Any Real World Testing of Apple VS PC

also i would add the reason i have not done audio editing in FCP or PP1.0 is not because i think they are inadequate, it is because i have no idea what i am doing. i actually tried fixing a few things in FCP once and became frustrated because when it boils down to it, i don't know how to use the audio tools very well and it takes me a really, really stinkin' long time to get it right.
 
thisiswells said:
a live venue sound mixer will tell you they are not studio recording mixers and wouldn't do very well in a studio because they're completely different things.
brian wells
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Brian--
You couldn't have stated this more accurately. I've been a live sound engineer for almost 13 years now. In no way is engineering a recording anything like live mixing, they're two entirely different beasts. Room acoustics, gear, decibels, all play into engineering live gigs. Mixing live stage is a walk in the park in comparison to engineering a recording-- so, so, so much more goes into cutting a track in a studio with expectations of a pro mix (and we haven't even discussed mastering yet!). Sweetening upon sweetening goes into a good recording.
The one that I always get a kick out of is when I get asked to make a recording straight off the live performance board-- no way. Live and recorded mixes a very different.

Joe Hicks
 
thisiswells said:
of course the other things don't change like a sound guy will have excellent monitors (Meyer HD1 or HD2) and a room they are familiar with, even if it isn't an anechoic chamber
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I've never seen a studio on earth that's an anechoic chamber... that would result in technically dead sound. Most studios have a "signature" to them, tailored and shaped with resonators, baffles, floating floors, non-parallel walls, higher absorption coefficients, etc. In the studio the mics are picking up a combination of the source and the environment. An anechoic chamber is a true "dead" room. No reverberated or reflected sound at all. They're commonly used in testing loudspeaker designs, spl's, etc. It's actually pretty freaky talking in one... your voice is so quiet when it's not bouncing off anything.

Sorry, just had to nit pick :beer:
 
Well, I started this whole thing and I thank all of you for your input, especially "thisiswells" (you managed to keep this thing going helping extract even more good reading from others).

After reading everything and doing other research on my own, I have to say I think Apple is the way to go for me. There will always be individuals that are having issues with their particular computer, that's life. But on the whole, FCP seems to be a very stable environment, very well accepted in the industry, more adaptable to 24p, offers certification, and with the entire suite, you have a very strong set of tools (I'm especially interested in "Motion"- I find After Effects something to be left for programmers not creative people). As far as audio goes, I don't have a need for high end audio editing, plus I don't have the first clue how to go about it-- leave this to the guys that sleep with their mixer.

I have another question-- what are some reasonably priced options (under $1000) for capturing analog material on a Mac??

Thanks,
Joe
 
For DV quality: ADS Pyro Converter $180 (have one, used it for lowbill capture of Betacam tapes to make a dvd reel, but this is definitely not Betacam quality in any way shape or form)

SD quality

BlackMagic DeckLink Standard Definition Card $295 (don't have it, never tried it)
http://www.blackmagic-design.net/

AJA Video I/O LA under $999 (don't have it, friend does, really likes it)
http://www.aja.com/products_Io.html

Glad to hear you've found answers here. Hope all goes well. Best wishes.
 
Just got another virus on my PC at work again!!! (lost count on the total times our computers have been infected) DAMN!!!

Vegas NLE may solve world hunger, let you travel thru time, enable you to change your sex at will, and allow you to have mutiple orgasms while having your wisdom teeth pulled out and having surgery on your heart, but as long as Bill Gate's money (gained from all customers who drink his Kool-Aid while buying X-Boxes) can't be used to fight off viruses in his OS, I'm buying and using Apple 4 life!!! Quality (over so-called "speed") anytime!!
 
Of course the only way to avoid virus on any computer is never connect to the internet.
Download software updates on another machine and load into the editor via burned disc. :thumbup:
 
While I hate PC's, really the only thing you need to do is install some decent virus software and firewall. Since I've done that I have not had a virus on my PC. Maybe I'm lucky but it works pretty damned well.

Aaron

Disclaimer: I work for Symantec, but am no company lackie, and I'm a Ghost developer not an AV developer.
 
To put in my two cent. From June to October '04, I worked with FCP v3 on a 3 year old 867mhz, single processor G5, sitting right next to me was a gentelman on a brand-new, very fast PC using the latest vesion of Priemer.
I quietly edited as he tweaked, and tuned that system. I watched his PC crash several times, with the loss of considerable work.

I kept on editing, never once crashed and never lost a single frame. His computer was much faster... but, I got much more done.

I will not be buying a PC anytime soon. I love the Mac and FCP
 
Joe_Hicks said:
I'm currently a PC/Premier Pro/Matrox RT-X100 user strongly considering throwing it all out the window and going to a twin G5 with FCP.

Anyone know of any good articles/testing on speed comparison's between PC and Apple G5's??

Thanks,
Joe
Click to expand...

Joe - Can we bring it back to your original post for a bit?
Why are you considering throwing the whole PC/Premier Pro/Matrox RT-X100 system out the window?
I just quickly scanned all the post above and don't remember seeing your reasoning?
I'm curious because I'm a very happy PC/Premier Pro/Matrox RT-X100 user and I'm wondering what kind of troubles you are having. Just hoping I can help out a fellow Nevadian....
 
thisiswells said:
G5 single processors started with 1.6Ghz.... Must have been a 867Mhz G4. srry to nitpick..
I follow this stuff way to closely sometimes....
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your right, a 3 year old G4... and would still rather have it than my buddies suped up PC...
 
Sirius_Doggy said:
Joe - Can we bring it back to your original post for a bit?
Why are you considering throwing the whole PC/Premier Pro/Matrox RT-X100 system out the window?
I just quickly scanned all the post above and don't remember seeing your reasoning?
I'm curious because I'm a very happy PC/Premier Pro/Matrox RT-X100 user and I'm wondering what kind of troubles you are having. Just hoping I can help out a fellow Nevadian....
Click to expand...

Sirius_Doggy--
Soon I will be making an NLE purchase for my own business (I'm leaving my current position in June). I have been working in Premier for the last 4 years and added the Matrox card 2 years ago where I work as a creative director. Premier Pro 1.0 and the respective Matrox tools software was a nightmare in regards to crashes and instabilities, not to mention Matrox's very thin list of compatible hardware. When I'm told your problem might be because it's in the wrong PCI slot and I need to move it up one slot-- that's rediculous.

I recently upgraded to PP 1.5 and, of course, the latest Matrox Tools (If I remember right-- build 6122). I will admit, it has become much more stable. But, with a "fresh start" coming up for me in regards to hardware/software, I'm investigating all my options. Way back at the beginning of this thread I stated the reasons I was venturing out and looking at what was available. My shooting style is along the lines of documentaries, interviews, short films, stuff like this-- not weddings, etc. I want the tools that are most widely accepted, and revered, within this segment of the video industry. If, for whatever reason, I'm not making it on my own, then I want to know and posess the tools that are going to open up the most job prospects. As well, I want an easier tool to work with other than After Effects. I realize this is a highly revered program in the industry, but... I find this program very difficult to learn (possibly I haven't invested enough time into it). I'm very intested in "Motion." I continue to hear nothing but great things about this program, what it can do and it's ease of use.

Ok, I've rambled enough. I hope this helps give you a perspective of where I'm at. Not totally frustrated, just sort of starting over-- and want to do it right. This stuff ain't cheap! So how hot is it in Vegas-- nice up here-- 70.

Thanks,
Joe
 
Joe, I think you will be very, very pleased with FCP on the Mac. Apple just introduced Final Cut Studio, a bundle that comes with FCP 5, Motion 2, DVD Studio Pro 4(?) and Sound Track Pro all for $1299.

As for effects, I haven't used Motion, but I can tell you that a lot of effects work can be done in FCP. You have a lot more control than in Priemer.

Good luck
 
Joe_Hicks said:
Sirius_Doggy--
Soon I will be making an NLE purchase for my own business (I'm leaving my current position in June). I have been working in Premier for the last 4 years and added the Matrox card 2 years ago where I work as a creative director. Premier Pro 1.0 and the respective Matrox tools software was a nightmare in regards to crashes and instabilities, not to mention Matrox's very thin list of compatible hardware. When I'm told your problem might be because it's in the wrong PCI slot and I need to move it up one slot-- that's rediculous.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about your troubles, I've spent a lot of time on the Matrox forum listening to people complain about the RTX and it's usually not the fault of Matrox. Most of the time it's users building it around Mb's and other components not tested by Matrox. Obviously not the case with your system....
If you think Matrox is bad about specific needs though, don't try to build an Avid system.....:happy:
I personally did a great deal of research before building my system. I was debating between Matrox & Canopus. Finally decided on Matrox and build it exactly to their specs. I just finished a 2 hour project with extensive effects/layers/adjustments and my system only crashed once. But I do understand your problems though....

Joe_Hicks said:
I want the tools that are most widely accepted, and revered, within this segment of the video industry. If, for whatever reason, I'm not making it on my own, then I want to know and posess the tools that are going to open up the most job prospects.
Click to expand...
I've alwasy believed it's what you can do, not what you do it on......:laugh:
If I lose a client because I don't have FCPro or Avid I don't know that i want the client......
Joe_Hicks said:
As well, I want an easier tool to work with other than After Effects. I realize this is a highly revered program in the industry, but... I find this program very difficult to learn (possibly I haven't invested enough time into it). I'm very intested in "Motion." I continue to hear nothing but great things about this program, what it can do and it's ease of use.
Click to expand...
I agree with you there. AE is a very difficult program but I believe in their current state AE can do a bit more than Motion. I'm sure with future upgrades though that motion will probably catch up and maybe even surpass AE.

Joe_Hicks said:
So how hot is it in Vegas-- nice up here-- 70.
Click to expand...
Not too bad yet... mid/upper 70's, can't wait till July!!!:lipsrseal
 
One other thing that I failed to mention when it comes to FCP suite VS the Adobe suite, the DVD authoring program from Adobe (Encore) is not user friendly. Now, either I'm an absolute idiot, or they've built this program in such a way that they're very difficult to learn, and not to mention Adobe's lack of decent help files. I don't feel I should have to go back to school to learn a software.

This is where Mac has always shined, developing an architecture for people that want to spend more time creating (and making money) than learning the software.

Sirious_Doggy-- I appreciate your input, you make some very valid points. Your comment: "If I lose a client because I don't have FCPro or Avid I don't know that i want the client." You are so right. But in this scenario, it's me out pounding the pavement looking for work (should this happen). Seems the highest percentage of post-production houses are Mac/FCP based.

And you're right, After Effects I'm confident, can do more.... but, so far, I can't even learn the basics. I don't anticipate becoming a power user in After Effects, only because my work doesn't call for it. Like you said, I'm sure Motion will eventually evolve into a very dynamic program.

And Rosestar-- yes, I have heard that FCP is quite robust on it's own. Once again, a simplification of the process.

I just gotta figure out how to get all this money....

Thanks guys!
 
Avid does rule and in regards to PPro 1.5 & Matrox, be sure to go to 1.5.1 update - sooo many fixes on adobe's side of the matrox/adobe partnership. My PPro 1.5.1 Matrox x.100 setup is quite stable. Run Intel motherboards, intel processors, and for crying out loud, dont use it to check you hotmail e-mail - get a mac mini for that. BTW it edits 24p normal just fine (mtx x.100 & PPro 1.5.1)
 
My Matrox system was solid as a rock.. It was also setup and supported by a three staff-member
IT department at my former job.. so, that definitely had a lot to do with it.

BTW, if looking into external HDD's, stay a mile away from Lacie Big Disk. We had one go bad and
lost a lot of important data. Fortunately it was backed up. A D.P. I worked with recently told me
he had heard similar problems from many BigDisk users and concensus was that the G-Drive was
a much better product. I have no idea how you could foul up a HDD enclosure, but apparently Lacie
figured out a way....
 
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