Ned Soltz
Forum Replies Created
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While the Kona 2 does accelerate HDV, you really can work adequately with HDV over firewire. The real question about working in HDV is how you are going to deliver. If you downrez to DV, then you certainly can handle all of that without the Kona 2. Your DV from HDV downrezed will definitely be better than shooting pure DV.
Now, if you wish to monitor HDV on your Sony HDTV, you could consider the Sony HVRM-10U HDV deck which has analog component out. You can monitor through the component inputs on your Sony HDTV.
Yes, a workflow is possible with the Kona 2 and I have done some HDV work with it. You can either capture via firewire and then transcode to a higher codec like DVCPRO HD or use a Kona HD10A component to SDI converter to convert to SDI input to your Kona 2. Use firewire for deck control. You can also use firewire for audio or use a Flying Cow A->D converter to convert the analog audio from the HDV camera or deck to digital, which can then go into your Kona 2 (BTW, if you buy a Kona 2, definitely go the extra $300 for the K Box). Capture into FCP with a DVCPRO HD 1080i codec (you will need to create a custom capture pre-set for the firewire control). Then, monitor out the analog component outputs from the Kona 2 or the K Box.
That is definitely, IMHO, a pricey solution for HDV, considering $2500 for the Kona 2; $1500 for the HD10A; and $300 for the KBox. OF course, the HD10A will also take your analog SD output from BetaSP and the Kona 2 will have no problem with SD. Since the K Box has a serial port, you can also control the BetaSP deck through the Kona 2.
In short, if you are working with SD, the analog Kona board or an Io would be perfect for you and you can capture your HDV via firewire.
Now, if you decide to output that HDV to an HD-delivery medium such as a Sony HDCAM deck or a Panasonic 1200A, then you would need the Kona 2.
If you are burning HD-DVD’s to show on the Mac using the DVD Player 4.6 software, then you can still work via firewire and not need the investment in the Kona 2. As I said, it comes down to delivery mechanism since we really have very limited ways in which we can deliver that HDV signal. You can always lay back to the HDV camera or deck (a lengthy rendering process) and then just present via an HD-compatible projector or HDTV. When we actually have real consumer HD DVD’s and the ability to burn those, then our HDV delivery horizons will expand.
Meanwhile, I’ll express a tentative agreement with Walter that DVCPRO HD footage looks better than HDV. But it all depends upon your use. For example, digibeta looks better than DV but DV might be adequate for your application.
Ned Soltz
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FWIW, I have encountered TC breaks in every HDV capture I have attempted. I have not captured any HDV since FCP 5 since I do not have a Z1 here at the moment, but up to this point I have been using HDVxDV since it captured TC. TC breaks, and I have told Brad that HDVxDV does not handle TC breaks elegantly.. it basically stops. Additionally, I have gone component out of the Z1 to Component->SDI converter and SDI into a Kona 2, using firewire as deck control. This was in FCP 4.5. Again, TC breaks. I am wondering whether it might be worthwhile trying blacking a tape to stripe TC and then recording.
Ned Soltz
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Just got an installed a BCF2000. With the 1.07 firmware and greater, it does support Mackie control. So, I have no problem now using with ST Pro and FCP 5. BTW, the bottom 4 buttons are mapped to Rev, Fwd (top row) and Stop, Play (bottom row). Have not yet discovered which button or combination thereof is mapped to record.
Ned Soltz
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Education FCP = Must buy new retail (or education license)
So, that stops the upgrade to FC Studio right there.
WIth retail versions of DVDSP 3 and Motion, you could buy retail upgrades to those products. You would then also need to buy retail (or ed) version of ST Pro.
No upgrade path for any ed license.
Ned Soltz
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HI, Richard
Mine’s arriving tomorrow and my Adobe CS2 arrived yesterday. Your new PS DVD is terrific and I’ll be writing some very glowing words about it.
Ned Soltz
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Check out the various deals from the aggregator sites such as dealmac.com. I have seen the Dell 2405 for as little as $1K from Dell with the correct “coupon code.” The only negative reports that I have heard (and I can’t point to them specifically at the moment) is that some users have reported units with stuck pixels. Once you can wade through the off-shore tech support of Dell, they will replace defective units quickly. The secret with dealing with Bangalore, I have found, is once the conversation begins to deteriorate, simply ask for a supervisor in Austin.
Ned Soltz
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Let me add to Walter’s comments that I just migrated a client from 2 Cinewaves to 2 Kona 2’s and they could not be more delighted. Since the Cinewave has dropped in value so much, he intends keeping them and throwing them into some older G5’s just to capture the occasional 8-bit uncompressed SD from BetaSP. But they had so many problems with HD that their only option was to ditch them.
Ned Soltz
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10.3.9 has been generally weird for some users, and I did have some Kona 2 issues. I do think, however, that the problem was a defective K Box because everything is just about back to normal after the replacement of the K Box. I am still having some embedded audio issues but I am not willing to blame that on 10.3.9– at least yet. Walter Biscardi will probably chime in here since he has stated in other posts that he wants nothing to do with 10.3.9. Personally, I cannot attribute any problems on my systems to 10.3.9. I can say that Tiger + Kona 2 + FCP HD is working fine based on a client whom I just configured– new 2.7 Mac plus Kona 2 plus XServe Raid. No problems there whatsoever (well, there was an XServe raid problem, but we traced that to a controller problem on the XServe raid, so not related either to Tiger or Kona 2). So, all I can say is that on both OS’s, the only problems I have experienced are not related to 10.3.9 or to Tiger.
Ned Soltz
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FWIW, solved problem…. Bad K Box… Replaced K Box and now get my analog video as well as audio monitor.
Ned
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Still no go with the new board. I’ll be working on a client’s system tomorrow where I’m installing two Kona 2 set ups and I’ll see if I have any better results. Meanwhile, for one of those rare times in my know-it-all life, I’m stumped.
Ned