Can't decide/completely confused! Help!

J

jwolford76

Member
I can just imagine where this will go, but I feel completely lost about what hardware/software to buy for editing. I've read alot about FCP/Avid/Vegas and can't decide what to get. I currently have a PC but thought about buying a Mac. I want to make shorts and eventually a feature with Panasonic dvx100a. Should I upgrade my PC and use Vegas or buy a Mac and use FCP? Opinions of which is most user friendly would be appreciated. I'm sure this may also come down to a money issue as well. I want to get started, but just can't decide on the platform. Thanks.
 
You know what they say about opinions... "Opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has one".

My .02 worth - Stick with the PC and get Premiere.
 
id second that opinion. espescially if money is of concern. mac or pc and editing systems will all do the same job at the end of the day.. easy to stick to what you know, and take the less expensive route.
 
Sirius_Doggy said:
"Opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has one"
Click to expand...

... and nobody wants to hear anyone else's. :)

Editing hardware/software is just like any other tool, each has it's own purpose and use. Kind of like screwdrivers, a philips head will work great for some situations and a flat head for others. It all depends on the situation.

With that said my preference in Mac.
 
Thanks for the replies

Thanks for the replies

I think I will probably have to go with Premiere and upgrade my PC a bit. Maybe after I get some money I will try a mac and FCP. Thanks.
 
I'm worked on both PC's and Mac's and have to say that in my opinion/experience the Mac has been hands down way better. Solid performance from the hardware, steady software, consistant updates etc... I currently use a Dual 2.5GHz PowerPC G5 with 4 GB DDR SDRAM and 2 x 250 GB drives as well as 2 x 250 GB external Lacie drives. I love it and think it was worth every penny. If you're unsure about Mac's maybe try the iMac G5, it's a good price, will perform well, and the display is sick!!!
 
They all work.

With that said, I am a lifelong pc user, who switched to a Mac for editing. Now I just wish I could use the Mac for everything, but alas, my work life requires a pc.

Chris
 
I was where you're at when I went to build my PC. I didnt want to get into the dollar factor that Macs require so I sat down with my Guru and determined the difference. I already knew that a well balanced PC that stayed off the net would run indefinately with no hassles using NT based software. I then determined where the weaknesses were between PC and mac and put cards in to fill those holes. My buddy has an eleven thousand dollar mac system, a one year old G5 and besides speed (mine is now four years old) and dedicated Mac software (FCP and the like), we both agree the systems are equal in their ability to deliver all types of media. So I guess it doesn't matter too much what you get except to say one comes ready to go and the other has to be designed. The key it seems to me is kepping the PC away from the internet as that can render it useless in ten minutes. There is so much bad stuff written to destroy a PC that it's like trying to drive a volkswagon bug through a minefield.
 
In my opinion, check out Premiere first, and if you don't like it, try Vegas... they're very different, so one of them should satisfy you. (I'm a Premiere user myself).
 
My personal computer is an Apple Powerbook with Final Cut. I have been really happy with
it for the two years I have owned it. In fact, it paid for itself the first weekend I had it.

With that said, at work we used Matrox on the PC platform and Dual G5 systems. As much
as I love the Final Cut Pro interface and the enormous aftermarket plug-in support, the
consensus of several video engineers at our company was that Matrox had a better looking
DV codec. It appeared to handle the footage well and didn't alter the colors like Apple's.

If anyone questions my bias here, please send me an email: thisiswells @ mac.com
I love macs, okay! I pay a hundred dollars a year to have that email address!

This was our observation and isn't posted here to intend any upheavale or rivalry
or your system is better than mine disputes..

Just a simple observation and nothing more. The Matrox DV Codec simply looked better.

Hope this helps,
brian wells
 
CMessineo said:
Now I just wish I could use the Mac for everything, but alas, my work life requires a pc.

Chris
Click to expand...

Just curious, what are you referring to that a mac can't do?
 
For your software choice I would say that you should give it till the end of NAB (April 17), Vegas 6 will be released and from the hype it sounds like a major leap for Vegas. DVD Architect will have as many upgrades too, if you believe the hype. Which I do - Vegas 4 to 5 was the same way and they delivered.

Hunter
 
kai said:
Just curious, what are you referring to that a mac can't do?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about what he meant about that, but I'm an avid Mac Fan, and it has been my expierence that macs are great for graphics and video work, while everything else can be done, and is more supported on the pc side of things. (Especially when you get into gaming.) just my two-bits.
 
Amen to that Mino, good advice. jwolford76, how experienced are you at using editing systems? if you are starting out, Premier will be a steep learning curve, it may be better to go with an entry level program until you get up to speed a bit & then upgrade. As for which computer ... Mac people love Mac & PC people love PC. I have PC designed & built for Video Editing & I have no problems.
 
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