[Jim Wiseman]

I’m in a similar situation with much footage (over 30 years) in SD, primarily NTSC DV, but also Betacam SP NTSC and even 3/4″ NTSC. I’ve done tests with the Blackmagic Teranex 2D and their MediaExpress capture software. It seems to create good ProRes files. I am using Panasonic DVCPro 640/650 SDI out decks, and Betacam/3/4″ Sony decks.. The 640/650 SDI decks can handle mini DV and DVCPro from my broadcast Panasonic AJ-D810 SD camera as well. Even some Nikon DSLR file based, and Sony EX-1 HD NTSC 1080.

I want to bump the SD all to pillar-box 3×4 1080 at the beginning, as that is the primary way people now view video. Saw the Ken Burns Civil War Docs recently, and they were all 3×4 HD pillar box, though they have may have been uprezed after posting in standard SD. At any rate, with the Teranex 2D already in house, I’m thinking of bringing the SD tape in at 1080 ProRes 422 via Blackmagic MediaExpress to begin with and combining that with the file based HD from the Sony EX-1 NTSC HD 1080 and the Nikon footage in a 1920 x 1080 HD timeline using FCPX.

I’m open to any input at this time as I am ready to begin digitizing the tape and doing tests, but that is my approach at the moment. Adobe is not in the picture except for pre or post production, possibly Audition for audio. I do have CS6 Production Premium, but most know my attitude toward rental going forward. Any suggestions would be appreciated here, as well. This is literally a lifetime of work that will end up as quite a few individual projects. Come from a broadcast/feature background, so want to maintain those standards, even if it ends up being mostly streamed.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2, Final Cut Studio 2 & 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.6, Premiere Pro CS 5 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K, Blackmagic Teranex, Avid MC: Mid 2015 MacBook Pro Retina 15″: 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, 1TB SSD, 64GB RAM, 2-D500: Helios 2 w 2-960GB SSDs: 2012 Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz, 24Gb RAM, GTX-680, 960GB SSD: Macbook Pro Retina 2015, i7, 500GB, M370X 2GB: Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, Multiple OWC Thunderbay 4 TB2 and eSATA QX2 RAID 5 HD systems

[Jim Wiseman]

Thanks, Oliver. That Michael Cioni piece was truly mind opening. I, for one, can see the advantage of the magnetic timeline, and of course the filters in that piece. Really beautiful.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2, Final Cut Studio 2 & 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.6, Premiere Pro CS 5 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K, Blackmagic Teranex, Avid MC: Mid 2015 MacBook Pro Retina 15″: 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, 1TB SSD, 64GB RAM, 2-D500: Helios 2 w 2-960GB SSDs: 2012 Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz, 24Gb RAM, GTX-680, 960GB SSD: Macbook Pro Retina 2015, i7, 500GB, M370X 2GB: Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, Multiple OWC Thunderbay 4 TB2 and eSATA QX2 RAID 5 HD systems

[Jim Wiseman]

I’ll put it as succinctly as possible David, not having the time to research all of your most probably well intentioned advice on the COW over the last many years. Yes, I was around even before the COW was called that, and I have seen and appreciated much of your writing.

I just think you and Bill have a very dysfunctional relationship and I tend to agree mostly with Bill. And I like FCPX. Very simple. I also have to add that I am loving Adobe software less and less as I widen my software bundle. Mostly though, nothing personal. Your contributions are appreciated. Apologies as warranted.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2, Final Cut Studio 2 & 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.6, Premiere Pro CS 5 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K, Blackmagic Teranex, Avid MC: Mid 2015 MacBook Pro Retina 15″: 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, 1TB SSD, 64GB RAM, 2-D500: Helios 2 w 2-960GB SSDs: 2012 Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz, 24Gb RAM, GTX-680, 960GB SSD: Macbook Pro Retina 2015, i7, 500GB, M370X 2GB: Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, Multiple OWC Thunderbay 4 TB2 and eSATA QX2 RAID 5 HD systems

[Jim Wiseman]

Andrew, That’s when I was willing to sell Avid. In the ’90’s. It was actually profitable then. Even bought a dealer demo MC1000 for myself. Not much has changed since then. It’s the old “no one ever lost their job recommending the company buy IBM”. But it works in the Hollywood environment, and isn’t that true no matter what environment you work in? If it works and is “socially” acceptable you will use it. Out here in the larger world we have more choices.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2, Final Cut Studio 2 & 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.6, Premiere Pro CS 5 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K, Blackmagic Teranex, Avid MC: Mid 2015 MacBook Pro Retina 15″: 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, 1TB SSD, 64GB RAM, 2-D500: Helios 2 w 2-960GB SSDs: 2012 Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz, 24Gb RAM, GTX-680, 960GB SSD: Macbook Pro Retina 2015, i7, 500GB, M370X 2GB: Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, Multiple OWC Thunderbay 4 TB2 and eSATA QX2 RAID 5 HD systems

[Jim Wiseman]

That is BS and you know it David. My only problem is with your supercilious attitude and knee jerk reactions.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2, Final Cut Studio 2 & 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.6, Premiere Pro CS 5 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K, Blackmagic Teranex, Avid MC: Mid 2015 MacBook Pro Retina 15″: 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, 1TB SSD, 64GB RAM, 2-D500: Helios 2 w 2-960GB SSDs: 2012 Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz, 24Gb RAM, GTX-680, 960GB SSD: Macbook Pro Retina 2015, i7, 500GB, M370X 2GB: Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, Multiple OWC Thunderbay 4 TB2 and eSATA QX2 RAID 5 HD systems

[Jim Wiseman]

Someone has to have had their sensibilities affronted by all the negativity about X expressed almost everywhere, especially in the beginning from certain segments of the post world. This is bound to raise some emotion. I’ve worked in LA, SF and Chicago in broadcast and features, and sold installed and maintained over 50 Avids in Hawaii. I can understand the angst and biting of the tongue that occurs when people take a superior attitude based on the idea that one thing or another is just “the” system to use. Avid in LA, for instance, has become a self perpetuating industry. It has the great advantage in workgroups, but for the type of work that most one man bands do, or more flexible shops, I wouldn’t waste my time or money on it. In LA it is a necessity, though, of course. Thankfully, most of us have more freedom of choice. Adobe, with their economic model, drove me to FCPX, and surprise, I like it.

I find Bill’s sometimes emotional promotion of FCPX refreshing. It may irritate some here, but hey, we all have a style. I’ve found some others to be a lot more irritating. But I also find that most attempt to be elucidating. I pay attention to them and shine on the rest. Feel free to shine me on if you wish. It’s only ASCII text, after all. Just scroll on by.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2, Final Cut Studio 2 & 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.6, Premiere Pro CS 5 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K, Blackmagic Teranex, Avid MC: Mid 2015 MacBook Pro Retina 15″: 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, 1TB SSD, 64GB RAM, 2-D500: Helios 2 w 2-960GB SSDs: 2012 Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz, 24Gb RAM, GTX-680, 960GB SSD: Macbook Pro Retina 2015, i7, 500GB, M370X 2GB: Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, Multiple OWC Thunderbay 4 TB2 and eSATA QX2 RAID 5 HD systems

[Jim Wiseman]

@David: If you don’t want to hear anything positive about FCPX, I would suggest you stay on the Adobe boards. I would hope that positive as well as negative things could be said about the program under discussion here without backbiting like this. It seems to me that Bill was merely suggesting we take a look at what was done with FCPX even at a very early stage. I went to the URL and found the interview and the example video of the film quite edifying. A more positive spirit of discourse would be appreciated.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2, Final Cut Studio 2 & 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.6, Premiere Pro CS 5 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K, Blackmagic Teranex, Avid MC: Mid 2015 MacBook Pro Retina 15″: 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, 1TB SSD, 64GB RAM, 2-D500: Helios 2 w 2-960GB SSDs: 2012 Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz, 24Gb RAM, GTX-680, 960GB SSD: Macbook Pro Retina 2015, i7, 500GB, M370X 2GB: Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, Multiple OWC Thunderbay 4 TB2 and eSATA QX2 RAID 5 HD systems

[Jim Wiseman]

To Tim’s point on single screen operation, FCPX runs great on my new MacBook Pro Retina 15″. Much better than the tower. At least as well as the Late 2013 nMP hexacore on first impression. BTW, I do like a two monitor setup, which the new MBP will do when necessary. Also, I bought the MBP now because I knew I would get Yosemite, required by Aperture which I have been using in a managed library since version 1. Not a big fan, actually I don’t like, Lightroom’s interface. Find the “Rooms” cumbersome. And yes I have tried it. Own the perpetual license 6.x, and find the Aperture interface much more fluid. Will probably use it until my computers won’t run it any longer, which makes the El Capitan changeover moot as long as that is the case. Haven’t heard much good about the “upgrades” to Lightroom lately. Will still practice with it once the bugs are fixed, though.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2, Final Cut Studio 2 & 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.6, Premiere Pro CS 5 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K, Blackmagic Teranex, Avid MC: 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, 1TB SSD, 64GB RAM, 2-D500: Helios 2 w 2-960GB SSDs: 2012 Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz, 24Gb RAM, GTX-680, 960GB SSD: Macbook Pro Retina 2015, i7, 500GB, M370X 2GB: Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, Multiple OWC Thunderbay 4 TB2 and eSATA QX2 RAID 5 HD systems

[Jim Wiseman]

Good article. Thanks. Nothing to disagree with here. No mention of Apple, though. Do you see Avid or Adobe as Apple in this scenario (I actually don’t see that), or just as a lesson in how to judge an editing system and it’s suitability to your own particular workflow and production requirements? That I think it does well, but I don’t get the reference to Apple. Maybe I am being obtuse.

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2, Final Cut Studio 2 & 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.6, Premiere Pro CS 5 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K, Blackmagic Teranex, Avid MC: 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, 1TB SSD, 64GB RAM, 2-D500: Helios 2 w 2-960GB SSDs: 2012 Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz, 24Gb RAM, GTX-680, 960GB SSD: Macbook Pro Retina 2015, i7, 500GB, M370X 2GB: Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, Multiple OWC Thunderbay 4 TB2 and eSATA QX2 RAID 5 HD systems

[Jim Wiseman]

Yes, that threw a scare into a lot of Aperture users. I was prepared for anything at that point having already downloaded the App Store versions 3.5.1 (Mavericks release) and 3.6 (Yosemite). It came back in about two days. Probably from panicked calls to ProApps Apple support! If you aren’t giving us a physical copy, you better keep it available as a download after we paid for it. Such are the vagaries of the cloud!

Jim Wiseman
Sony PMW-EX1, Pana AJ-D810 DVCPro, DVX-100, Nikon D7000, Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2, Final Cut Studio 2 & 3, Media 100 Suite 2.1.6, Premiere Pro CS 5 5.5 and 6.0, AJA ioHD, AJA Kona LHi, Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K, Blackmagic Teranex, Avid MC: 2013 Mac Pro Hexacore, 1TB SSD, 64GB RAM, 2-D500: Helios 2 w 2-960GB SSDs: 2012 Hexacore MacPro 3.33 Ghz, 24Gb RAM, GTX-680, 960GB SSD: Macbook Pro Retina 2015, i7, 500GB, M370X 2GB: Macbook Pro 17″ 2011 2.2 Ghz Quadcore i7 16GB RAM 250GB SSD, Multiple OWC Thunderbay 4 TB2 and eSATA QX2 RAID 5 HD systems