[Patrick Simpson]

I downloaded the linked clip (1080p 23.98). I converted it with MPEG Streamclip to AIC 1080p, and dropped it in Final Cut Express in an AIC 1080 60i sequence. FCE played it just fine without any rendering. It just automatically doubled up every fourth frame, the same as when I converted the clip to 30p using MPEG Streamclip.

The quality of the AIC files I created are good (I converted the same clip to different resolutions and frame rates); they retained the quality well. The only issue was the converting and exporting from FCE seemed to affect the brightness and color a little bit (sometimes it was a bit darker, sometimes lighter).

It’s probably not an ideal solution for editing DSLR footage but I’d say it’s an adequate solution if it’s the best you can do – and it may be the solution I have to use if I get a camera.

20″ intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson

[Patrick Simpson]

Thanks for all the info;

here’s my e-mail address: simpson.patrick@yahoo.com

20″ intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson

[Patrick Simpson]

Thanks for the idea – but I have an iMac so I’m stuck with the ports I have. Plus, I’d rather use the USB drive and save the $20 or so.

I actually just the USB Lacie external burner and am trying it out. So far it reads and writes data just fine (it also play DVD movies just fine); I just need to test out the lightscribe functionality on the Mac.

20″ intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson

[Patrick Simpson]

Thanks for the info, it helps a lot.

How much space do I need for Time Machine? I suppose this varies a lot; I have a 300 GB system drive with probably 80 GB of data that I’d actually back up.

20″ intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson

[Patrick Simpson]

I’m cheap too.

Can I schedule Time Machine to only backup at night or something? Maybe there are settings in Time Machine to avoid issues?

20″ intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson

[Patrick Simpson]

Here’s a solution someone recommended on a different forum:

Use a Griffin iMic (or another simple usb audio interface) and connect it to my mixer or whatever. Then using a program like Sound Source, I can switch between the Griffin iMic’s output and the iMac’s internal speakers (because the iMac’s headphone out isn’t being used).

The only issue here is the added cost; the iMic costs $30-$50

20″ Intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson

[Patrick Simpson]

That’s an idea.

I’m avoiding having the 003 on all the time; maybe it’s silly but I’d rather not have it sitting on more than it needs to be – less heat and wear and tear. I’m also a little skittish with firewire devices particularly because I’ve had several firewire ports on hard drives and DV video decks go bad on me.

Also, a side question: if I have my iMac’s line out connected to something (mixer or 003) is there a way to switch the computer’s output from internal speakers to line out without unplugging the cable? I have family members who use this computer sometimes and I’d rather them not be trying to mess with the 003 or monitors. I wish there was a little menu bar app that let me switch between the two outputs.

20″ Intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson

[Patrick Simpson]

Crisis averted; thanks all for your help.

20″ Intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson

[Patrick Simpson]

Thanks for the input. I’m not interested in what I can get away with (I know I could), I’m interested in what’s legal.

I suppose it wouldn’t make a difference if the DVDs were given away and not sold?

[Patrick Simpson]

I just called Black Magic support; they said that the “full-res” setting still captures to H.264, just at full resolution – 720 x 480.

Can anybody confirm this? I’d really like an inexpensive solution for capturing higher quality analog video.

20″ Intel iMac, 2.66 GHz, 4GB ram
View my reel – http://www.youtube.com/patrickdsimpson