Editing Hardware - what platform / what program?

hobbes

hobbes

Member
For some time now, I've been coansidering various solutions for video editing. And to be honest: I reeeally don't know what system to prefer.

First: Windows or Mac? Or even Linux?
Right now, I'm a Windows user, although I know how to handle a Mac and obviously, Macs are just beauuuuutiful! Look inside a PC and then inside a Mac - you know what I'm talking about, right?

Of course, right here has to be decided on the software - I really like the whole FCP package, but I guess I'm no longer up to date with all the other possibilities... What, in your opinion, is the best software?

So, what software do you use, and what system are you working on?

Secondly: How does your perfect system look like regarding hardware configuration?

Just wondering what you guys think is the best possibility out there.

Oh, yeah, I guess that question alone is hard to answer without knowing what you want to do. So, what I need is a workstation with a good workflow in HD - HDV for now, but I'm gonna upgrade (dunno when).

Another thing: is Mac gonna bring out G6 or something like that with the new Intel-Chips soon? Is there gonna be a PowerMac wit a chip like that anyway?

Well, lots of questions, but I know you guys love to write, rith? :)

So, thx a lot, reeally curious what you guys think...

greetings
 
Well this question has been asked alot. I believe right now FCP is running the HD show not saying there aren't other options. Someone else could probably answer with more certainty
 
Mac & FCP

Mac & FCP

Yep! Get a Macintosh with Final Cut Studio. Windows = :badputer:

We all hope Apple will release the new Power Macs (Mac Pro) with the Intel chips in August, at WWDC).

I was at NAB and Apple has the best editing software (unless you want to pay $5,000.00 for Avid Media Composer).

Apple was running full HD video off of a Macbook Pro!

Right now I have a G5, 2 x 2.5ghz, 2 x 250 GB HD, 4 gigs Ram, GeForce 6800 Ultra, etc.

Waiting on the Mac Pro!

MLCinema
 
MLCinema said:
Yep! Get a Macintosh with Final Cut Studio. Windows = :badputer:

MLCinema
Click to expand...
hehe, well, yeah... true - although Windows has picked up...
MLCinema said:
We all hope Apple will release the new Power Macs (Mac Pro) with the Intel chips in August, at WWDC).

MLCinema
Click to expand...
August? hmm, I think I can wait that long - it sure as hell is gonna be worth it :)
 
I'm ready to by a Mac, seems to me like I should wait abit. Should I go ahead and buy one now or wait a couple of months ? Would a MacBook Pro br good to edit ? Or is it a bad idea to work on a laptop.?
 
clumsy_cool said:
I'm ready to by a Mac, seems to me like I should wait abit. Should I go ahead and buy one now or wait a couple of months ? Would a MacBook Pro br good to edit ? Or is it a bad idea to work on a laptop.?
Click to expand...

If you want the maximum performance for your dollar and the flexibility of adding a PCIe card like a Kona or Multibridge, the PowerMac is the way to go. On the other hand, the portability of a laptop is appealing.

On the question of waiting for an Intel based tower machine, that's a tough one. If you need to edit now, it's hard to edit on a machine that's not shipping yet :)
 
clumsy_cool said:
Secondly: How does your perfect system look like regarding hardware configuration?
Click to expand...

My system that I use today is close to perfect, though if I was buying right now, yea, I'd go for the Quad. I edit with Final Cut Pro 5.1 and Magic Bullet running on a PowerMac G5 (single processor) with a Sonnet Tempo-X SATA interface card for interfacing with my media drives. I use SoftRAID for setting up and running RAID-1 and RAID-0 volumes. 2 GB Ram. No complaints performance wise exapt the older PowerMacs are not really fast enough for Native HDV editing without hair pulling frustration.

And don't forget a good audio monitoring set up. I've got a pair of Hafler M5s (today I'd get one of the Event or Tannoy Reveal monitors) and I use a M-Audio Delta Audiophile 24/96 to get clean sound out of the Mac and into my mixer. For doing audio editing and mix-to-picture I use Motu's Digital Performer (much lower cost than an equivalent Pro-Tools set up). I chose to work with Digital Performer because it's more robust and capable than SoundTrack Pro, but one more version of SoundTrack Pro and who knows, I could switch.

With this set-up I've edited and finished projects in DV, Uncompressed Standard Definition (patience is a virtue while waiting for rendering), HDV (the conform times on the older machines will kill you), and DVCPRO HD. Twice I've rented a totally loaded PowerMac G5 "online" system with a Kona2 card, HD monitor, and lots of storage when there's been budget for that for just the final online color-correct and conform phase.

I have to say, for HD editing, Final Cut Pro rocks. I started out on the Avid, but their whole scheme is about getting you to move upstream to things like the Adrenaline. Good for facilities that need all the bells and whistles and can pay for the real-time performance. Final Cut Pro is the tool for the independent producer/editor on a tight budget but who wants a great tool. The Studio bundle with FCP, DVD Studio Pro, Motion, and Soundtrack Pro is a really good deal.
 
Interesting comment. I am at the point where I cannot ignore what a Kona3 with G5 on FCP and the ability to go into Silicon's Final Touch HD can do for the price point (entire system with storage quoted at $23,000 USD). For me, I want a 10-bit HD workflow with minimal (to no additional) compression, so I can get the best DI possible for as little price as possible for our feature film work (presently about to lock picture). We're working with HD SR masters from S16, so I clearly want as pristine a master I can get without going too deep into debt.

I happen to own three Avids (one on G4) with all the VTR's you could want (with exception of D5)...it is true Avid wants to continually upsell at extraordinary prices...look at what I would like to be able to do but with Avid: Adrenaline MC with 220MBit 10 bit HD for several thousand more but no color correction program as good as Final Touch. I am blown away that until you spend a minimum of 30K that you cannot work in HD-SDI or even monitor in HD-SDI, and for what? Symphony Nitris would be the ideal or even Nitris with BlueFish 4:4:4, but the price point is so high as compared to a G5 system with Kona or Blackmagic. Why won't Avid certify that hardware so something like Media Composer could take XML to Final Touch?

So aside from that, the biggest question really has to do with the transferability of an Avid sequence for online in FCP HD. I have read there are some nightmare stories -has this been worked out? Is it less freaky than described? Is it simply time that costs you?
 
Remember that all new Macs are going and able to run Windows on them...The 17 inch Macbook Pro is out and the New G5 willl be out in the near future. I would wait and get one of them. Then you never have to worry about the windows/mac platform problems. And Apple hardware rules.
 
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