[Mark Job]

Hi Jeremy:
You’re only too right ! 🙂

Mark

[Mark Job]

Hi Walter:
Yes. I see your logic. I too have come to the same decision. I will look around for a used or refurb and start small, but expand later. I didn’t know a G5 would run FCS2, but this opens up even more options for a half broke company.

[Mark Job]

Hi Jeremy:
Uh, no. I will pass on Premiere thanks. I will have a look at the MAC refurbished computers and keep searching on Ebay.

Thanks,

Mark

[Mark Job]

Hi Jeremy:
I see. The thing is, I don’t think I can afford a Mac Pro, since this computer is a little pricey. You see, I’m trying to recover from paying way, way too much for my entire Avid Xpress Pro setup, which has failed miserably to deliver on reasonable web encoding and in particular, fast and efficient DVD authoring. I’m trying to get in the door with a minimum configuration for now and upgrade later when I’ve recovered more on my past investments.
I like cutting on Avid, but I don’t like the third party apps bundle ! Nearly useless in my opinion and half baked ! Perhaps I can find a used, but in good condition Mac Pro on Ebay ? I’ll have a look.

[Mark Job]

Hi Walter:
The only HD format we’re currently handling from our clients and our own production is HDV from our Canon XL H1. The majority of the rest of our work is still very much in SD with main output to SD DVD and Web formats.

Mark

[Mark Job]

Hi Ben:
What do you mean by commenting on the Fire Wire Port ? What’s wrong with the fire wire port on the iMAC ?

Mark

[Mark Job]

Hi Brett:
First, allow me to point out that the VHS format does and was designed from the very beginning to have time code. Few manufacturors ever botherd to include TC in their decks, since TC is not needed by consumers, but the spec is there. I use the Panasonic AG – 7750 S-VHS/VHS Record/Player Editor VTR. This VTR reads and Regenerates, VITC, LTC, and CTL on VHS and S-VHS cassettes. I never wrote that I could not capture timecode VHS tape to my Avid at all, only that I could not capture tapes with a Drop Frame based TC. I use Avid Xpress Pro and capture much of my VHS via standard RS 422 without issue – until I have to batch cap a tape with DF time code and it won’t work. I went to the Avid forums, many folks tried to help me, but no dice. I can’t get my system to batch cap DF TC VHS tapes into my Avid. (A major problem for us in post, since we are doing more and more transcoding and formats conversion work these days). We always log and batch cap our tapes in AXP and throw them on a time line and check for color correction and audio quaity levels, etc, before spitting back out on SD DVD or web formats. I can crash record, or simply turn off the TC button in my capture console and manually capture those cassettes, but when you have 60 plus to do, then you want to simply log and batch cap, since this is the fastest way to plough through this manny tapes.

[Mark Job]

Hi Michael:
Perhaps you could shed some light on my XML-MetaSync malfunction in AXP with Avid DVD ? When I make chapter and thumbnail references on my editing timeline in AXP, then export as a QT Ref to Avid DVD along with my XML file, I can see my chapter marks in the Avid DVD timeline.

However, when I try to control+drag my chapter points up to my menu template with empty button paynes, I cannot drop the chapter marks onto the buttons, nor do I see my reference thumnails. Also, the act of trying to drag and drop my chapter marks only results in the chapters sliding all over my entire timeline. (??) Why ? I checked with all my manuals, on-line tutorials, and I’m doing everything properly, but it won’t work ! What am I doing wrong ? Please advise.

[Mark Job]

Hi Ben:
Thank you for the advice. I really prefer a laptop configuration, because sometimes I have to edit on ther go, but I also like the increased options afforded by a dektop MAC configuration. The Mac Book Pro is a little more affordable, if I go with the entry level model.

[Mark Job]

Hi Nate:
Thanks. I think I may do just that and finance it. As for 422 cap from tape, using my Avid to batch cap only works for VHS tapes with non-drop frame timecode. As soon as I feed it Drop Frame TC it doesn’t work. Even if I rename or make a new tape it won’t cap a drop frame VHS tape. As you can imagine, this is an important complication for us and we need a reasonable alternative to compliment what we already have. We also need a more intuitive DVD authoring app.

Is it possible to capture via RS 422 interface if I use the AJA box with a Mac Book Pro laptop ? What is the Street price of the external AJA box ?