Current PC Workflow Options

T

tomk358

Well-known member
Thought I'd sum up the current PC workflow options as I've been lamenting them lately.

1) Edius
+ Supposed to work great- I haven't tried it yet.
+ Full native support of MXF files- no transcoding, no problems with DTE workflow.
+ Makes good use of slower computers.
- Not as full featured as other editing packages.
- I'm used to PPro, and FCP. don't really want to learn another fledgling NLE interface.
- Not as good at getting files in and out of AfterEffects.
- requires special hardware to see full scale HD preview off timeline (is this even possible?)

2) Raylight
+ drag-n-drop MXF files to Premiere Pro or Vegas achieves real DTE workflow
+ cheap ($195?)
+ on-the-fly quality adjustment- you can edit in low rez, and render at high.
- no way to see your timeline playing on an HD monitor via timeline preview
- not very efficient, need a very good computer to get good playback at high quality modes
- you still need to transcode/wrap files for full functionality, doubles storage requirements as the 'wrapped' avis that it generates take up space and are linked to the original MXF files.

3) Cineform Aspect
+ great image quality (8bit 1080P)
+ says they support Matrox Parhelia APVe for full rez HD off timeline
+ fairly efficient- multiple streams of HD on a lower-speed PC
+ replaces premiere pro's render engine, and speeds it up
- expensive
- upgrade to new version is not free
- They used to reccommend nVidia Quadro FX1500 videocard (that I wasted $600 on, and which NEVER worked right for me) to get HD off timeline to preview monitor
- I have had constant audio problems, and small bugs with video clips ever since I bought this product. I have not been happy with the bugginess of the product.
- replacing ppro's render engine seems to be buggy- export doesn't always work right (like FLV files, or SD rez Cineform AVI files)
- have to transcode all MXF files to cineform avis before you can use them- so DTE is out of the question.
- once you've transcoded, you now have a new set of file to back up.

4) Cineform Prospect
+ even better quality- 10bit full raster HD
+ compatible with Aja Xena card- means you can REALLY watch full quality HD off the timeline. (card is expensive)
- software is expensive
- same other negatives as Cineform Aspect, but you are paying more for it.

5) Mac/FCP (had to include, as the grass is always greener)
- re-wrap on import footage (not true DTE workflow)
- no timecode and meta data from P2 cards on re-wrap (true?)
+ works without extra software
+ works on slower Macs
+ Apple has real DVCProHD codec, so you don't have to transcode
+ good integration with Aftereffects/Motion
- mac hardware more expensive than PC (at least the home-built desktop box)


What am I missing?
Avid? any others?

I alternate between Aspect HD, and Raylight. Am tempted to jump to Edius, but am lothe to learn another unpopular NLE. Remember Media100 or SpeedRazor or Discrete Edit? I rest my case.

I'm still annoyed that the DTE workflow isn't quite right. I want to just shoot, come home, and edit. I don't want to mess with any steps in between- I shouldn't have to!

Ok, I'm frustrated now. Time to head to my neighbors house and play pingpong.

-Tom
 
tomk358 said:
- no way to see your timeline playing on an HD monitor via timeline preview
Click to expand...

Not true, Raylight Green has fullscreen playback to an HD-DVI monitor
You can also playback through a Decklink card to HDSDI, real time

- not very efficient, need a very good computer to get good playback at high quality modes
Click to expand...
cheap Core 2 Duo is sufficient for fullscreen playback in Raylight Green

- you still need to transcode/wrap files for full functionality, doubles storage requirements as the 'wrapped' avis that it generates take up space and are linked to the original MXF files.
Click to expand...
You don't need the AVIs with the Premiere or Vegas MXF plugin

+ Apple has real DVCProHD codec, so you don't have to transcode
Click to expand...
Raylight is also a real DVCPROHD codec and much better than Apple's for a transfer to film (for example), since it does not flatten superwhites or warp the gamma on conversion to RGB

and finally
FCP re-wrap on import footage (not true DTE workflow
Click to expand...
Raylight for Mac adds DTE capability to Final Cut, see http://dvfilm.com/raylight/mac
 
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How could you leave out Avid when in many aspects (other than price) it's a more complete product in terms of features including P2 integration (NATIVE MXF).

Just my 2 cents
 
Carline- know which Avid software will support native MXF, and are there any drawbacks besides price?

MVB- thanks for the corrections on Raylight. I'm still learning about these things.
1) can you explain more about using Raylight Green to display fullscreen out to a HD-DVI monitor? Which applications will this work with, which video cards?

2) what I meant by full functionality was that you can't get to the other 2 channels of audio in the MXF without some extra steps. I wish you could just drag-drop MXF audio files as well as you can video.

3) now that I've used Raylight some more, I am much happier with the image quality. It's still not as efficient on CPU usage as Cineform, but it's not bad at all, and is MUCH closer to a true DTE workflow.
-Tom
 
tomk358 said:
MVB- thanks for the corrections on Raylight. I'm still learning about these things.
1) can you explain more about using Raylight Green to display fullscreen out to a HD-DVI monitor? Which applications will this work with, which video cards?
Click to expand...

You use a dual-head gaming video card such as a Radeon ($145?) that has two outputs like VGA and DVI or both DVI. Head 1 shows the NLE user interface and head 2 shows the video by using the NLE's preview monitor/secondary monitor function. It will work with Vegas, Premiere, Raylight Green and any card that supports DirectX 9. The 2nd monitor must have a supported screen size like 1280 x720, 1600 x 1200, 1920 x 1080 or something close like 1920 x 1050.
 
Both Avid Express Pro and Avid Media Composer (Soft) support native MXF.

Drawbacks are no support for 1080 24PA - you have to remove the pulldown with a 3rd party application or just don't shoot 1080 24PA. Output to monitor is Mojo (SD ONLY) or DVI for SD/HD. The next step up is about $20,000.
 
i have been converting the mxf s to full raylgiht avi s and been quite happy.
is this a good idea or am i losing something in the process
 
soulofrev said:
i have been converting the mxf s to full raylgiht avi s and been quite happy.
is this a good idea or am i losing something in the process
Click to expand...

It's good, there's no quality difference between Raylight AVI and MXF
files. Using the MXF files in the timeline is just a convenience.
 
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