looking for info on "how to build an HDV MAC editing station"

K

Kabul

New member
Hello.

Most of you are "Link Masters" of web sites with very useful information. lol
So, i'm looking for a tip, where to read some good texts about how to built the correct HDV editing Hardware workflow.

For example, i own an HDV JCV camera, but due to Hardware limitations i edit in DV, on FCP, with a MAC G5 1.8 single processor.

Now, i decide to up-grade all my system, and want to edit in HDV with proper hardware/software, but before buying i would like to define the correct workflow for my needs.
I received quite different propositions from company's i asked for a solution, with drastic budget differences, so i'm even more confused...

questions like "do i really need a video capture card, for my type of work? If so, wich one is proper for me?
What about Hard Disk? Firewire? Sata?
etc.... etc..


So, i'm not asking for the solution, i know there a lot, lol, just for some good web sites where to clear my mind about this subjects!

thank you
 
Simply look at the published minimum requirements for each NLE. For example, this from Apple's site:

General System Requirements
  • Macintosh computer with 867MHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo processor, or Intel Xeon processor
  • HD features require 1GHz or faster single or dual processors (authoring HD DVDs requires a PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo processor, or Intel Xeon processor)
  • 512MB of RAM; 1GB of RAM for HD features (2GB recommended)
  • Display with 1024-by-768 (or higher) resolution
  • AGP Quartz Extreme or PCI Express graphics card (Final Cut Studio is not supported on systems using the Intel Extreme Graphics 950 GMA)
  • Motion requires the standard graphics card found in any Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, iMac Intel Core Duo, Power Mac G5, iMac G5, a 1.25 GHz or faster PowerBook G4, or a 1.25 GHz or faster flat-panel iMac.
  • Mac OS X 10.4.4 or later
  • QuickTime 7.0.4 or later
  • 4GB of disk space to install all applications
  • Additional 42GB to install all optional templates, loops, content, and tutorials (may be installed on separate discs
  • DVD drive for installation
  • Playback of DVD Studio Pro 4-authored HD DVDs requires a PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo processor, or Intel Xeon processor
  • Replication of DVD Studio Pro 4-authored DVDs requires a DLT drive
  • Minimum supported graphics cards: ATI Radeon 9800XT, ATI Radeon 9700 Pro, ATI Radeon 9600XT or 9600 Pro, ATI Mobility Radeon 9700, ATI Mobility Radeon 9600, NVIDIA GeForce 6600 and 6600LE, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, NVIDIA GeForce Go5200 or FX 5200 Ultra
  • Recommended graphics cards: ATI Radeon X1900 XT, ATI Radeon X850 XT, ATI Radeon X800 XT, ATI Radeon X1600, NVIDIA GeForce Quadro FX 4500, NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT, NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL or 6800 GT DDL
 
Thank you!

I've been browsing Ken Stone's page for sometime and didn't notice that article. Very useful!

My problem is not with the MAC system, but more with the periferals i should plug in to it, as for the video capture, RAID system, etc..

thank you for your time! :thumbup:
 
HDV is captured via Firewire, and can be captured to any drive really, barring the system drive. So any SATA drive you buy for the internal wil be fine. No Raid needed. HDV has the same data rate as DV.
 
Also, you really do NOT want to capture nor edit native HDV, it's a royal PITA on any NLE. Use the Apple HDV Intermediate Codec. It'll save you a ton of headaches.
 
BenB said:
Simply look at the published minimum requirements for each NLE. For example, this from Apple's site:

General System Requirements
  • Macintosh computer with 867MHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo processor, or Intel Xeon processor
  • HD features require 1GHz or faster single or dual processors (authoring HD DVDs requires a PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo processor, or Intel Xeon processor)
  • 512MB of RAM; 1GB of RAM for HD features (2GB recommended)
  • Display with 1024-by-768 (or higher) resolution
  • AGP Quartz Extreme or PCI Express graphics card (Final Cut Studio is not supported on systems using the Intel Extreme Graphics 950 GMA)
  • Motion requires the standard graphics card found in any Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, iMac Intel Core Duo, Power Mac G5, iMac G5, a 1.25 GHz or faster PowerBook G4, or a 1.25 GHz or faster flat-panel iMac.
  • Mac OS X 10.4.4 or later
  • QuickTime 7.0.4 or later
  • 4GB of disk space to install all applications
  • Additional 42GB to install all optional templates, loops, content, and tutorials (may be installed on separate discs
  • DVD drive for installation
  • Playback of DVD Studio Pro 4-authored HD DVDs requires a PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo processor, or Intel Xeon processor
  • Replication of DVD Studio Pro 4-authored DVDs requires a DLT drive
  • Minimum supported graphics cards: ATI Radeon 9800XT, ATI Radeon 9700 Pro, ATI Radeon 9600XT or 9600 Pro, ATI Mobility Radeon 9700, ATI Mobility Radeon 9600, NVIDIA GeForce 6600 and 6600LE, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, NVIDIA GeForce Go5200 or FX 5200 Ultra
  • Recommended graphics cards: ATI Radeon X1900 XT, ATI Radeon X850 XT, ATI Radeon X800 XT, ATI Radeon X1600, NVIDIA GeForce Quadro FX 4500, NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT, NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL or 6800 GT DDL
Click to expand...
So Apple gives the minimum requirements on its site, but I called them to ask for their RECOMMENDED system setup with a MacPro for HDV (I've got the Canon XHA1) and they tell me to get 2 3.0 GHz Quad Core with at least 8G RAM and the ATI Radeon graphics card. ANd a bunch of hard space in each hard drive bay. That balloons the price in an instant.

Is that much power/speed necessary? Budget is a consideration so I don't mind sacrificing some speed. (As long as it doesn't grind to a halt.)

What's required for a system that moves along but won't set me back as much as $6-8K (not counting monitor)?

Thanks.

I know there's no hard and fast rule. Just loking for your opinions and experiences.
 
I have edited HDV on a Powerbook G4. An 8 core mac pro with 8GB of RAM? Since FCP can only use 4GB of ram, I find that reccomendation interesting. I do HDV on a 4 core 2.66 GHZ Mac Pro with 5GB of ram and it works just fine.
 
I edit from the JVC HD100 on my Powerbook G4 with 2 gigs of Ram. The key here is at least 2 gigs of RAM. Any of the new Macs would edit it fine as long as the Ram is at 2 or more.
 
You can edit hdv easy on any new mac pro with 2 gigs of ram. The processor comes in when you start using alot of effects on your hdv footage. If you are for instance editing a movie where there is rarely more than 2 video streams playing at one time it will cut like butter. dissolves and cuts no problem. As for monitors get 2 20" inch dell monitors or 1 24" dell to start with. You do not need a capture card. No AJA or Black Magic Design for you. I recommend editing in hdv and then copy and pasting your finished timeline to something else like PRO RES 422 sequence timeline.
 
Nik Manning said:
You can edit hdv easy on any new mac pro with 2 gigs of ram. The processor comes in when you start using alot of effects on your hdv footage. If you are for instance editing a movie where there is rarely more than 2 video streams playing at one time it will cut like butter. dissolves and cuts no problem. As for monitors get 2 20" inch dell monitors or 1 24" dell to start with. You do not need a capture card. No AJA or Black Magic Design for you. I recommend editing in hdv and then copy and pasting your finished timeline to something else like PRO RES 422 sequence timeline.
Click to expand...
That's great to hear, Nik. Just the sort of straigtforward information I was looking for. You've saved my company a lot of money and me needless concern.

(BTW, I lived in Reseda myself, once upon a time. Donna Ave.)

Much obliged!

--Greg
 
I can edit HDV fine on my G5 2Ghz...it's the encoding and rendering that is painful(not to mention the effects). Even on the 3 Ghz Mac Pro there will be long rendering times, from what I have heard. That is the reason they recommend the 8-core.
 
I don't plan to do much in the way of effects since I'm producing training videos, at least at first, but let me ask: which is more important when it comes to speed/performance, clock speed or RAM?
 
2gb RAM is a minimum... 4gb is comfortable... more is a luxury

definitely depends on workflow habits. if you multi-task at all, its good to have 1.5-2gigs per app running (this is just for apps like FCP, motion, color, AE, etc... not itunes and safari)
 
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