Edit System

D10S

D10S

Well-known member
I am currently editing DVX100a footage with FCS2 on my iMac. I'm looking to upgrade to shooting on the HVX200a or the 170. So my work flow will change from Mini DV to P2.

I would like to upgrade to a Mac Pro edit system. My final output will be to DVD and the web. I will be shooting and archiving my footage at probably 720/24p, with the possibility of some 1080/24p.

Where do I start with setting up the proper system? Do I need a AJA Kona card or do I go with Blackmagic design? What about audio mixing and speakers? I'll also need a good HD monitor. Finally what is the best external drive storage set up?

Is it best if I purchase this all individually, or go through someone like ProMax for a complete system package?
 
Budget is not a big issue. I want to get the best that I need to get the job done. I'm going to be editing many interviews (hundreds of hours of footage) to be used on DVD and the web. I also need to archive the footage for future re-editing.

If you want a number I'm more than willing to go up to $20,000 and above. But I would prefer it to be closer to $15,000.
 
I cant help you much with the actual computer itself as I just dont know the Mac lineup that well or FCS2. As far as audio and video monitors though, take a good look at the space you'll be using these in.

You'll want your audio monitors to be appropriate for the room and ideally apply treatment to the room as well. I'm using some ADAM A7's at the moment that are just fantastic. Amazing sound for the price. Every last little detail comes out crystal clear and they are just as flat as can be.

How big of a video monitor do you really need? Will clients be viewing as well or just you? I get by with my little 7.9" panasonic lh80 most of the time (corporate interviews, training videos etc.), but if I was doing alot of color correction or anything I really was going to be looking at the monitor alot for I would look at the 17" or maybe even the 26" panasonic. All are fantastic monitors that will not let you down. The 7.9 is also a great field monitor if you need one of those. Clients dont come by but when they do I am plugged into a powered splitter with my little monitor and a projector hitting a rather large screen. A large group can see the projection easily and the viewing angle isnt a problem. With LCD's it can be hard to get a large group in without someone having a compromised viewing angle. The projector is also nice just to watch a project on. Its far from color accurate but its close enough to show a client material. If they want to see exactly what it looks like I show them the little panasonic. Its rare that the projector doesnt satisfy though. I wouldnt spend too much on one though - ours is an older 720p panasonic we got a year or so ago for $1200. Screen is just some blackout fabric for curtains on a homebuilt frame of 1"x4".
 
I'd go with a mac pro for sure if you want to get the maximum performance out of a mac. I'd start off with the base mac pro and customize it to fit your needs.

Get the 2.8GHz Mac Pro, then I'd go over to macsales.com (Other world computing) and pickup 16GB of ram for now. The maximum is 32GB, but I do not see a requirement for that.

From apple I'd also get the RAID card so you can configure your mac pro for the maximum performance. I'd stick in the 300GB 10,000 RPM Drive as your boot and application drive, and then configure either a couple more internals (1TB) or externals to fit your needs.

You have the option of the fiber channel card as well, I wouldn't put it in from the beginning, as if you ever need it then you can easily order it and stick it in.

I can't really help with editing cards such as the intensity, as I haven't used that one, but I can tell you that with DVX footage, my MacBook Pro makes easy work of it, and that Mac Pro will surely preform well with P2 footage.
 
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