[Ron Thompson]

I think you can capture video through QuicktimePro now. No need to buy third party apps…as long as it works with the hardware and not just firewire. Just a guess on my part…haven’t tried it.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime

[Ron Thompson]

By the way, I am talking about the KonaLH. 🙂 I thought I was replying to the thread below…not making a new one.

[Ron Thompson]

Well that fact that you’re still running a G4 might be a reason. I may be wrong, but I don’t think your video card would contribute to render times. Processors and RAM could help speed your system.

[Ron Thompson]

I haven’t used either program much…maybe a handful of times since FCP4.
DVD Studio 4 is nice, again, I haven’t been deep into the program, but DVD production is fairly simple for what I do. Compressor seems to crash less and work better.

I use Combustion for my compositing and Motion I have used mainly to generate quick particles or backgrounds. As you may or may not know, Motions particle system as almost the same as Combustions….both appear to be from Particle Illusion.

All the programs seem to work. I just haven’t had a chance to play with them due to my work load right now. I just launched them and confirmed they work.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

There is no real advantage unless you want to use the newer features of FCP5 like multi-cam, control surfaces support, etc…
I make it a habit not to update in the middle of major projects, so I’m still running Panther on my main machine, but I did upgrade to FCP5 because I needed to take advantage of the multicam feature and control surface support–which makes mixing shows with 12 tracks MUCH easier.

FCP is a major release with new features, but you’re not missing anything unless you need the those features. Editing is the same.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

Also, don’t quote me technically, but the SDX900 records 30 frames, not 24 frames, so you would still capture normally.
That was my big question when I started working with 24p and the Panny cameras. You don’t have to worry about Cinema Tools or changing your workflow to 24fps, pull-downs abd all that stuff. Of course you should check the tapes or talk to your DP before you start.

Enjoy
Ron

[Ron Thompson]

Hey Paul
DVCPRO50/24p is beautiful to work with. The show I cut here is shot on that format with the 900.
One thing I noticed, SDI will give you a more reliable picture. During my initial tests almost a year ago, I noticed some weird pixel shifts in the picture when footage was captured over firwire. SDI was much cleaner with no errors.

This was FCP4.5 and QT6…so things might be different now with FCP5 and QT7, but I’ve been capturing SDI ever since.
Just a headz up for you.

Ron
FCP5,QT7,Cinewave,MedeaRT,RTR, and HMV1200, a bunch of LaCie drives.

[Ron Thompson]

For an inexpensive solution, check out IKEA’s business furniture…much stronger and better than their regular furniture. I have the “Jerker” series desk unit which is fully customizable.
The base price is $129. Once you add all of the options for a FCP setup… you might spend $250-$300. You can see the unit at IKEA.com or I would be happy to email a picture of my setup… I’ve had it for 4 years with no wiggles, wobbles, bows, or defects…normally associated with IKEA furniture.

I bought the main desk (table top and one shelf), two additional shelves for tapes, DVD/CDROMS, and 3 LaCie hard drives; printer swing-out shelf which holds my Sony PVM 15″ monitor; 2 telephone swing out shelves which hold my Alesis monitors, and a monitor shelf which hold two 20″ Dell flat panels– but previously held the weight of two 19″ NEC CRT’s. The main desktop holds my keyboard, Mackie Control Unit, Wacom tablet, and Sony DSR20…as well as telephone, and remote control cup holder. A pull out shelf holds my Mackie 1402 mixer. Hard Drives, G5, Amp, other decks and I/O BOB’s sit in another shelf unit, also from IKEA.

TBC consoles are great…I’ve worked with them outside of my studio. A lot more $$$$ than the IKEA stuff, but its designed for that.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

[Tae] “Not that I don’t think it’s an excellent oppertunity for the kid, but it’s all gotta get done correctly SOMHOW. There has to be a point when this trend levels off.”

Hopefully soon! It doesn’t help that FCP is available at every CompUSA and Target in America (ok, maybe not Target, but you get my point). If this trend levels off…maybe the “pros” of Final Cut PRO can breath a little easier.
I couldn’t graduate from college if I didn’t know every equipment label of every piece of equipment and how that equipment worked in my TV production class for my major.

[Ron Thompson]

I hate to agree with you…. but I do. 🙂 I think a lot of people think this, but don’t want to say it.
In a world where computers and high technology squeeze jobs out of the market place in favor of high school internships and lower budgets, fewer and fewer skilled people get a chance to shine.

This is not to put anyone down of course…please don’t take it that way… but the industry of production/post-production probably suffers the most from technological advances.

In the same breath we also have to except that this is where technology is now…and people have to start somewhere.