compatible to the slower rates and 6-circuit alpha connectors of FireWire 400. However, while the IEEE 1394a and IEEE 1394b standards are compatible, FireWire 800’s connector, referred to as a beta connector, is different from FireWire 400’s alpha connectors, making legacy cables incompatible. A bilingual cable allows the connection of older devices to the newer port. In 2003, Apple was the first to introduce commercial products with the new connector.

The full IEEE 1394b specification supports data rates up to 3200 Mbit/s (i.e. 400 megabytes/s) over beta-mode or optical connections up to 100 metres (110 yd) in length. Standard Category 5e unshielded twisted pair supports 100 metres (330 ft) at S100. The original 1394 and 1394a standards used data/strobe (D/S) encoding (renamed to alpha mode) on the circuits, while 1394b adds a data encoding scheme called 8B10B referred to as beta mode.

Now, as far as I can tell, 1 Megabit = 125,000 megabytes, but that doesn’t make any sense based on the Wikipedia stuff (or maybe it’s just late at night). Anyway, practically speaking I believe that FW400 does a bit less than 400 megabits, FW800 a bit less than 800 megabits and USB 2.0 about 480 megabits (but there are other reasons why you don’t want to use USB). I am currently editing in native HDV and using an external FW400 connection (400 megabits, yes-but it’s a fast 7200 rpm 32 mb cache drive) as my scratch disk and experiencing NO PROBLEMS as far as hard drive goes (render issues, but that’s different), so I think (but stand to be corrected) that it’s safe to say that a FW800 connection would be fine for anything short of a complex multicam or uncompressed HD set up (and yes you can buy FW800 raid arrays).

Hope that helps, and ready to learn from the gurus.

Best,

Jeff

Jeff Mueller
http://www.ApertureVideos.com
Santa Barbara, CA

[Jeff Mueller]

Thanks for your words of encouragement, Jim. Your stuff looks nice, what do you shoot with?

I’ve felt like the second camera wasn’t a top priority because it is possible to rent. Maybe not day of, but certainly with a little notice. And I’d really like to rent the Canon 5D Mk II and see how I might incorporate that or a 7D.

I am running FCS2, but it’s Academic so I can’t upgrade. Sounds like FCS3 runs smoother and particularly Color takes less horsepower (it crashes on me occasionally and always takes inordinate renders) plus you can run Compressor in the background so I could keep editing in FCP (which when I hit upon a 70 hour render time is a big deal). But maybe the better computer is more important. I keep reading about the wondrous Kona cards, which obviously require a Mac Pro, but the Konas cost $3,000 so that’s not happening soon, makes me think a stopgap second (better) iMac might make sense while I try to get to sustainable profitability. I wasn’t really serious about the HMI although I love the one I have. Weddings seem pretty tricky lighting wise, as the receptions so far have been in large dark spaces.

Thanks again for the input.

Jeff Mueller
http://www.ApertureVideos.com
Santa Barbara, CA

[Jeff Mueller]

Hi Mark:

Those are good points, although as you say it’s a tough position. I think if I had a second camera I’d probably be putting it to work so I’d still have a back-up problem, although not as bad. The XH-A1 is probably a good back-up camera, although I’d rather get the Canon 5D MkII for the things it can do that my current camera won’t.

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff Mueller
http://www.ApertureVideos.com
Santa Barbara, CA

[Jeff Mueller]

I shoot HDV 1080i 60 with a Canon XL-H1. So far I’ve been editing native but I want to try Prores. I have no problems with the actual editing native, but renders in color and compressing to final format are unbelievably slow. I output to DVD and H264 for web.

Thanks

Jeff Mueller
http://www.ApertureVideos.com
Santa Barbara, CA

[Jeff Mueller]

I’m facing similar issues as Mr. Nichols so I’ll chime in. In my case I am grading for DVD and web. My competition (weddings and events) isn’t grading at all, so I figure anything is better than that, but of course if you’re monitor is way off one could argue you’ve done a disservice. But no way can I buy a broadcast set up.

Right now I’m working on an iMac with FCS2, hope to pick up a used Mac Pro in the near future. I have years of experience producing in high end facilities but am brand new to doing it myself. I do know how to read a waveform monitor and that’s been my sanity check working in Color off of the computer. Any suggestions gratefully appreciated.

Best,

Jeff Mueller
http://www.ApertureVideos.com
Santa Barbara, CA

[Jeff Mueller]

I use Audio Technica ATH-M40fs headphones, for the price ($61.00 at Amazon) they offer amazing sound. They are not good for field work, however, due to the cable (long and not coiled) and weight.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATHM40FS-Precision-Headphones/dp/B0002D03ZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258314047&sr=8-1

Certainly there are better headphones if you have more money to spend, this is just my budget recommendation.

Jeff Mueller
http://www.ApertureVideos.com
Santa Barbara, CA

[Jeff Mueller]

Thanks Nicole, worked like a charm for both files…boy I’ve still got a lot to learn about codecs…glad the Cow is here.

Jeff Mueller
http://www.ApertureVideos.com
Santa Barbara, CA

[Jeff Mueller]

Just throwing my 2 cents in here as I’ve been struggling with this issue too as a start up events business. Originally tried to use Lightscribe and that was terrible. Tried numerous brands of discs, different software and saying different prayers and the only thing that was consistent was unsatisfying results. I gave up. Bought an HP Photoshop Premium all in one for $249 at Costco. Very poor instructions, but once I figured it out and created the right template in Photoshop it admittedly printed BEAUTIFUL labels (I was using Sony stock). Problem was the software and the machine were glitchy, one or the other causing frequent crashes. Then I discovered that Costco had overpriced it by $75 so I took it back and have been searching out the “right” printer ever since. Epson seems to be the leader in this, major complaint seems to be the way they suck ink, the HP sucked it too, I’d say it was running about $0.70 per full color photo print on disc, but at least with HP if it runs out of one color you can keep printing, apparently that is not the case with Epson. I guess Canon has some good units they sell in Europe but they’re not selling any of them here.

I wish I could find the Artisan 50 for $100 like Rick saw. Right now on Amazon it’s $160, the R280 is $199 and the Rx680 (looks nice) is a whopping $649. I know this doesn’t sound like a lot to some of you but when you look at the list of things I “need” to buy, from extra batteries to lights to software upgrades etc, every buck counts. I have a color laser printer and a stand alone scanner so I don’t really need this for anything but DVD printing, but at $160 for the Artisan 50 I get confused as I have seen the Artisan 800 for $150, my concern there being that it’s software may not work with Snow Leopard. Anyone know? Any more suggestions? It takes a lot of searching to find the models that do this.

Best,

Jeff Mueller
http://www.ApertureVideos.com
Santa Barbara, CA

[Jeff Mueller]

Just throwing my 2 cents in here as I’ve been struggling with this issue too as a start up events business. Originally tried to use Lightscribe and that was terrible. Tried numerous brands of discs, different software and saying different prayers and the only thing that was consistent was unsatisfying results. I gave up. Bought an HP Photoshop Premium all in one for $249 at Costco. Very poor instructions, but once I figured it out and created the right template in Photoshop it admittedly printed BEAUTIFUL labels (I was using Sony stock). Problem was the software and the machine were glitchy, one or the other causing frequent crashes. Then I discovered that Costco had overpriced it by $75 so I took it back and have been searching out the “right” printer ever since. Epson seems to be the leader in this, major complaint seems to be the way they suck ink, the HP sucked it too, I’d say it was running about $0.70 per full color photo print on disc, but at least with HP if it runs out of one color you can keep printing, apparently that is not the case with Epson. I guess Canon has some good units they sell in Europe but they’re not selling any of them here.

I wish I could find the Artisan 50 for $100 like Rick saw. Right now on Amazon it’s $160, the R280 is $199 and the Rx680 (looks nice) is a whopping $649. I know this doesn’t sound like a lot to some of you but when you look at the list of things I “need” to buy, from extra batteries to lights to software upgrades etc, every buck counts. I have a color laser printer and a stand alone scanner so I don’t really need this for anything but DVD printing, but at $160 for the Artisan 50 I get confused as I have seen the Artisan 800 for $150, my concern there being that it’s software may not work with Snow Leopard. Anyone know? Any more suggestions? It takes a lot of searching to find the models that do this.

Best,

Jeff Mueller
http://www.ApertureVideos.com
Santa Barbara, CA

[Jeff Mueller]

Thanks. Trying that now.

Jeff