Laptop requirements for running DV Rack HD2

S

scottlacy

Member
Does anyone know how much laptop you need to run DV Rack HD2? I'm looking around for specs (CPU, memory, graphic card, graphic memory, hard drive speed, etc.) that would guarantee that DV Rack ran smoothly and reliably on a laptop.

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the HD version of DV Rack, not the old SD version.

Thanks all.

Scott
 
I'm running it with no frame drops on an old Toshiba Satellite with a 1.5GHz P4M, 768MB of RAM, and a 100GB 7200 RPM drive (I replaced the original 4200 RPM drive).
 
I was unaware that this was compatible with the HVX200. Are you able to view 1080i/p/pA (and) 720p/pn images? If so.....this might be worth skipping the whole purchasing a monitor charade.
 
Yes, DV Rack 2.0 HD added support for the HVX and DVCPro50/DVCProHD. It also comes with a DVCProHD Decoder and Batch Converter that will convert MXF files to AVI or QuickTime files to allow you to edit material recorded on an HVX in NLEs that don't support MXF files or have a DVCProHD codec.

DV Rack can't record from the camera when the latter is in a PN mode (because the DV port is disabled in all native recording modes), but the software can optionally remove the duplicate frames on-the-fly, leaving you with a file that is the equivalent of a PN file.

My laptop's screen doesn't have the resolution to display full 1080 video, so the image is scaled. However, the program does have the ability to display a cropped 1:1 image or even zoom in beyond that size, amd it can also display in a full-screen mode with no user interface elements on-screen.
 
I have used DVRack 2.0 for about one year in a HP Pavillion 6500 laptop, 1 GB Ram, AMD 64 - 2.1 ghz, 80 GB 5400 HD, external (Video recording) Sata 7200 RPM Hard disk via a PCMCIA Sata card, Ati X200 Video card 128 MB, and a 15" Monitor (1200 x 900) Win Xp sp2 two HP batts.
Two full features done, 4 Short, docu and fiction.
No droped frames, no problems and very stable operation.
Cost Laptop with software, 20 feet FW cable and, Sata Disk: About US$ 950
 
Ernesto: Was that the HD version of DV Rack you've been using? I'm trying to wrap my mind around the idea that a laptop hard drive can handle a sustained 100 Mbps data rate with no dropped frames. Is that truly possible?
 
Sure they can. A 4200 RPM drive probably won't cut it, but a 5400 RPM drive or better in combination with DV Rack's buffering will keep up with DVCProHD.

100Mbps is only about 10MB/s, and the drive in my laptop sustains an average of 42MB/s.
 
On a slightly unrelated note, if you buy DV Rack HD2, do you even need Raylight? I imagine you don't get low-res proxy support in DV Rack, but it seems that DV Rack does provide MXF conversion to AVI. If this is correct, and one has a reasonably fast system, is it necessary to have both DV Rack HD2 *and* Raylight?
 
scottlacy said:
On a slightly unrelated note, if you buy DV Rack HD2, do you even need Raylight? I imagine you don't get low-res proxy support in DV Rack, but it seems that DV Rack does provide MXF conversion to AVI. If this is correct, and one has a reasonably fast system, is it necessary to have both DV Rack HD2 *and* Raylight?
Click to expand...

You would need Raylight if you want to

1) avoid tediously converting each MXF file and instead open them directly into Premiere, or edit straight off the P2 card.

2) author a P2 card for playback on the camera

3) color correct without crushing the superwhites

4) edit in either native or square pixel format

5) have some hope of viewing Metadata in the timeline (coming
in the next release of Raylight :) ).
 
Thanks for the feedback. Definitely some things to think about. Now is there anyone else out there with more perspective who *doesn't* work for Raylight? :)
 
DV Rack is great for monitoring and recording, but it does not create MXF files, it records to AVIs or MOVs. They supply the DVCProHD Decoder so that you can actually use the files it recorded in an NLE that doesn't support DVCProHD.

If you record MXF files (which you cannot do with DV Rack) and have an NLE that doesn't handle that format, then Raylight is a far better choice for the reasons stated by mvb above.
 
scottlacy said:
Ernesto: Was that the HD version of DV Rack you've been using? I'm trying to wrap my mind around the idea that a laptop hard drive can handle a sustained 100 Mbps data rate with no dropped frames. Is that truly possible?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is a 5400 RPm laptop HD, installed inside an external housing with USB connection.

I also have a 7200 RPM Sata HD inside a Ext housing with Sata connection, it is connected to th computer via a PCMCIA Sata Card.
 
scottlacy said:
Thanks for the feedback. Definitely some things to think about. Now is there anyone else out there with more perspective who *doesn't* work for Raylight? :)
Click to expand...

I do not work for raylight (DVFilm) nor cineform nor serious magic, but some times I give advises about the software those companies produce.

Actually, I use DVRack HD 2.0 in conjuntion with Cineform's Aspect HD, have made 4 productions (2 short and 2 long features) with them and I'm very happy with the result.

PS: mvb is the owner of DVFilm, raylight makers, and the best digital to film transfer house, we used the services in a short docu.
 
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