[Jim Nicholson]

Thanks Shane

You are correct. First let me say I was only trying to get a rise with the PC statement. I still have 5 and use most of them everyday. I use an X-Box for games when I play them so I do not use pc’s for games. So I hope I did not ruffle any feathers.

Back on topic, I admit I was kinda speaking out on the Apple store guys. They made many promises of functionality (right out of the box) that were entirely FALSE! This is what upset me. Yes it is my fault for not taking the zillions of hours and months to learn about the MAC before going to buy one but lets not sugar coat the wrong that was promised. This was upsetting to me. Nuff said about the Apple guys.

I agree with all of your comments about learning. I would have loved to find a production job to learn the basics and more but in this economy they are not on every street corner. In my area the few companies I know about when hiring will only hire students out of film school or college. Even the local public television (may be closing due to lost funding) will not talk to a streetwise candidate anymore. If I could relocate, maybe something could be found but I am rooted with responsibilities. I am no longer a young person with a free schedule.

I also am aware of the costs involved. I have already invested $45k and that is not even the bare minimum needed to pull off many jobs competing with local companies that have zillions$$ of equipment. This is only a drop in the bucket. You mention $900 converters and $1500 capture cards. I am not complaining I am just trying to highlight the fact that I will do this and I do not have the bucks many houses have.

In this tech world I know we will hear about how the equipment does not make up for skill/ability but it certainly helps. That equipment is needed if your finished work is to be on the same level of professional output of the other guys. I am sure we will hear how one guy with a camera and low end editor has done a tremendous job and is right up there with the big houses. Not if tech drove the project. I would like to see this guy’s final work compare to a big house job when loads of fx and all other high tech end work is required.

I do guerrilla film making as I do not have that big buck equipment. Yes,I can do decent work as long as I do not need those graphic/animation/sound people that specialize as you mention. I can always hire out if the budget allows.
Yes I keep striving to learn.

Funny thing, when I entered the Aerospace field 30+ years ago as a class A machinist. I never had any formal training, just worked at a small job shop for 6 months, was hired off the street with a willingness to learn and was told by the lead man after a short while I was not in the right place. He told me I needed to go to a large shop where my talent would be appreciated. I did and never had 1 minute of formal training. Peoples lives depended on my work. I worked at Avco Lycoming in R+D and production.

Will it be tough, you bet, will I make mistakes, already have, will I learn, I am every day. Can I do this? I already am. Can I do it better, that is what I hope happens with the help of this and other forums.
With your help and the help of many other professionals that are willing to offer their knowledge/skills so that others may realize their dreams.

I thank all of you. This is how I always learned and if it were not for people like you guys I might be in school today!
:0) just kidding about school that is!

[Jim Nicholson]

“Yes, I can walk down to the Apple Store and pick up a new computer, but I’ve built a 5 year relationship with this company and they know my facility”

The problem I have with the Apple store knowing nothing about video editing, they write the FCP software so why should I not expect them to know about it? I bought the software there as well.
Why would I deal with others when it comes to Apple made products.

Apple was paid so they should have the answers.
I know in a perfect word!

[Jim Nicholson]

Hi

I am in PA. I have bought all the direct video equipment except the computer and software from B+H photo.
I guess they would be considered a VAR but I already have lost hundreds from their recommendations like what camera bag or case I should get. I bought my Pan AG-HVX200A from them and under what case they suggested was the Porta Brace soft case and nothing else was listed. Bought the one they said and it was for a broadcast camera. Way too big, special order so no returns.

Secondly they offered tri pod leg and fluid head combos which I got one and later found out from the manufacture it was sold that way but had since been stopped because of the exact problems I had. They said it was stopped 6 months to a year prior to when I bought it. Seems like B+H did not agree with them and kept selling it. The legs were not strong enough for the resistance of the fluid head. When you panned no matter what you did it was jerky. I called Monfrotto and as soon as I said what pair I had they said oh no that wont work!

To be clear, it was tri pod legs and fluid head Monfrotto to be exact. I looked on B+H web and I found the fluid head I liked and under other accessories they listed the legs and also had it listed as a kit. B+H put it together not Monfrotto.

So I lost hundreds so far. Any other VAR you might suggest?

newbie learnin

[Jim Nicholson]

Yes, Yes, and Yes. I have been around the block a few times and do realize that FCP is the real deal. I guess there is a bit of tension 🙂 over the Mac and PC thing. I do love the Mac and admit it is like owning a Chevy Vega (when you could own one) and owning a Ferrari (could never afford to own one) the Mac is a real hard core workhorse and pc’s are good for gamers. But not to start the war just my impression.

I am mad at myself for not educating myself on the setup (tried but wow)spent weeks online and had a zillion more questions after then when I started so I hurried to the Apple store to talk to the experts. After all who better than the maker could answer my questions right?

I bought the biggest baddest box they had and the FCP suite and dumped all but 7k at the store (no monitor). After getting it home realized the advertised massive hd was only 500 gb (whats wrong with that statement) only 500gb I remember when 100 mb was a jumbo. :o) Anyway so I added 2 1 TB hd’s and memory.

Again the Apple guys could or would not answer questions. When I called support because my FCP suite was crashing and doing all kinds of weird stuff (this I feel is built in marketing for pay support) I will touch on that later, I asked about the capabilities of this powerhouse. They could or would not answer, they would not even address the software issues. They kept telling me I really need the Enterprise support even though it was only days after I got this thing home.

I finally demanded to speak to someone that could address my WARRANTY concerns without trying to upsell me. Finally spoke to tech that basically told me to use it a couple weeks and he was sure it would clear up.

Guess what? It did so strange. I first used FCP, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro all had issues crashing or locking up or hanging. After repeated crap and re starting and what not it did settle down in a week.

I recently tried to use color , and Live Type and guess what they are doing the same thing. My take on this is their marketing scheme to sell their $900 yr plan. After a week all works. Just long enough for you to call support and get talked into the plan. My thought anyway.

Getting back to the issue at hand, I agree I have to really bear down and learn, which I admit I am doing. I have completed several jobs that are good but I want great. To do great I need to not cut too many corners and do it the right way. I use every means I can find to learn, I keep buying training DVD’s,(so I have them when I forget what I learned) I am active on forums, blogs, and have a few relationships with real experienced people that know their trade.

I learned one thing years ago, first you need to decide who knows what they say they know, and secondly surround yourself with the ones that know their stuff and learn from them.

I hope to learn here and one day be the voice on the other end helping others as I have been helped.

Thanks to all for the help. Watch for more intense questions as I quest for knowledge and the golden BB! Taken from Air America the movie. No ties just liked it.

[Jim Nicholson]

Ok I guess that answers my questions. I will need another video card.

Thanks guys for the help.

[Jim Nicholson]

Hi

Thanks for the help. I now capture through firewire to the mac without any extra convertor so if I get a convertor would I still need to capture through the convertor or would I still be able to go through the method I do now?
All I am trying to accomplish is a way to get an output to a crt monitor to color correct for SD. I already have the ability to capture to FCP.

[Jim Nicholson]

Hi
Thanks for the response. Not that it would make a difference but I have the Mac Pro (desktop) many make this assumption and think I have the Mac Book Pro (laptop).
Getting back to my dilema, I am coming from the PC world where all my computers had video cards (aftermarket of course) that could easily output to video monitors or tv’s. As I said the Mac world is all new to me.

I was told by the salesman at the Mac store I bought the box with the most and can do everything my PC could do and more.

Well as you see that was false and although maybe there is some sense of truth to that but they left out the fact that yes as long as you buy all the big dollar items to make that work. I thought I did when I bought the Mac which cost more than all 4 of my powerful PC’s and my Windows based notebook all together.

Not to get into a PC Mac war I just want to make this setup work without getting a 3rd mortgage.

So I need that convertor to do it the right way. I am trying to setup an editing studio so running it through a camera would not be the way I want to do it. I was hoping to upgrade as I go as I earned a little then continue to get what is needed to have a decent setup.

Those neat little 13″ monitors I see in the bays of editors I guess are all monitors already setup for the video out of their computers or maybe they are also using a convertor?

I guess I hoped I could buy a used monitor that accepted dvi so I could come off the mac directly to it if I coul dnot use the crt I have.