[Will Salley]

Jeremy, I’ve got a KiPro and you’re correct, it is a better device for this type of playback. It is, however, close to $4000 as compared to the $900 for the Mac Pro, which I still use for playback as well. For instance, when I’m showing or reviewing raw footage that is not Pro Res (HDCAM, DVCPro HD, MPEG, etc.)

I’ve made the Mac Pro more portable by using it in a case with all the cables and power supply a together. The wireless mouse and keyboard also fit in the case. It is usually on set for some purpose; whether it be for a projected effect, teleprompter, audio playback, whatever. Of course, a laptop can do most of that too, but that’s usually busy wrangling media.

Mac Pro 2×2.8 Quadcore – 10.6.2 – QT 7.6.3 – 22 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro – Open GL 1.5.10 – Wacom Intous2 tablet – AJA io
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[Will Salley]

Good point Zane, There are some limitations on the output options on that little squirt. The headphone audio out being the most obvious. It does double duty as a 1/8″ stereo headphone output and a digital optical out, so it’s one or the other and that is it. I use the analog out and go to a small Roland Cube monitor (or two). On the video side, I’ve used it to drive a Sony 52″ LCD (via HDMI adapter), a Christie projector (via DVI), and to various DVI-based LCDs. I’ve even used it with the projector as a teleprompter for display on a 12×12 overhead.

Mac Pro 2×2.8 Quadcore – 10.6.2 – QT 7.6.3 – 22 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro – Open GL 1.5.10 – Wacom Intous2 tablet – AJA io
SONY XDCAM EX3 – Letus Elite

[Will Salley]

I use a Mac Mini for just this purpose. Just be sure to get the current higher-end model with as much RAM as you can fit in. It will playback ProResHQ from an external FW800 drive (non-raid). You can also playback from the internal HD if you want to keep it more portable.

I’ve never had any problems, even using both display ports.. Also buy the Mini Display port > HDMI or DVI adapter so you can use it on devices with that interface.

Mac Pro 2×2.8 Quadcore – 10.6.2 – QT 7.6.3 – 22 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro – Open GL 1.5.10 – Wacom Intous2 tablet – AJA io
SONY XDCAM EX3 – Letus Elite

[Will Salley]

I think the internal Pioneer SATA solution is great, however, I’m using the motherboard SATA connections for additional external drives (you can never have enough you know), so I can’t use the Pioneer burner without an adaptor like this:

https://www.cooldrives.com/index.php/sahadradtoid.html

It should fit physically, but I don’t want to get into problems with buffer underuns, etc.
I don’t think throughput would be an issue. Right now I have a Mac Pro (early 2008) with an IDE optical drive interface but I’m probably going to be getting a new MacPro in April so I don’t really want to be locked in to an IDE only unit.

Other ideas?

Mac Pro 2×2.8 Quadcore – 10.6.2 – QT 7.6.3 – 22 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro – Open GL 1.5.10 – Wacom Intous2 tablet – AJA io
SONY XDCAM EX3 – Letus Elite

[Will Salley]

Try Carbon Copy Cloner – https://www.bombich.com/

Mac Pro 2×2.8 Quadcore – 10.6.2 – QT 7.6.3 – 22 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro – Open GL 1.5.10 – Wacom Intous2 tablet – AJA io
SONY XDCAM EX3 – Letus Elite

[Will Salley]

Kent, How much data are you burning?

Let us know what other products you find.

Mac Pro 2×2.8 Quadcore – 10.6.2 – QT 7.6.3 – 22 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro – Open GL 1.5.10 – Wacom Intous2 tablet – AJA io
SONY XDCAM EX3 – Letus Elite

[Will Salley]

Ty, That’s just where the track originates. It could be a 2-track tape, or other mastering device. The point I was making is that the 744T needs to be physically connected to the output of the mastering device (digital or analog) to record the track and lay down the TC. If it is digital, then an intermediate playback device (Masterlink, another DAW, etc) could suffice.

Pro Tools, or any other DAW is not necessary for the video shoot.

Mac Pro 2×2.8 Quadcore – 10.6.2 – QT 7.6.3 – 22 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro – Open GL 1.5.10 – Wacom Intous2 tablet – AJA io
SONY XDCAM EX3 – Letus Elite

[Will Salley]

I do music video a bunch.

Here’s how we do it most of the time:
Single camera (or multi) w/ timecode in from playback device ( Sound Devices 744T) with final mix on the drive.
Music track is 24/96 from Pro Tools with a 30 second countdown and click.
Timecode is 29.97 NDF throughout the entire project. I consider 24 FPS too stroby for the fast movement of most music projects. We’ll usually shoot 30P and even overcrank to 48 on non-synced shots – especially if the camera is on a boom – which it usually is.
(even with super 16 film, we shoot at 30 FPS and open the shutter angle to give it some blur)

The playback audio is split out to the cameras- just in case.

The same audio track (WAV with embedded TC) is brought into the NLE and maintained.

If you don’t have access to a TC capable deck or playback, do it this way:

Create a project in the NLE, import the master audio track and place on the timeline. LOCK the audio track so it can’t be moved. Use a timecode generator filter on the track and make the TC window as large as you can fit in the preview window – well give it a little room on the edges. Then render a 1280×720 (with audio) Quicktime of that. Use that as your playback file in a laptop. Shoot the laptops monitor at the beginning and end of each take. Sync visually in post using the same project that you originally created. You should still be able to use Multicam in FCP or Avid to cut with, which is essential for cutting music videos.

Mac Pro 2×2.8 Quadcore – 10.6.2 – QT 7.6.3 – 22 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro – Open GL 1.5.10 – Wacom Intous2 tablet – AJA io
SONY XDCAM EX3 – Letus Elite

[Will Salley]

[Maurice Salazar] “What would be the best more efficient way to convert footage from Sony EX-3 to AppleProREs 422.”

Use this:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/618146-REG/AJA_KI_PRO_R0_Ki_PRO_Portable_ProRes_File.html

Mac Pro 2×2.8 Quadcore – 10.6.2 – QT 7.6.3 – 22 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro – Open GL 1.5.10 – Wacom Intous2 tablet – AJA io
SONY XDCAM EX3 – Letus Elite

[Will Salley]

Any graphics card improvement should give all applications better performance. The design of the MacPro relies heavily on the graphics processors handling many of the tasks of the Final Cut suite, as well as other production oriented apps such as After Effects and such.

Will a new card speed up rendering and encoding? No, but it will help in the GUI environment.

Mac Pro 2×2.8 Quadcore – 10.6.2 – QT 7.6.3 – 22 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro – Open GL 1.5.10 – Wacom Intous2 tablet – AJA io
SONY XDCAM EX3 – Letus Elite