Serious Magic/HVX

David S. said:
The threads indicate that it does run in Boot Camp.

The issue of course is how well.

My understanding is the DV/HVX Rack needs a certain type of video card with drivers.
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Here's what I know... at NAB Serious Magic was demoing DV Rack on a 17" MacBook Pro running WinXP under Bootcamp. Unless things have changed I would assume that it's just fine. I certainly hope so, as this is the notebook I'm soon getting for this app (when the Core2 Duo's ship, that is).

Regards,

Jim Arthurs
 
David S. said:
The threads indicate that it does run in Boot Camp.

The issue of course is how well.

My understanding is the DV/HVX Rack needs a certain type of video card with drivers.
Click to expand...


there's a list of compatible vid cards on the sm website. If it works with ultra it'll work with dv rack.
 
Based on the Code of Honor, and a very loose NDA, all I can say is... holy crap! Thanks Marks and Serious Magic!

e
 
The HVX support will require about the same processor as HDV for 24p or 30p recording (roughly a 2GHz or faster processor.) If you are planning on using full 60p mode on the camera, I'd recommend a dual-core processor for full 60P playback. Recording isn't an issue - full 60P playback is just processor-intensive, and a dual-core system helps immensely.
 
I'm ready to pick one up for my macbook. So I'll actually use the PC side for something other then WMV webcasting.. Yippie, 2 things to use it for on the PC side... 99 other things to use it for on the PC.... Now, would I need to get a special program to write to the mac partition? Or would a 2nd firewire drive me necessary? I didn't opt for the pro version so no cardbus...


Thanks and the product looks sweet. A lot better price than the Marshall.. and with my laptop and hardware on a C-stand... pretty darn convenient.
 
If you are going to go Boot Camp right now, here are two recommendations:

1. Once you get Windows up and running, delete the Windows iSight Driver. The current beta of Boot Camp ships with a very dangerous version of this driver, and any software that accesses video devices can sometimes blue-screen Windows.

2. Get a copy of MacDrive for Windows. It's under $50, and will make sure that you can always read/write to a Mac-formatted hard drive. Well worth the money.

Serious Magic does not officially support Boot Camp at this time, since it is in beta, and issues (like the iSight Driver) can be outside of our control. However, we'll always do our best to help you if we can.
 
Variable Frame Rates?

Variable Frame Rates?

Hi all,

I'm a newb, so forgive if this sounds completely wrong.

If I am to understand what I've read in this thread so far, DVC Rack will allow you to capture footage directly to your PC's Hard drive via firewire.

And yet I thought I read that the HVX doesn't send Native footage through firewire, thus you can't record Native format to your PC?

Doesn't the HVX allow variable frame rate recording only 24pN?

Does this mean you can't record footage with variable frame using DVC Rack (ergo no firewire singal, no firewire, no footage to PC's hard drive)?

Do you have to be recording to use the field monitor function?

Can I simply just use the field monitor function regardless of whatever format I'm actually recording in on my HVX?

I would appreciate any answers from the gurus on this forum.

Thanks!

Barry, I'm awaiting your book! I've just registered with Panasonic for it!!
 
You're correct that the HVX does not send the two PN formats out via FireWire. As I understand it, when you set the "Frame Rate" in the Scene File Menu, the HVX drops all unused frames only if the "Rec Format" is set to 720P/24PN or 30PN. However, in any other 720P format, DV Rack takes care of eliminating the extra frames. So the gotcha is that you can't get the economy on both the P2 card and in DV Rack simultaneously--if you want to save space on the P2, then you get nothing in DV Rack; if you want to save space on your hard drive with DV Rack, then you have to pick a mode that records all the frames on the P2.
 
the_other_Mark said:
. . . the HVX does not send the two PN formats out via FireWire . . .
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Maybe this was covered (perhaps at length) in another thread and I have either missed it, or somehow forgotten but, does anyone actually know why that is -- or better, why there isn't some sort of fix (I keep hearing about the potential for firmware upgrades) for this? If there isn't some sort of technical bug-a-boo the makes it impossible I would think this is a "must have" feature for about 99% of the owner base . . .
 
It doesn't send anything in native mode because the stream would not be DV compliant -- only by sending out all the frames and flagging them (keep/drop) can the HVX connect to other devices or programs that understand DV.

DV is a realtime protocol with tight timing parameters, the HVX can't simply not send a frame in a native mode because it doesn't have one yet.

Could this be fixed in firmware? Possibly. Is it worth the trouble? Maybe not. P2 cards and recording from the DV port serve different needs, one is for mostly short-duration recording, the other for extended recording. An argument can be made for recording to both P2 and DV simultaneously so you have two copies, but for long recordings, that gets complicated and you would probably better off recording to a RAID1 drive using DV Rack, or a RAID1 Cineporter.
 
Look 1st said:
is the 'beta' still going on? Id like to try this on a macbook running boot camp.
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'fraid not. But that just means you don't have long to wait before you can try out the released version.
 
I asked what dv rack does that your NLE can't. here's the answer dv Rack tech support gave me:

Actually, the birth of DV Rack came from trying to use an NLE as a shooting tool. Most NLE's have basic capturing functions, but DV Rack is designed from the ground up as a shooter's toolkit. It ensures that you are shooting accurately, and it also helps with continuity between shots. Plus, we've designed the recording function so that it never drops a frame, making it possible to rely on DV Rack for primary recording.

We understand that DV Rack will never be an ideal solution to "run and gun" style shooters, but it's an excellent tool for anyone shooting a feature film, or doing interview segments, or any other type of shooting where the camera is attached to a tripod or dolly.
 
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Interfacing DVC rack and PPRO 2

Interfacing DVC rack and PPRO 2

Sorry for the basic question, but although I've read this entire thread I'm still not clear on what I need in addition to DVC rack to use in Premiere 2.0.

Apparently Premeire can't read the AVI files from DVC rack, so the question is can cineform make the conversion to an acceptable format?
 
DV Rack HD will come with a decoder that will allow Premiere and other NLEs to read DVCPro AVI clips, so you shouldn't need to purchase a codec or any other software.
 
the_other_Mark said:
DV Rack HD will come with a decoder that will allow Premiere and other NLEs to read DVCPro AVI clips, so you shouldn't need to purchase a codec or any other software.
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Thanks for the reply and that is good news. I just ordered DV Rack from B&H and who knows...? Maybe someday I'll understand all this stuff...
 
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