[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.

[Ron Thompson]

Welcome to the world of post!
If you don’t understand these basic “delivery requirements/specs” you are better off sending your tape to a pro to have this done. Maybe they will be kind enough to let you sit in and watch.

This is not something you want to get wrong because networks/broadcasters/engineers/QC folks have every right to reject your tape and withhold funds!!

In my experience, FCP scopes are accurate, but I always cross check my masters on an external scope. Also, with those deliveries, make sure you are fulfilling other standards like Bars and Tone, Slate, countdown, TC requirements, audio requirements, etc.

Good Luck
Ron

[Ron Thompson]

[ken Pugh] “My only gripe, and more of a wish for a future implimentation, would be for programmable buttons. The icing on the cake so to speak,”

And a custom Lexan overlay for FCP/Soundtrack from Mackie. 🙂

As far as reports of the MCU jog not working, I think it had more to do with the MIDI/USB convertor they were using. If you buy this unit, make sure you purchase the Edirol UM-1 MIDI to USB interface.
This seems to be the recommeded interface.
If you have other MIDI devices, you can upgrade to the model with more I/O’s.

[Ron Thompson]

[Mitch Ives] “So what doesn’t currently work on the MCU with FCP?”

Well, everything works, don’t get me wrong…. but a lot more function could be assigned to the MCU. If you go to the Mackie site and look at the unit, you will see a LOT of buttons on the unit.
There are Function (F1, F2…F8) buttons on the MCU that can’t be accessed with FCP (I believe they can be in SoundtrackPro).

I would love to be able to assign functions to some of those buttons, and more importantly, the V-pots which are only functioning as Pan controllers at the moment.

If you load an audio plugin on a clip, I would like to see the MCU come alive with parameter control (ie: EQ settings, Compressor/Limiter settings, Reverb, etc…). This is probably what you get if you use MCU with Logic or Protools.
The possibilities could be endless when you consider control over the color correctors. Motion has MIDI function, but I haven’t played with it yet.

Here is my list of what is functional right now with FCP5:
All faders
Jog wheel
arrows
Transport controls (not including the Record button)
Solo
Mute
V-pots (Pan only)
Bank buttons– for changing track views if you’re running more than 8 tracks
Marker
Nudge
Save
Undo

I’ve only had the unit a couple of days, but these are my early observations.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

Yes!! They work. And it works perfectly.
Jog wheel, play, stop ff, and rew…all work flawlessly and without any delay. Mute and Solo buttons are the only other buttons that are active as well.

As I mentioned, I hope future releases of FCP will allow more button assignments…especially for plugins and other audio functions in FCP.

Worth the money! I mixed a show last night using it…It was everything I expected it to be. I found I still needed the mouse for minor keyframe edits (pops and clicks) but other than that it was all jog wheel, faders, and transport controls.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

It should work. You can also try Carbon Copy Cloner which is great for backing your entire system.
Ron

[Ron Thompson]

Hey Walter… How is Motion 2 treating you? You use the midi keyboard right? (I thought I remember a previous post where you mentioned that). How is the keyboard working with Motion? or have you tried that yet? The keyboard was screwing with your Cinewave, right? Does it work with Kona? or do you have it on a separate system.

One reason I picked up the Mackie Control surface is hopes to one day use it with apps like Motion, or inside FCP to assist with 3-way color correction and other functions. It should prove to be a handy device in the near future….if Apple doesn’t release its own set of external hardware.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

Thanks for the offer… you’ve been a big help during the Cinewave years… look forward to picking your brain when I join the Kona camp.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

Thanks for your answers Walter…somehow I knew I would be hearing from you. Thanks for your honest answer about the crashes too…something I expect with a new FCP release. Hopefully its not too painful. I’m also cutting a TV series, so stability and flexibility is important to me… Cinewave was great for this, but its time to move on.

Looking forward to the overhaul…. I have a lot of shine boxes in my office waiting to be opened. Most looking forward to the Mackie Control surface…mixing shows should be MUCH easier once I get it online. I’ll order the Kona next week.

Thanks again
Ron

[Ron Thompson]

[Bob Zelin] …”You can either return your Kona 2, and buy the right stuff”…

Hey Bob,
Not starting an argument, but I reject this statement.
I think people should buy what they need now and into the future. If anything, you should buy something that’s going to grow with you.

When I bought my Cinewave 4 years ago, I was editing weddings and corporate events…DV ONLY!!! People said, isn’t that overkill for what you do? Why yes it is!! But only 2 years later I was editing commercials for broadcast, an HD PSA for air, and now a TV series. So I think your workflow now and into the future should dictate what you buy….unless you enjoy buying equipment every 6 months.

Ron