Thinking about going AVID

U

USLatin

Panamaniac
1. What's the cheapest way to get an Avid workstation going? I already have a strong PC, do I only need software?

2. What is the preview framerate like in a fast PC in comparison to other NLE's? (I amusing Vegas now)

3. If there are any Vegas users here, is there anything particular about doing the switch that you could tell me? What should I expect?

Thanks in advance!
 
Hi,

While it is none of my business, why would you want to switch? Vegas is more user friendly by a country mile.
 
1. The best solution is to get a qualified system. However, with that said, check your sys specs against avid's sys requirements as your system might be suitable for running avid. ALSO, while a qualified gfx card is not absolutely necessary to making avid work on your system, if you use an nvidia 8xxx card you will NOT be able to do full screen previews.

2. You will be able to run playback in realtime. Your sys specs and avid hardware (ie mojo, etc), will determine how many fx and tracks will playback in realtime. If your budget permits, you really want to consider getting some avid hardware, as this is what will really make a huge difference in performance.

3. Not much experience with vegas, but it will probably take a little time to get used to the differences in layout and workflow of avid vs vegas. Hopefully, someone else can answer this a little better than me.

Hope that helps,
-Jon
 
Mike,
I couldn't agree with you more. There are however obvious pros on the Avid/FCP side and out of the two I think I might be all about Avid.

ThatOneJonGuy,
Thanks for your answers. Please let me follow up.

1. I found this PDF but they only listed pre-built systems and I built my computer.

I have a Q6600 (quad) at 3.3GHz but I can get it to 3.6+ if need be
I do have an 8800GTS 640MB but I am switching right now over to an 8800GT and a small 8400GS
I am using only 2GB of RAM now but they are running at DDR1000 with tight timings
My sound card is a Creative X-Fi
My Motherboard is an ASUS P5N32-E SLI

If you know of any compatiblity issues with any of these I would love to hear about them... and about the issue with the 88XX cards specifically though I doubt there is much on the new 8800GT + Avid. I wonder if running off the 8400GS might be something to consider?


2. Do you know if the Avid hardware is some sort of array of GPUs? Or is it just a fine tuned CPU based box?


3. Yes, I bet the layout will hit me smak! in the forehead like a cinder-block that fell from over whatever distance it may requite to achieve maximum velocity... looking forward though :thumbsup:
 
Just a two additional questions/follow-ups:

4. Does Avid use a lot of RAM? Is 4GB a must/recommended/not necessary?


5. What is the main application? What do the others do? Do I need them?
 
Instead of just looking at it from a system spec standpoint, what are you needing in an NLE that Vegas isn't providing?

Addressing that question will either confirm that Avid is for you or that it is not.
 
Work :)

I am asking because I am trying to find out if I can switch without a hardware investment while retaining my current capabilities.
 
I hope I didn't offend anyone... :(

Wat I meant was that there is little work in LA when it comes to people that need editing only for projects who are willing to believe that Vegas rocks...

please continue posting, I need your help :D for example:

I was re-reading the posts and noticed that I might have mis-understood this

ThatOneJonGuy said:
ALSO, while a qualified gfx card is not absolutely necessary to making avid work on your system, if you use an nvidia 8xxx card you will NOT be able to do full screen previews.
Click to expand...

Does this mean that the 8-series are not powerful enough or actually not the "right kind" of card and what I need is one of those Quadros like the ones used for 3D engineering design, CAD and so forth?
 
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USLatinContent said:
Work :)

I am asking because I am trying to find out if I can switch without a hardware investment while retaining my current capabilities.
Click to expand...


There you have it. If your clients are needing you to cut on Avid, then what can you do?

You'll be ahead of the curve if you buy an Avid qualified workstation. It will be rock solid for you, and that's extremely important when the software is your bread and butter.

If you don't want to invest in that right now, then pick a qulified workstation and use the same parts. Meaning yes, I'd recommend a Quadro, 2GB RAM minimum, 4GB will serve you better. Use the same processor that's in the Qualified machine, etc. So rebuilding your machine to more closely resemble a Qualified system will get you on the right path.

Hope that helps.
 
Hi Roberto,

I suspect you might be looking to work in the market - the reason I asked, and if so, I might suggest that you check the specs at http://www.avid.com/products/xpresspro/specs.asp You can likely get by with less, I have, but it hasn't been great. And if you are going to get paid doing it, it likely isn't going to be a joy.

DV West is in December in LA, too, and there is usually some certification classes for Avid. If that's in your plan, you'll want to get that for what if might help it might do.

Good luck!
 
Thanks a mill guys... It is great to hear it yet again and especially so in the DVXuser Avid section. :thumbsup:

So I have been doing some reading and it seems Avid is all about Quadro Video Cards... it seems the cheapest way to go might be an ATI though I am not sure about that and that about $1200+ will get you an FX4500 which might be the best buy in terms of what I found so far... all of this might be off as I need to do much more research but it does seem that Avid is all about Quadros and their completely different BIOS which is completely different than the Gaming cards... it would be sweet to be able to just Flash an 8-series... I guess they went the GPU route a long time ago when CPU's could barely keep up with Word and now it is just too hard to switch over to the CPUs...??? or maybe they just like how it makes it a hoop you have to be able to jump to come play with the studios...???

Anywho... here it is.... more questions: :D
1. What kind of framerate can you get out of a GTS at about 1/2 1080p preview?
2. What kind of framerate could you get full screen?
3. Has anyone used a Q6600 G0 with Avid? (someone must have tried)


Again, thank you for all the info you guys are sharing with me!
 
I have hp xw8200 and nvidia quadro 3450 gfx card. Works great with avid. Avid is joy to edit with and not to mention 85% or more of pro work is cut on Avid....
 
85? I can't say otherwise and it does sound about right... I would have said more but I really wouldn't know... thanks for mentioning that Triple.

Do you cut in HD? 720 or 1080? or do you render a 480 and cut that? and please tell me if you are previewing in full screen or otherwise at what size. Thanks

I would love to know which gives you full frame-rate.
 
I love working with Avid, despite its fussiness with certain things. Get an nVidia Quadro FX. But if I remember correctly, you may be able to mod other nVidia cards to achieve Quadro functionality. I'm not in any way condoning this though. However, do a google search for more details. :)

One thing Avid needs to implement - like yesterday - is freakin' 1080 24pA 2:3 removal at the file level!

Anyway, I have Avid. I could bring it over your place sometime, with my dongle, and we could try it out to see if it works for you with what you've got? Then you can make your purchase decision(s).
 
DC said:
I love working with Avid, despite its fussiness with certain things. Get an nVidia Quadro FX. But if I remember correctly, you may be able to mod other nVidia cards to achieve Quadro functionality. I'm not in any way condoning this though. However, do a google search for more details. :)

One thing Avid needs to implement - like yesterday - is freakin' 1080 24pA 2:3 removal at the file level!

Anyway, I have Avid. I could bring it over your place sometime, with my dongle, and we could try it out to see if it works for you with what you've got? Then you can make your purchase decision(s).
Click to expand...

[high pitched voice] Heeeeeeeeeeealls yea! [/high pitched voice]

lol... fow show dud.. I am accepting and I hope you can find a day in your schedule for it... no pressure of course I got time

thanks for the info too, I shall check into how not to flash a GTX into an FX4600 :)
 
I have heard of some using the q6600 with no issues running avid, however I believe avid will not make use of all the cores currently. You should be fine running with the q6600 though.

With Avid's dnxhd encoding you should be able to have some playback in your source/record monitors in realtime.

You will NOT get any full screen playback from a geforce 8 series card period. It has to do with the way Avid's full screen preview function works and the 8 series cards not having the correct setup for it. A qualified gfx card is the way to go for full screen playback on your pc monitor.

The other option is to run mojo or mojo sdi out to an external video monitor to view your work. FYI mojo/sdi will both downconvert to sd for external preview, so you will need to run mc + adrenaline if you want true HD output to a client monitor.

Amen DC on the pulldown removal!!!

-Jon
 
Ok... so I have no clue which is what or who about the names of the software but I got what you said. I take it these can run at the same time without a problem.

I am thinking I might go ahead and not get a GTX to not flash it over to an FX4600 Quadro... which would make the card behave like a Quadro 100% and I am guessing would allow for full screen playback and some serious power

what kind of performance is expected from an FX4600 in terms of frames per second in full screen preview of 1080pA? with the removal already performed since it seems you have to do render that before
 
you know man I was in the same boat you are in not too long ago, I edit in vegas 7, dual cores 3 gigs of ram, nvidia quadro, you name it and I probably have it, the whole 9 but anyway I tried the avid well I did not last a week, I can honestly say that I very proficient in vegas and when doing the same things in avid, well it takes much longer, even if you use the shortcuts, for example (avid users dont be too hard on me here) for example take the envelopes in the tracks soundwise in vegas, you just cannot do that in the avid as fast as you do it in vegas, I personaly know avid editors that edit on the avid for a living and 6 out of 10 have told me and I quote " I make a nice living off the avid but I hate it more everyday" and I can understand that because I tried it and besides having a steep learning curve it just takes much longer to do the things you would normaly do in vegas in 2 clicks well in the avid its gonna take 8, this is just an example, you gotta try it man, I can sit here all day and tell you this and that but its not till you try it then you will know, and to be honest with you I know that the time is coming when I must use the avid if I ever want to work as an editor which most likely will never happen, "AVID IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD" I hate it when they say that, I edit my projects because I have to but I rather not, fact of the matter is if you want to make a living as an editor for any recognized agency or network you gotta know the avid in and out and FCP is moving in on the industry I think (someone correct me if I am wrong) sad to say but there is no professinal jobs for vegas editors just my .00002
 
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thanks for those 0.00002... lol

I have NEVER touched AVID.... sorry... "The AVID", lol :) but there is no need for you to tell me how bad the interface is going to be cause I can not imagine anything that resembles Windows more than Vegas, or seeing any kind of graphical representation in Premiere's, Edius' or FCP's timelines that made any kind of logical sence after you've seen Vegas' fades... I love Vegas... I can cut 1080p full screen, I can do everything (that I've have had the time to learn) in a fast and simple way... I remember new things after doing them once... and I can record a song with it for you if you want me to... it rocks...

but... I have not used "The Avid" yet... and while I expect it to hit me like a wall of bricks I am a bit of a FanBoy already... maybe it is the allure of Hollywood running though it's GPUs or something else I am not yet ready to understand... maybe the fancy workflow databases it creates so many people can colaborate? I heard something like that about it a long time ago... ??? lol...

BUT... if I still love Vegas that doesn't mean I'm gonna hold back from saying under my breath "I wish I was cutting in Vegas" juuuuuuust loud enough so the clients can hear me... then the brain-washing begins, muahahahahah....

UNLESS, the client is one of those elitist bearded middle-aged DP's that should have been Lawyers instead... when those sit behind me I will be as quiet as a rock and focus on hitting as many shortcuts as I possibly can :D

I can't wait to get hit by that wall of bricks... I have to admit it, I am dazzled by it's allure... my flesh is weak, what can I say.
 
USLatinContent said:
85? I can't say otherwise and it does sound about right... I would have said more but I really wouldn't know... thanks for mentioning that Triple.

Do you cut in HD? 720 or 1080? or do you render a 480 and cut that? and please tell me if you are previewing in full screen or otherwise at what size. Thanks

I would love to know which gives you full frame-rate.
Click to expand...

I've heard 90 something % but around 85% or more sounded safe and it was a recent quote from another editor. I honestly haven't worked with HD yet I have downconverted footage with no problems. I would speculate that if you had a beefed up enough qualified cpu you could. Avid does have a steep learning curve. I'm still learning been cutting on it for like 2 years but once you get it down (and don't have any more error messages) it is a joy to cut with. I just graudted college in Dec 06 and got a full time job and my company uses Avid :). I imagine knowing Avid would open a few more doors than Vegas or FCP.

Most Avid editors would say it is a steep learning curve because it is different. it isn't a drag and drop program. It was made to edit feature films and that isn't a drag and drop process. Also, Avid is meant to be your "editor" it really isn't a multi function program that you would do all of your audio sweeting, cc, etc.. Granite I use xpress Pro and I know Media Composer is much more beefed up with added features such as better color grading. With that said Avid probaly isn't quite as "indy" friendly as FCP or Vegas. Thus most dvxusers cut on FCP, Vegas, or PP not Avid. Not that any of the above statement is a bad thing.

If I lived in Cali I would let you try it too but sadly I live in the Midwest. Hope to live in Cali one day... Good luck!
 
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