Notebook For DV Rack

mdslammer

mdslammer

Well-known member
For those of you who are using a notebook/DV Rack setup to record to, do you have any recommendations for make/model/configuration etc.?

What advice can you give me for the best results?

I've read the specs for DV Rack but wanted to hear from those who actually employ this way of recording.

Thanks.

Mark Dalzell / AudioScapes
Las Vegas, NV
 
I have been using DV Rack on a 2 year old HP notebook. Nothing really special other than I added enough RAM to get it up to 384 MB. The program seems to be fairly untaxing, even for a moderate computer. As for DV Rack, I can't say enough good about it. I don't see how I ever got along without it.
 
I've been using it on an el-cheapo $599 Circuit City special; it's a Toshiba something-or-other. I upgraded the ram from 256 to 512, and it runs like a dream. Recently upgraded to HDV Rack; monitoring is tough but recording works perfectly.

I'd strongly recommend getting a 1280-wide screen, or wider. The new HDV Rack monitor doesn't fit quite as well in 1024. I actually plan on replacing this laptop with a 17" widescreen 1920x1200 model when the potential DVCPRO-HD version of HD Rack becomes available.

Follow the system recommendations, get a bigger monitor, and make sure you've got enough RAM (384 at least, more is always better).
 
Thanks for the response.

Barry, a couple of specs mentioned for the DV Rack were:

*32 MB AGP graphics card with 3D acceleration (64 MB recommended). NVIDIA GeForce(tm) or ATI Radeon(tm) class card recommended.
*4200 RPM hard drive speed (5400 RPM recommended).

Does your Toshiba have a 32MB (or 64MB) Graphics card and is the HD 5400 rpm?

Thanks for the help.

Mark
 
It's 64mb, and it's shared RAM. I found capture to be a little unreliable at that point, because basically the system was under spec (256mb, yes, but shared with the graphics card meant 192mb for the system which is below the recommended 256). Bumping it up to 512mb fixed everything and made it nice.

I don't know the speed of the internal hard disk, I'd be surprised if it was 5400 (like I said, this is a bargain basement cheapy. I didn't buy it to run DV Rack, I bought it to run my teleprompter; it was a bonus that DV Rack happens to run on it too!)

Mostly I record onto external drives, but I've never had an issue recording to the internal drive either. I just prefer the safety and size of the external drives... the internal drive is shared with the OS, so dropped frames would be a bigger threat on the internal. I have a 60mb USB2 bus-powered hard disk that's 5400RPM and works like a champ; it's tiny and fast and ultra-portable. For this feature we just finished I was plugged into 200gb and 300gb external hard disks; worked fine.

I recommend getting as much laptop as you can if you think you'll ever use HDV Rack or the DVCPRO-HD version. If you're only sticking with DV Rack, you can definitely get by with a fairly minimal system. 1024x768 is fine for DV Rack, but HDV Rack really needs a bigger screen.
 
I have yet to see a confirmation of the DVCPro-HD version of DV Rack, but I am really hoping that it is released shortly after the HVX hits the streets. If it is, then most of the objection to the high P2 prices would evaporate (though you would still need one for steadicam shots).
 
They haven't confirmed that there definitely will be a DVCPRO-HD version, but they have announced that they definitely want to do it. So no, it hasn't been announced as a formal product, but they have announced that they are working with Panasonic regarding how to make it a reality.
 
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