Comp Requirements for HD Editing

B

BLT

Well-known member
Hmm I hope I'm not repeating that thread on HVX editing here but I was wondering whether any of ya'll could give me any specific details with regards to what sort of computer specifications I should be looking for in a desktop that I can do HDV editing on Premiere 2.0 on. I'm currently using a single processor windows laptop (1-2 years old) for editing, and needless to say, its rather slow.

I'm not gunning for HVX editing with p2 cards in particular, but rather HDV editing in general: I'm looking for a windows system that'll let me edit quickly (Irregardless of the type of HDV across all HD cameras) and not get outdated or slow in 2-3 yearstime. Specifics regarding the different components I should get would be great. (I.e. Processor, RAM, graphics card, HDD, etc.) I'm not sure about the budget yet but I think less than $1,500 would be a safe estimate. Thanks!
 
There are some significant issues with your question.

The HVX is not an HDV camera, it is an HD camera
HDV is MPEG compressed HD which means that if you want to edit HDV natively the most important compnent is the processor. If you convert the HDV to an intermediate codec then the most important compnent is the I/O.

I edit HDV [and will also edit DVCProHD] using Cineforms intermediate codec - AsspectHD. AspectHD4 converts HDV from a 25Mb mpeg stream to a ~100Mb intra frame stream using wavelet compression. This is similar to what Panasonic is doing with the DVCProHD codec.

I'm not going to debate which is better, however, by using AspectHD I can convert HDV to HD and edit it the same as DVCProHD - so I get both.

If you edit HDV natively you can't edit DVCProHD and if you edit DVCProHD natively you can't edit HDV. I edit with PPro2 on a 3.4GHz HT with 3GB RAM and an external SATA RAID and although its not quite like editing DV it is smooth and responsive.

The other serious consideration is the graphics card. I'm using the nVidia Qudro FX-540 which enables me to have RT playback though DVI out to a Dell 24" LCD and analog component out to a 42" plasma.

I'd recomend doing some research regarding HD workflows and decide whether you want to edit HDV natively or use a digital intermediate. There are a couple of intermediate choices, I recommend Cineform's AspectHD.

For prices in the US $1500 might be a bit low.
 
Oh right. Thanks. Sorry I'm very very inexperienced with regards to HD/HDV editing =s

To be honest I've never used a HD camera before. Unfortunately, I was always confined to 3ccd SD prosumers...
 
ChuckS is right, $1500 sounds way too low. You should think more in the neighborhood of $2500 minimum to get decent HD editing performance.

Technology is progressing so quickly that any computer you get now will be outdated in 2-3 years anyway :( .
 
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