Replacing Equipment, going HD and need help with shopping list.

H

hua02

Active member
So I got all the components to start my production company back in 2006. that included a DVX100b and basic final cut studio 1 package. Well, I realize that ANYTHING purchased in 2006 is woefully out of date and I've got to upgrade. So, with all the research I've done, here's the list I've put together. PLEASE let me know if I'm missing something (Budget is $15,000)

1. HPX170
2. New Quad Core Mac Pro (I want to be ahead of the game here, even if it's only for a year or so :D)
3. Final Cut Pro Studio 2
4. Panasonic P2 Firestore
5. 64GB P2 Card
6. All necessary UV/Polarizer filters for camera

I already have good mics, tripod, lights and cases (as part of 2006 accumulation). So as far as my list above, are there any essential components I'm missing, as far as workflow? I do mainly documentary production.
If anyone has any good camera stabilization systems that they recommend, I'd appreciate that too.
 
If you are getting a 64GB P2 Card, I don't see why you would need a P2 Firestore. Stay away from those if you can. I've only had problems with firestores.
 
Panasonic P2 Firestore
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not sure if you mean "p2 store" in that case. save your money and just get 2, p2 cards and a cheap pcmcia enabled laptop. if you mean firestore as in focus enhancements firestore - then yeah, thats one approach - even though focus enhancements has filed bankruptcy, so future support may be iffy.

if your budget only provides a SINGLE 64 gig card, you will be FAR better eqquipped with 2, 32 gig cards than one 64. with one card. you are dead in the water while that one card transfers. with 2, you can transfer one while shooting to the other and the transfer will be done before the other card is filled. tis way youre only down a few seconds to transfer cards as opposed to a 20 minutes or so to transfer that one 64gig card

uv/polarizer filters. unless your shot calls for a filter, dont use any!
i say youre WAY better off getting a mattebox and a set of filters. uv, polarizer, nd grads etc... if you just want to protect your lens, get the cheapest clear filter you can and scribble on it with a sharpie (so you remember to remove it before shootiing)
 
Depending on the type of shooting you are intending to do ... you may want a 35mm adapter and some lenses?
 
Carlos Corral said:
If you are getting a 64GB P2 Card, I don't see why you would need a P2 Firestore. Stay away from those if you can. I've only had problems with firestores.
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How else do you get the footage into the computer? Just by hooking up the camera via firewire?
 
How else do you get the footage into the computer? Just by hooking up the camera via firewire?
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firestore has really nothing to do with getting footage to a computer. a firestore is just something to shoot to. in fact it bypasses P2 altogether. i think what you are referring to (as i said above) is a p2store. its basically a [small and expensive] hard drive to which you dump p2 content.

a better and cheaper ($500 or less) suggestion would be to get an older G4 powerbook (they have the pcmcia slot) and a large external hard drive. transfer your p2 content to the hard drive via the powerbooks pcmcia slot, then at the end of the day connect that hard drive to your desktop computer to edit.
 
wgzn said:
firestore has really nothing to do with getting footage to a computer. a firestore is just something to shoot to. in fact it bypasses P2 altogether. i think what you are referring to (as i said above) is a p2store. its basically a [small and expensive] hard drive to which you dump p2 content.

a better and cheaper ($500 or less) suggestion would be to get an older G4 powerbook (they have the pcmcia slot) and a large external hard drive. transfer your p2 content to the hard drive via the powerbooks pcmcia slot, then at the end of the day connect that hard drive to your desktop computer to edit.
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Thanks for the advice.
I've got a new Mac Book Pro. Is there an adapter I could buy that would accomodate the P2 card?
 
Duel is a POS with the MBP's (last couple of years, since the "Express' slot). I have two and can't get them to stick (I have to hold it in).

As others have mentioned, look for a G4 powerbook or one of the cheaper Compaq/Gateway laptops at Best Buy with the original size PCM slot. I found a PB G4 locally for $450 with OSX 10.5. Works perfect and I loaded FCP for small field edit chores. This is a "throw away" laptop as well, if it breaks, bummer....BUT, it is not my $2800 new MBPro:) Or you can use software on your new MBP to capture via F/W. Scope, not sure if On Location in CS4 works but I know Scope does. (Used it last weekend with an external drive). This is spendy software though, the hardware solutions are cheaper.
 
One thing I see missing on your list (and I am trying to figure it out also as I bought the same combo of new mac/hpx170) is how will you monitor your footage? In studio color correct and field monitor? I have a JVC THM150 15 CRT 750line monitor that has been great with the SD workflow via DV FW. Now with HD using DVCProHD I can no longer monitor to this... For the field, I just ordered a SDI card that plugs into the back of the JVC monitor so I can set the HPX170 to output 480i over the SDI and monitor that way... but in the studio... Do I need to get some sort of i/o card for my MAC? I think you can get a reasonably priced one which will downconvert the HD signal to SD SDI so I can then plug that into my JVC monitor.

Am I heading down the right track? No budget right now for a LCD HD monitor like the new Pana 17"...

Thanks in advance

kevin
 
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