Need help on computer, software, tripod, etc.

diego1235467

diego1235467

Well-known member
I'm going to college in a few months to study film. I'll be switching schools after about a year ar two (I'll be going to CU Boulder first, then hopefully Art Center College of Design in Pasadena).

I'm in the process of buying all the stuff I'll need for college (computer, etc.) but I'm really not sure what I need. Most of the time I'll be using the schools' computers, cameras, editing software, etc.

I'm wondering what kind of things should I buy? For example, what type of Mac should I get (macbook, imac, etc. and which version, ie 2.4 ghz, etc.)? Which BASIC software programs can I use to edit the 24p video from the DVX onto, say, a macbook ($999 version), or on a standard laptop (not MAc)?

I'm on quite a strict budget, but I also don't want to spend money on hardware and software that will be of no real use to me. Keep in mind, I'll be studying film, hopefully, for the next 4-6 years. I can do with starters material now, but again, it can't be completely useless. It needs to be a fairly good investment.
 
Get a laptop, definitely. I'm sure you'll have editing systems available pretty regularly. Otherwise Final Cut Express, or something like that (rather than Pro), might be cheapish.

I do not recommend Apple computers. This isn't just because I like PC's, which I do, but because Apples, while trendy for the artsy crowd, are a lot more expensive than equivalent PC type laptops. At least usually. It looks like Premiere Pro Elements is also a lot less expensive.
 
So do you think the programs you mentioned should be fine for my DVX? The thing is, while I do have some experience with Premiere Pro, this camera and working it seems much more complicated then what I've learned in a community college program.

Are there any specific laptops you would reccomend as an alternative to a macbook?

thanks for the help!
 
It's still just video with no difficult file types. Those would be fine for the price. Obviously the Pro versions are better, but editing really comes down to putting shots together to say something. I could probably edit fine in Movie Maker with no other choice.

Elements and Express are just cut down versions of the professional applications, both are excellent for what they do. As for which laptops, I don't really know a lot about them. Never owned one, rarely work on them (although I need to learn in order to keep up with the new tech support market). I hear Dell is selling some pretty low price stuff for the quality right now. Even if you have the budget for more, everything you save is going to help in the future.
 
that's true. Color correction should be fairly simple, right? I've never done it in any of my projects yet :-/
 
I heard Mac is lowering the price for imac's/laptop's soon... but does anyone know that?
I also heard in July they will be lowering the Mac Pro's too.
 
Being a student I'll bet you could get software that's discounted for educational purposes. Not sure how that works though.
 
The most cost-effective companion for the DVX would be a low-cost laptop with Vegas (not Vegas Movie Studio, full-blown Vegas Pro, which can be had with DVD Architect at the academic price of around $250). No compromises; it's the full 24p dream, which you will not get with Premiere Elements or Final Cut Express.

The only problem would be sharing project files (the files saved by the program, not the media files) with non-Vegas users, but for utility with the DVX, it can't be beat. (And I'll go 15 rounds with anyone on that. :) )
 
well if I'll be using the schools editing systems, that ^ sounds like it may be what I need. If anyone else has any advice or suggestions, please keep them coming :)

I'm glad I joined this forum! This seems to be the most helpful forum I've been on besides the Watchmen comic movie forum.

Oh, by the way, what is a deck, and where can I get one? Specific Kind? At school we just upload the video from the camera to the computer, but I guess that's a bad idea?
 
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I would suggest not being in a great hurry to buy anything before consulting with the school - specifically the departments and hopefully professors you'll be interacting with. Everybody has a favorite NLE, but if its not the one the professors using you'll just be making things that much tougher on yourself.

The NLE companies know that you'll tend to stick with what you've learned on, so they make very attractive deals to students - many schools cut even sweeter deals - some like Full Sail hand you your own fully loaded laptop at the start of class. A call to the school will be time well spent. As Dave said, you can do a full version of Vegas for under $300; full Adobe CS4 suite for under $600. These deals are not typically found in stores, you need the academic connection.

Also, school curriculum's vary widely. A film major may go years before even seeing an editing suite - "Film" covers an unbelievable array of sins. Are you leaning more toward the artistic or technical side? Acting / Directing / Screenwriting - virtually any computer you can find will do the web thing and run a word processor waay faster than you can type.

Running a NLE is one of the most computationally intensive things current personal computers (PC or MAC) are asked to do. Extra power comes at dramatically higher cost. A laptop suitable for NLE work will cost easily triple that of one suitable for most any other undergraduate application.

Cost wise, there are very interesting deals out there as the economy tanks. The big box stores (best buy, etc) have been discounting heavily. Costco has the best warranty/support offerings and are competitively priced.

You seem to currently have a DVX and something. My 2 cents - spend the summer using the *%$# out of it, whatever it is. Keystrokes may change but concepts don't. Time behind the lens will give the best prep for making sense of what comes next.

Best wishes . . .
 
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pixelated said:
Running a NLE is one of the most computationally intensive things current personal computers (PC or MAC) are asked to do. Extra power comes at dramatically higher cost. A laptop suitable for NLE work will cost easily triple that of one suitable for most any other undergraduate application.
Click to expand...

Consulting with the school is always a good idea -- but this here is another reason why Vegas is a great choice -- it'll run smoothly on ANYTHING, and with DV, there's no new laptop on which it won't sing.
 
I plan on becoming a Director ultimately. I will study Film Production at CU Boulder, for a year or two. First year is all introduction, so I won't be editing. After those two years I plan on studying Directing at Art Center College of Design, which is a very technical school.
The reason why I want an editing program that is cheap and works very well with my DVX (which I'm bying on Sunday), is precisely because I won't be doing much editing for the first year or two of college. I want something that isn't necessarily industry standard, but that came help me make the best of my camera.

I will be spending a TON of money in the next few years, and will most likely be up to my ass in student debt for a while (though I'm positive I'll be able to get out of it quickly).
At Art Center, they require some type of Mac, though they really don't care which type. As for the next two years, I may suffice my current laptop, and therefore want software as a more temporary solution until I attend the Art Center.

I definately plan on some heavy use of my camera during the summer, but I can't really do much without being able to put the videos on my computer and doing some post prod.
 
i use a really cheap tripod (velbon Videomate 607), the cheese Vegas (movie studio platinum 9), but i blew my cash on a Canon xh-a1. not living large, but i practice. i take every diy project here to heart, because i have no money. not a day of film school (not bragging...i regret it), but there's potential in anything, cheap or not...

here's my latest poke at something i did with really cheap wares, and virtually no know-how...just two open eyes and a lens(again...not bragging...i'm pretty self-depricating if you get to know me.): http://vimeo.com/channels/hd#4113884

Chris
 
Congratulations! A new camera is exciting, don't care how old you are. Based on your last, it sounds like Vegas would be an excellent choice for what you're doing. It's interface is somewhat non-standard, but it'll do all the major things you'll need, so who cares. If it saves having to lay out an extra grand+ for processing power you don't really need, so much the better.

Maybe Dave could jump back on and give the best place to pick this up.
 
Second on the "consult with the school" advice. If they're using Final Cut Studio, it would probably make sense for you to go the Mac road. Do you know if you'll have access to the editing suites during your first year? If so, it doesn't make sense to drop serious cash on a powerful laptop.

Further, why are you gravitating towards mobile computing? Are you thinking about using something like Adobe OnLocation? Do you want to edit on the road? Laptop are great for mobility and typing up reports in coffee shops, but for processor-intensive applications like editing or rendering, a desktop system will go a lot further.

There are a lot of good questions to consider. At this point, your college (or the film school you'll be attending soon) should be able to let you know what equipment you'll be able to use and what you should get on your own.

Now, if you're just looking for quality computer components, we can certainly help you out there. We just want to make sure your money is being spent well.
 
I'm considering a laptop, because my mom has one that she'll let me take. If I can use that laptop for some editing, then I don't need to buy a computer just yet. Once I do buy a computer, I much rather have a powerful desktop (Mac or otherwise) with the programs the school uses. For now however, it seems like the Vegas route is the way to go. I'll call the school today and verify whether I need some specific programs or not.

Some other questions are, what else is essential that I have besides the camera and software? I'm buying the camera for $1400, it's had about 80 hours on it, and includes everything that it originally came with except the box. It also includes a Manfrotto tripod (not sure which model, but the guy said it cost him $400), and an AG-MC100 mic, and case, of course. I'll ask again, what is a deck and what kind should I get?

(it's funny that I've been in a video making class for a year, and I'm still lost on so many things) Of course, I didn't expect to know everything after taking the class.
 
You don't need a deck. You can use the camera to capture. Yeah, people will say to use something other than the DVX for capturing in order to save wear on the heads, and you should if you can (you can use a cheap mini-DV camcorder to do it; you don't need a full blown deck). But you aren't going to kill the camera if you're capturing from it, especially if it currently only has 80 hours on it. It should be good for thousands. (And I've never heard of anyone ever wearing out their DVX heads.)

So, money can be better spent in other areas.

As for academic pricing, check out Academic Superstore. I guess it's more than $250 now -- $320. But that's a ridiculous steal for everything you get.
 
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