NLE hardware options

Does anybody know if it would be a problem to capture on a pc laptop in the field and then bring into FCP on a G5 for editing and how that workflow might...uh...flow?

I'm flip flopping between going FCP/Apple and Avid/PC on the NLE...but this is an outstanding issue that I need to resolve before being able to make a decision.
 
So - back to the 64k Q. PC/Avidxpressprohd or Apple/FCPstudio, assuming same performance of the systems at $1,000 cheaper for the PC?

Any opinions (for a past linear film and video editor interested in mostly short to medium documentary projects in 1080 and 720 24p, not for outside clients) as to which NLE is the better fit?

I've heard that Avid is a bit more industry standard, and seems a little more intuitive to the old days of linear. But is FCP more up to speed with 1080p? Any ruminations would be appreciated.
 
Avid vs. Apple vs. Edius

I never thought I would see the day … I am basically a “dyed-in-the-wool” windows guy. My current set-up includes several P4 XP boxes networked together running Avid Xpress Pro, Vegas, Digital Fusion, and Combustion. However, today, the last day of the year, (just in time for the write-off), I took the plunge.

I am now looking at a sleek silver G5 Quad with 5 gigs of ram, and the Apple Store said they would have my copy of Final Cut Pro Studio out to me early next week. As I said, I thought I’d never see the day.

With my HVX 200 on order, I had to decide whether to upgrade to Xpress Pro HD, (and either build or buy an “Avid approved” box), or experiment with Edius Broadcast, or to bite the Apple and “go over to the dark side.”

From an immediate $$ standpoint, upgrading the Avid to Xpress Pro HD should have been a “no-brainer.” However, my current XP boxes were not equipped to run Xpress Pro HD, so that would require either building a new box or purchasing an “Avid approved” computer. (Avid approved boxes are not cheap.) Actually, I really didn’t have a problem with any of that, what threw me for a loop was the fact that after doing all of that, it seems that Xpress Pro HD may have no way to externally monitor HD unless you feed a fire wire signal out to something like a Panasonic AJ-1200A DVCPRO HD deck (or alternatively go with an Avid Adrenaline with a HD expansion card). Remember Mojo is standard def only, and from what I have been able to tell, it doesn’t appear that the HVX 200 will allow HD pass-thru monitoring of the time line … and even if it does … who wants to tie up their camera as a link in the monitoring chain?

Edius looked intriguing and they may have a real winner if it is MXF native as billed. However, from what I have read (and seen at NAB) the interface could take some getting used to and there is little or no third party plug-in support. I think the jury is still out on Edius, and I need something NOW and something that is proven and a known entity.

That left me with Apple and FCP. When I added it all up, it just made sense at this time to “jump ship” and go with something that is increasingly becoming an “industry standard.” (And I don’t mean to start an Avid vs. FCP war … I edit on an Avid … I love it.) However, I get the feeling that right now there is a tighter degree of integration with Panasonic/DVCPRO HD and Apple. The same is true with third party hardware vendors, i.e., Kona & Decklink. (I’ll be ordering a Multi Bridge Extreme next week.) I am certainly no FCP expert, but I understand that it can handle pretty much anything you can throw at it. Like Avid, FCP has a fantastic community of users and there are numerous third party plug-ins written for the app. The Studio bundle seems to have just about everything that I will need, and hopefully I should be able to slide the files across the network and still do any compositing or finishing work in Fusion or Combustion.

I already have one 24’ Dell LCD monitor and as soon as I see another coupon, I’ll get another for HD preview.

It is a brave new world for me. 2006 should be fun. Happy New Year!
 
I hear ya. I just got my very first mac ever, and so far it's an amazing system. G5 Quad with 4Gb ram, Konah Lhe, Nvidia Quadro 4500, 2Tb Sata Raid, 30" Cinemadisplay, FCP Studio.

I switched just for FCP Studio suite. I never touched vegas so I don't know any better. Once I had a chance to work on FCP that was it.

I'm just missing a JVC 19" HD monitor and of course my HVX which hopefully will come in next week. I've got plenty of learning to do in the meantime but the os seems very straightforward.


Of course I'll probably never let my PC's go. I'm still using Maya and Digital Fusion on my PC workstation but I'm really tempted to get Shake for the mac now.
 
you have nothing to offer... you're that guy in fiction class who keeps talking about raymond carver like he's your homeboy.

I hear ya. I just got my first cup of coffee ever, and so far it's an amazing cup of coffee. hand steeped with 2 spoons of sugar, cup cover, cap, napkin.

I switched from matte latte's to coffee. i never touched sudafed so i don't know any better. Once i had a chance to taste coffee that was it.

I'm just missing a thermos and of course my cup cozy which hopefully will come in next week. I've got plenty of learning to do in the meantime but drinking coffee seems very straight forward.

Of course I'll probably never let my green tea set go. I'm still using herbal and black tea's but I'm really tempted to get a French Press for the coffee now.

:beer:
 
What did yoy pay for this set-up?

Opcode said:
I hear ya. I just got my very first mac ever, and so far it's an amazing system. G5 Quad with 4Gb ram, Konah Lhe, Nvidia Quadro 4500, 2Tb Sata Raid, 30" Cinemadisplay, FCP Studio.
Click to expand...
 
Quad G5-w-5GB of ram, 250GB hard drive, GeForce 6600: $3,600.00 out the door. DeckLink Multibridge Extreme: $2,385.00 (on order). Does anyone have any experience/thoughts on G Raids?
 
I second the question re opinion on the raid array...

A) Better to config the G5 with just a 250g system drive and then have the storage raided outside I take is the concensus? And if so, what specs and optiosn?

b) Or do a Tb of two internal raided drives and then just pull stuff off to non-raided hdd external drives as needed to keep your internal project space freed up?
 
Is mcshyd taking a jab at me? Clever...but I don't drink coffee :cheesy: Sorry for not offering anything and not meeting your criteria for a valid post....I was trying to say I made the switch for to the other side for FCP and HVX, and went whole hog.

The system was roughly $15,000 and it was put together by a var. I say roughly because I paid more than that for some miscellaneous crap like audio system/mixer and support.

I think the conensus is that you have external array for your media drives and keep your project on your internal regular drives. This keeps things nice and clean. With a quad system and going raid, you are stuck with very limited options as far as raids go if you stick with SATA, I believe there is only one controller available that is PCIe and that's the one by HiPoint. If you got serious change, than SCSI or fiber channel but that's overkill for most of us. But maybe someone can chime in, I'm still learning this stuff as I go.
 
HVXguy said:
Ignore it, I did. Anyway, this is good info for us PC users who are ready to make a switch.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Forget about the switch hype.....my 5 amd 64's get along fine next to my G5.

They are just tools..not a lifestyle.

Having said that...FCP is sweet.
 
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