Andromeda - Work Flow?

F

FutureDVXUser

Well-known member
Hey Guys,

I've been thinking of getting the Andromeda with a Brevis 35 and was wondering if somebody can help me find the right accessories to make it work...

Could the Brevis rig with rails, matte box, monitor and follow focus be attached to the glidecam 4000?

The TS Monitor and Mac Mini I've been looking at are: MM400 -V2- VGA 7" TFT - Touchscreen USB - PAL/NTSC - IR Remote and Apple | Customized Mac mini with 1.83GHz Intel Core | Z0DN0000D. Would that be able to monitor and record Andromeda, as well flip the 35mm image?

I was thinking of mounting the monitor to the top of the camera, and shoving (if it fits) the Mac Mini in the inside of my pocket {or possibly a duffel bag.} Than hook the cam up to the Glidecam 4000 with Brevis 35 (if it can hold it) for a run and gun set up.

Than, to edit the Andromeda footage (etc) I was going to use this Apple | 20" iMac with 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU | MA876LL/A.

Can somebody please let me know if this would be a good work flow. I know the battery will probably run down real fast, so is there a longer lasting battery that I might be able to pick up? The power supply will run off the battery attached to the DVX right?

I mean, I'm getting another tripod also (my last one broke) but sometimes I like to have the cam. movin' and stuff...

Oh, also, the Andromeda only shoot 990, so I was thinking after using it to use Instant HD and up the footage to 1080... Has anybody tried that?

Anyway, if anybody has a chance please let me know if this would work. I usually shoot other peoples projects: documentaries, and some stuff thats put on local tv. And I shot two movies with the DVX. But, I've been using the same god forsaken tape that came with the DVX so I always record over the footage and this lousy computer of mine always gets a virus so I am constantly restarting it... So I'm looking to take out a loan and give myself a new work flow and I wanna shoot HD... But I kinda don't wanna buy a completely new cam just yet... My warranty is going to expire in three months anyway, so losing my warranty to the andromeda wont be an issue...

Thanks
 
FutureDVXUser said:
Hey Guys,
I usually shoot other peoples projects: documentaries, and some stuff thats put on local tv. And I shot two movies with the DVX. But, I've been using the same god forsaken tape that came with the DVX so I always record over the footage and this lousy computer of mine always gets a virus so I am constantly restarting it...
Thanks
Click to expand...


As an experienced Andromeda shooter, I'm not sure the system is right for you. Don't take any offense at this, but its a very detailed system. I guess what I'm saying is that its a whole different playing field, and I don't get the sense that you would be ready for an Andromeda. Correct me if I'm wrong! The best footage ever is rendered out using 16 bit tiff image sequences. If you have a hard time pushing DV around, you'll kill yourself with tiff sequences, but then again, that new Mac should be able to handle it.

Just a tip, don't re-use tape. Each successive recording makes it worse and worse. If you want a better image and sound, use a new tape every time you shoot.

Hope that helps!
 
I would agree with Chris, but if you do end up going with that system I would upgrade your editor and downgrade your batch system. You could cut out a few things in that mac mini and upgrade a few things on the imac...maybe even bump up to a macpro.
 
FutureDVXUser said:
I was thinking of mounting the monitor to the top of the camera, and shoving (if it fits) the Mac Mini in the inside of my pocket {or possibly a duffel bag.} Than hook the cam up to the Glidecam 4000 with Brevis 35 (if it can hold it) for a run and gun set up.
Click to expand...


This would be by far to much weight for a Glidecam 4000...Btw : How are you going to pull focus on your Brevis? And the cable going into your pocket to the MiniMac will definately destroy any balance of the Glidecam...
At least this part of your plans is probably going to be problematic.
 
Well, I already have my mind set on getting the andromeda... So I cant change it... The only reason I dont change my tape is because, I dont know really... I always plan on buying some, but dont... And this computer is my house computer so my parents are always on it... And after they use it, sometimes things go wrong with it... So I wanted to get another one for myself... And since Final Cut Pro 2 is used on Macs I want it heh...

Those batteries don't look too expensive... I will pick one up... Thanks for the link... Would I mount it to the back of the camera? Like, where the regular battery goes? I'll buy the first one on Sony V-mount Style Camera Batteries page next week... heh...

Also, I never thought about the whole pulling focus thing with the glidecam because I usually keep things in focus when I'm walking with it... And I never thought about the balance issue with the mac in my pocket... I'll figure something out...

Thanks for the replies
 
You must have some big pockets, because the mac mini, while small, isn't quite that small, and you really can't record to the internal drive, its too slow, and the OS is running off it... bad idea.

I'd recommend 7200 RPM fire wire bus powered drives. They MUST be firewire. The Andromeda footage is so big that it takes up most of the USB bus...

Since you seem like you want a hand held system, I'd shoot for a shoulder mount design. I'm slowly headed in that direction, I'm just gathering up the last few things like Li-ion power before I start designing my rig. I'm trying to build in room for potential adapters as well, and I plan on making it totally modular.
 
Cool, let me know how your shoulder rig turns out...

So ontop of the Mac Mini, I would need to add a 7200 RPM Firewire Bus Power Drive also? Where could I get one of those? At BH? Could I get it already installed in a Mac Mini? I think I'll have to go with the $600 Mac Mini... Would that be ok?

Man, I'm sorry for askin so much, I'm just desired to learn because I have the appetite for the Andro... Thanks for the help tho...
 
i like your enthusiasm dvxuser but like many other ppl that i've seen before,i think you are going fast and maybe making your decistions based on excitement for the project/s.

Do you have shooting experience, or are u just jumping into it? I'm shooting my 2nd doc on the dvxA and i'm loving it. Not to take anything away from the andromeda because i think its an amazing alternative for good looking footage. I wish you luck on your venture.
 
I've been shooting with the DVX for around 9 months now...

I just wanna know the proper equip to record, edit, and render Andro footage with... I know it's got the required section under Sculptor on the reel-stream site... But the requirement page doesn't exactly tell me what to buy... heh...

I found this for that 7200 RPM LaCie | mini Hard Drive & Hub 500GB External | 301042U | B&H

So basically, this, the Mac Mini... The TS I mentioned in the first post would get me to record the footage? I hope the other mac I mentioned in my first post would work to edit the footage... Or could I just buy a 20" monitor, keyboard, mighty mouse and hook the 7200 RPM Drive with the Mac Mini up to it and edit like that?

Because, I'm also beginning to wonder how I would convert the footage from the Mac Mini to the other Mac to edit. Burn the RAW DVD? Than put it into the other mac?

I e-mail Juan, but he never replies... He's probably swamped with Hydra questions etc. heh...
 
Last edited:
an intel mac mini may work ok for sd editing, but I doubt the mini will hold up very well editing andro footage. If you are looking into a handheld setup you should look into a bus powered hd, not the lacie you found. I'm not a big lacie fan anyway. Check out G Tech, they have some nice FW bus powered drives.

your footage will be saved to your external hd so putting it all to another mac would be pretty easy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top