[Peter Dearmond]

Just remember that you cannot use the latest G5 models with Media 100 HD. They have PCI-Express slots, and you need PCI-x slots for Media 100 HD. The 2.7 Ghz Macs were the last to support PCI-x, and you probably can find some refurbished or even some new ones for sale out there.

If you’re not doing HD work right now, I advise getting a SATA array from MacGurus with a Sonnet host card. Building your own is very easy and their support is top-notch. I have a 1.2 terabyte array for less than $1,000.

[Peter Dearmond]

Thanks Floh, I think you explained the problem. It’s the deck that’s NTSC-only. Now all the messages make sense to me. I do feel a bit relieved that the problem is not Media 100 HD.

And yes, I had earlier tried bringing it in via iMovie, but iMovie wouldn’t let me take it in. I’m still looking for a PAL transator for iMovie. There’s an old one on Versiontracker, but it doesn’t work with the most recent version of iMovie.

[Peter Dearmond]

I’ve always digitized everything component, not DV. The results always looked better to me, and it’s great for keying work, too. The DSR-45 has component out (and in, though I’ve never mastered to it). It handles large format DV tapes, which I shoot on primarily, and also DVCam (mini) tapes.

I’ve yet to get the PAL function to work on Media 100 HD, which is frustrating. Tried deleting preferences, and that didn’t change anything.

[Peter Dearmond]

Yes, I set it to 25 for the PAL footage, but I noticed that it kept going back to 29.97 when I opened it again. Yes, the cables are all connected correctly; I’ve been digitizing a bunch of SD NTSC files today, and they came out fine.

When I try to acquire, I’m getting a message that says “(NTSC) SD 720×486 video standard has been detected. Click OK to continue.” Then when I re-check the video input settings, they’ve gone back to 29.97, etc.

[Peter Dearmond]

Here’s what I would love to see: Boris work with AJA and/or Blackmagic to develop drivers to let Media 100 work with those products. Crazy? Not at all. If I were running the company, I would be doing this now.

Boris could integrate different packages of its effects software with Media 100 SW for different entry points into the market. If you offer people a choice to combine software they really like with hardware that will save them money, you’d have a winner. As wonderful and easy to use Media 100 is, Final Cut Pro was always able to tout more built-in effects in the same package. Personally, I never have liked the interface of FCP, but it does offer more in one package, and you can pick the hardware you need. Duh!

With Boris owning Media 100, they are perfectly positioned to pull this off. That’s my New Year’s wish.

[Peter Dearmond]

Latest version of Quicktime and Mac OS Tiger runs fine for me on 8.2.2 of Media 100.

[Peter Dearmond]

Thanks for clarifying that for me, Floh. It makes a tempting case for buying a new G5 and using the SW product. However, the SW product will only support Firewire (thinking out loud here), so bringing in my video via component or SDI would require the HDX card, right?

So… (still thinking out loud) if I digitized footage on my old Media 100 system, it should be easy to move it onto the new G5 and edit there, but outputting to tape from there would be limited to firewire.

Hmm, has anyone else thought this through? Pretent you’re getting a the new G5 and you’re a Media 100 user. What would you do?

[Peter Dearmond]

Thanks for the reply Steve. For me, and I’m a strange duck, it’s not for HD that I want the Media100 HDX card, it’s for the reatime SD capabilities. For a new long project I will be doing almost all green screen work, and I saw how well realtime alpha channels performed at the demo I attended last year. That means using the HDX card.

I do hope Media100 will seriously consider moving to PCI Express. Eventually all the workstation Macs, including the future Intel-based Macs, probably will use PCI Express. AJA and Blackmagic have already announced or made available PCI Express versions of their cards. I know it must be a challenging time with the ownership transition, but I think it would be a mighty strong statement if Media 100 committed to a future PCI Express product.

[Peter Dearmond]

These are excellent suggestions. I’m like Thomas in that I really like the interface of Media 100 — it “thinks the way I think,” as someone has said.

Before buying the HD product, I must know if Boris is committed to supporting Media 100 on whatever new Power Mac is announced, but also on future Intel-based Macs.

[Peter Dearmond]

8.2 may not be “officially” compatible with Tiger, but as I just said, I’m using that combination with no problems. I think a some others are too. Would be nice if someone from Media 100 would test and announce something on this.