[Jim Wiseman]

Ultrastudio 4K is working in limited testing on a previous project. Opens and plays, acting normally. This is on a 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, D500, 64GB, 1TB SSD. So that is working with 2.1.5 as well.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.1.1, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.5, Premiere Pro 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Avid MC, 2 Hexacore MacPros 3.33 Ghz 24Gb RAM GTX-285 120GB SSD, Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD

[Jim Wiseman]

Here is a chart that OWC provides for compatibility with their Mercury Helios 1 and 2 and the Sonnet Echo Express III expander. The LHe seems to work with all of them. Video capture cards are toward the bottom of the chart which includes information for many other types of PCIe cards. I just ordered a Helios 2 which is a 2 card box on Thunderbolt 2. The first Helios is a single card Thunderbolt 1. I will be using the Helios 2 I ordered with an Accelsior E2 PCIe SSD and possibly my Kona LHi in the future. Probably will add another eSata card to the other slot for now as I am keeping my 2010 and 2012 hexacore Mac Pro towers. That will give me 960 GB of PCIe SSD and 4 eSATA ports on the Helios. Will be running FCPX 10.1.1 on the 2013 Mac Pro when it arrives in April with this as my storage hub. Re 2.1.5, don’t have the 2013 Mac Pro yet but certainly intend to use it if possible.

https://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/Thunderbolt/PCIe_Compatibility/

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.1, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.4, Premiere Pro 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Avid MC, 2 Hexacore MacPros 3.33 Ghz 24Gb RAM GTX-285 120GB SSD, Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD

[Jim Wiseman]

If you want the whole story on the new MacPro here is the article https://tinyurl.com/otwabgq
On programs that use the GPU’s gains have been more than substantial, for instance optimized FCP X 10.1, Photoshop, etc.

From the Macworld article:
However, the new Mac Pro handily beat the iMac—and every other Mac we’ve ever tested—in our Final Cut Pro X test, the iPhoto test, the HandBrake test, the Photoshop tests, the Cinebench CPU test, the Mathematica test, and several graphics-engine tests. It also crushed most other Macs in GeekBench 3’s multi-core benchmark.

The Mac Pro’s Final Cut Pro X performance was especially impressive, as it finished our rendering test in half the time of the next-fastest Mac, and about a quarter of the time it took on two 2012 Mac Pros (a quad-core and a dual six-core). An Apple demonstration to Macworld staff was likewise striking, as it involved Final Cut Pro X displaying 16 different angles of 4K Multicam video simultaneously, while live-rendering 4K video with multiple, complex effects applied. This demo was, of course, designed to show the Mac Pro in the best light, but it’s a demo few computers could do at all. Similarly, the user-run Final Cut Pro X site fcp.com published its initial tests based on a Mac Pro similar to ours. In one test, the site put a Red Raw 4K clip in a 4K project and added 18 effects; the clip rendered and played in real time without dropping frames

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.4, Premiere Pro 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Avid MC, 2 Hexacore MacPros 3.33 Ghz 24Gb RAM GTX-285 120GB SSD, Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, G5 Quadcore PCIe

[Jim Wiseman]

I think I had a mismatch between the rendered project selection ProRes 422 and the media as imported ProRes 422 HQ. Redid today with matching settings, both ProRes 422 HQ, and no problems.Viewer and Timeline playback both good quality, no jaggies on Timeline.

Is it possible to mix HQ and 422 media in the same project timeline? Can it then be final rendered out (exported) as either HQ or 422 or will it only render as the initial project setting? Would like to be able to mix on timeline and export as HQ.

Do believe it is time to sign up for some training! Thanks!

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1,Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.3, Premiere Pro 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Avid MC, Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz 24Gb RAM GTX-285 120GB SSD, Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 8Gb SSD, G5 Quadcore PCIe

[Jim Wiseman]

I have waited for 10.1 to be released before trying out FCPX. FCPX is new to me. Since Adobe has gone to rental (won’t go there), I am hoping to move to FCPX for most of my finishing, primarily documentaries, so not heavy on effects. Committed to the Mac. I’m about to begin digitizing a lot of legacy DV NTSC interlace and EX-1 HD Psf material, so I plan to go to ProRes 422. HQ probably not necessary. At any rate, I imported the ProRes HQ HD clip into 10.1 as ProRes 422 via the FCPX preset. Wanted to judge 422 quality.

As I said, the material looks perfect on the AJA HD monitor when played from the FCP Preview Window with quality settings set to Better, Both Fields, using Optimized Media (where I assume the HQ to 422 conversion was done), but when I place the clip on the timeline it shows what indeed could be interlace type artifacts (jaggies on fine diagonals, some softness). The ProRes HQ clip is 23.976 Psf and has been successfully edited with the same system (computer, AJA Lhi, etc.) showing no artifacts either in Premiere CS6 and Media 100 2.1.3.

Need to do some further testing and also output the timeline to see if artifacts disappear. Any other suggestions?

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1,Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.3, Premiere Pro 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Avid MC, Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz 24Gb RAM GTX-285 120GB SSD, Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 8Gb SSD, G5 Quadcore PCIe

[Jim Wiseman]

ProRes 422, 23.98 (23.976) psF, and also as P from AJA Control Panel. Same result. Haven’t tried a program export yet. Could be it will clean up at that point. But would love to see the timeline at full quality as reassurance while editing. Must admit I am picky, but there is a difference. Jaggies are obvious on thin diagonal lines when played from timeline vs Viewer. Almost like line doubling artifacts. Original shot on EX-1, color corrected, legalized in Premiere CS6, output as 23.976 Psf ProRes HQ, imported to FCPX 10.1, rendered on input to ProRes 422. Don’t let that confuse you, already edited a documentary with the same workflow on M100 2.1.3 (same computer) and looked perfect.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1,Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.3, Premiere Pro 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Avid MC, Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz 24Gb RAM GTX-285 120GB SSD, Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 8Gb SSD, G5 Quadcore PCIe

[Jim Wiseman]

Mine arrived today with the 2 ports, same model # with 2 at the end. Will be trying it out this weekend. Bruce, what are you running it on (computer) what OSX and what Blackmagic driver? Was going to 10.8.5 and 9.9.3 as a start with the newest, (except for Mavericks, want to give that some time). Have Mackbook Pro 17, early 2011, Sandybridge, an approved computer. OWC Accellsior 960GB flash in Helios 550/650MB/sec in Thunderbolt 1 case, + RAID 0 and 5. Mostly would like any info on BM driver and OSX. Maybe a new Mac Pro later this coming year.
Thanks.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1,Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.3, Premiere Pro 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Avid MC, Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz 24Gb RAM GTX-285 120GB SSD, Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 8Gb SSD, G5 Quadcore PCIe

[Jim Wiseman]

Does the Thunderbolt 4K have one or two Thunderbolt ports for pass through to daisy chain HDs and computer monitor at end of chain? Have seen photos with both one and two TBs. Current diagram on Blackmagic site shows two, which I must have as I only have one TB connection on my Macbook Pro 17 early 2011 Sandy bridge. Thanks in advance.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1,Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.3, Premiere Pro 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Avid MC, Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz 24Gb RAM GTX-285 120GB SSD, Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 8Gb SSD, G5 Quadcore PCIe

[Jim Wiseman]

A bunch of trolls, eh Lance? How broad minded of you,

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1,Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.3, Premiere Pro 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Avid MC, Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz 24Gb RAM GTX-285 120GB SSD, Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 8Gb SSD, G5 Quadcore PCIe

[Jim Wiseman]

If you don’t want to pay forever, go with MC. You already own it. Wait for Adobe to shake out. Stay away from their subscription model, Creative Cloud, in my not so humble opinion. Do you work with others? What do they use? That could also affect your decision. What codecs do you work in? That is another one. Whole forums are based on your question.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1,Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Studio 2 and 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.3, Premiere Pro 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Avid MC, Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz 24Gb RAM GTX-285 120GB SSD, Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 8Gb SSD, G5 Quadcore PCIe