[Todd Reid]

I would doubt it.
You can always try it.
I would clone both computers, in case it doesn’t work, you can get your G5 back.

I assume you have 2 licenses for FCS2, making what your suggesting legal.

[Todd Reid]

Yes, I had HDMI selected in the control panel. It kept showing “no video” input.

Just got off the phone with AJA, seems my dvd player (and most, if not all) have copy protection built in to the hardware, therefore the AJA doesn’t see any video.

I was able to get my DirecTV HDMI output to show up in FCP via AJA.
So I’m off the the store for adapters and cables to set up for component.

THANKS A LOT MPPA and Hollywood fat cats!!!!!
I’m not trying to steal your crappy movies, just trying to be a video professional!

[Todd Reid]

Don’t take my comments as horror stories to keep you from making the jump. I merely wanted to give you a few things to consider once you got your new setup, to make sure you are creating pretty pictures. Its almost always still going to look better than sd, but there are new set of challenges.

In my experience, an HD camera in the hands of someone used to sd, produced a lot more out of focus footage than I’d like. I was on a couple of the first shoots, with my clients, and I saw first hand, how the shot looked in focus in the viewfinder, but when we put the camera into focus assist mode (not sure of the actual name) or saw it in the edit suite, we saw that it was far from perfect focus. This was a quick lesson, cause after several shots that were too blurry, photogs used focus assist more, and began learning to eyeball it.

Also, in regards to lighting, it is such and art form in itself, but add the extra resolution and real-estate on screen for hd, and I was a bit surprised how many shots were poorly lit. This also could be attributed to bad lighting in the field. As an editor, I usually color correct, out of sport, cause footage can, almost always, look better.

Everything amounts to growing pains, and same, but slightly different phenomenon.
Just my humble opinion.

Post editing isn’t majorly different, but with the addition of several more HD codecs and frame rates, aspect ratios, on and on and on. It defenitely keeps me on my toes, much more than when I was editing sd. Far more to worry about than my old linear suite edit days.

hope this helps

If you have specific questions, ask, that is why I love this forum so much.

[Todd Reid]

I got that info right out of the browser.
Just double checked and I was correct.

They are using the HVX200 camera, not sure if that makes any difference.
I may not have been clear, they don’t shoot multiple formats, but the frame rate will show up as 29.97 or 59.94, and I can never be to sure which one it will be.

Also, as most editors will sympathize with….when multiple camera are used, they NEVER match. They have some photos that “get it” and some that don’t. Thank goodnes for 3-way CC.
Trying to learn Color, but have a high class problem of too many projects right now.

[Todd Reid]

I was hoping you’d respond, as you are the resident P2 authority.

Yeah, yeah, I know! I got lazy and failed to archive them.
It was a deal where, to save money, the crew shot a few projects ahead of time, and I transfered the offending footage a few weeks before I actually started to edit the project (it was only a small portion of the project – 2 shots)
I have learned my lesson, and will archive EVERYTHING from now on.
I do archive a lot of stuff, but not everything….why? I don’t know!

Furthermore, I am monitoring thru an AJAHD and Panny LH1700, so I’m pretty sure the stuttering in real. It kind of looks like I have added a strobe effect.

Lesson learned!

So, no way to fix it, eh?

Also Shane-
can you remind me again, when to “remove” and when not to “remove”?
I thought you ALWAYS needed this checked (thus removing), however my smooth footage is NOT removed, and my jerky footage IS removed.

I’m working with DVCPROHD 720p60 source footage.
ProRes HQ timelimes.

I just noticed that the jerky footage was shot in 29.97 fps and the smooth was 59.94fps.
Footage from this client usually is not consistent, and that has never been a problem for me.

[Todd Reid]

ALSO, you can rent P2 cards. (google to find one in your area)

They are still pretty expensive to rent, but may get you by if you require HD immediately.
Then once you do a few gigs in HD, you may be able to pay for a P2 card.

Are there any P2 cards on eBay?

I’ve been editing footage shot with those camera on P2 cards for over a year now and one thing I can tell you from an editors point of view…..learn the new camera! It is very easy to shoot bad looking hd video without proper setup of camera, proper focus (with focus assist), painting of camera, proper light etc. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can shoot as you always have.
I still spend a lot of time in color correction land, but my constant complaining to the photogs have done some good. Their footage is starting to improve overall. It was a long learning process for both me and them. Almost there, and now they tell me they are upgrading (probably to the HVX2000). woo hoo!

[Todd Reid]

Thanks for the speedy reply.

I failed to mention the most important part of my issue…..the slightest touch of my speakers volume control is a huge change in volume. So not only do I need to stand up and walk around my desk to the back, but I can never get that sweet spot.

So I’m trying to decide if I should add a mixer, or just “create” a inline, more practical, volume control.

After hearing your short description of your set up, that is exactly what I’ve been missing.
what brand of mixer are you using?

[Todd Reid]

in the log and transfer window there is a drop down menu that looks like a gear wheel (upper right within upper left box that contain clip names),
Drop down and try the opposite of whatever is currently checked.
I THINK….when this is checked, you should not have any weird movements.
But I know there are times when you don’t want this checked.
I wish I knew more technically what is going on.

just give it a try and see if it helps.

[Todd Reid]

Try toggling the “remove pulldown and duplicate frames” option in preferences.

[Todd Reid]

a search will reveal hundreds off threads on this subject.

I’m not sure there is an “ideal setup”. It depends on MANY factors, not the least of which is budget and type of media you work with. You will need to consider the computer system (including possibly 2 computer monitors), storage, external monitoring, I/O (internal or external), audio monitoring and power conditioning.

A desktop is usually the better way to go, unless you need the portability.
Storage, you’ll need a RAID of some sort (many to choose from).
RAM is fairly cheap right now, I’d get as much as you can afford.

Since money will obviously no object….
get the latest/greatest octocore
Max out the RAM
get a HD external monitor (could run into the thousands $$$)
get a Kona 3, AJAHD or Blackmagic
eSATA RAID5

Good luck, this is a fun task to ponder the MANY situations you may need. Ask lots of questions of manufacturers, colleagues or friends. Seek out a reputable company that specializes in building systems and carefully look at their recommendations.