Workstation for XLH1 at DVinfo.net

Brian Ladue · August 7th, 2007, 07:27 PM

what is your workstation of choice? Mac or PC? What are the pros and cons of each? for editing 24f?

Will Griffith · August 8th, 2007, 07:21 AM

Macs can run Premiere Avid and FCP...and you can use Bootcamp
to run Vegas, etc. so if you want something to do everything then
a MacPro, MacBook Pro, or the nice new iMac should work pretty
well.

Personally I really enjoy FCP and the new ProRes codec. It of course
works seamlessly with 24f.

The only con is the price of the hardware. However a stocked MacPro
is not much different than a similar Dell.

Brian Ladue · August 8th, 2007, 01:34 PM

I'm seriously considering getting a mac, though i've invested quite a bit into PC already....but i think because i'm going to need to upgrade both computer and Editor, i'm thinking about doing the switch..... i think it might be a good time...mainly because of Bootcamp allowing me to use alot of software that i have, and of course the new Final Cut Studio.....i've heard good things about it. My alternative is getting a new souped up Dell PC and upgrading Premiere to CS3 and getting Aspect HD, but i think the Mac might serve me well.....

oh yeah, and i don't much care for the new Vista OS, too many compatibility issues right now.

Brian Ladue · August 8th, 2007, 01:55 PM

Will, what are you doing to monitor with FCP? what is the best way to do realtime monitoring? MXO? Second Display?

John DeLuca · August 8th, 2007, 05:41 PM

Check out this company.

http://polywell.com/us/index.asp

Jonathan Selesu · August 13th, 2007, 04:14 PM

I have a PowerMac G5 and love it. I can't wait until my new Mac Pro comes in, it should be much more performant then the G5 in HDV.

Herman Van Deventer · August 13th, 2007, 05:22 PM

Running a dual core PC with Prospect 2K.

Prospect and 24F - ... I'm in PAL valley 25F ..... Simply the best investment
i have made in many years.

Chet Kenisell · August 16th, 2007, 03:10 PM

Do you want to run SDI out of the H1? Are you capturing HDV to tape?

Brian Ladue · August 16th, 2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chet Kenisell

Do you want to run SDI out of the H1? Are you capturing HDV to tape?

not really, just HDV to tape and a Firestore. But the option to do it is good!

Will Griffith · August 17th, 2007, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Ladue

Will, what are you doing to monitor with FCP? what is the best way to do realtime monitoring? MXO? Second Display?

Mac Pro -> Decklink HD -> HDLink -> Apple 23" LCD

Awesome.

Even when we are on location we lug the HDLink/Apple
Monitor combination around because it makes things real
easy. It fits snuggly in a rolling Pelican case.

No focus problems here. :)

Will Griffith · August 17th, 2007, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chet Kenisell

Do you want to run SDI out of the H1? Are you capturing HDV to tape?

We do both. Effects shots are almost always captured HDSDI to
ProRes or similar. Makes keying things VERY easy.

The H1's HDV works well if shot and lit correctly.

We just ordered a Convergent Design's HDV to HDSDI converter.
We'll see how that helps us edit everything in something better
than HDV.

Chet Kenisell · August 17th, 2007, 08:39 AM

Since you're only looking at HDV for now, you might think about a Dell 690 Workstation with a Matrox RT.X2. I've been looking at getting this for work.

If you think you might eventually want to capture HD-SDI straight from the camera or a deck, I would take a look at the Matrox AxioHD. I've seen both and they look good using Adobe Premiere, but I'm sure there are others out there. I haven't really done a very good job of comparing them. Especially value/dollar.

Brian Ladue · August 17th, 2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will Griffith

Mac Pro -> Decklink HD -> HDLink -> Apple 23" LCD

Awesome.

Even when we are on location we lug the HDLink/Apple
Monitor combination around because it makes things real
easy. It fits snuggly in a rolling Pelican case.

No focus problems here. :)

I like this setup....i'm leaning more and more towards the macs, and I'd likely in the future use the HD SDI.

Calvin Dean · August 26th, 2007, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chet Kenisell

...capture HD-SDI straight from the camera or a deck...

What deck are people using to capture -- be it SDI or otherwise?

Chris Hurd · August 26th, 2007, 04:40 PM

What deck for HDV / FireWire capture is Frequently Asked (answer: use a consumer Canon HDV camcorder).

What deck for SDI capture: you must use the XL H1 in VCR mode (as a deck) in order to capture from SDI. Alternatively, if you recorded to an external deck via SDI in the first place, then you use that deck for capture from SDI.

August 7th, 2007, 07:27 PM	#1
Brian Ladue Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 149	Workstation for XLH1 what is your workstation of choice? Mac or PC? What are the pros and cons of each? for editing 24f?

August 8th, 2007, 07:21 AM	#2
Will Griffith Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tennessee Posts: 164	Macs can run Premiere Avid and FCP...and you can use Bootcamp to run Vegas, etc. so if you want something to do everything then a MacPro, MacBook Pro, or the nice new iMac should work pretty well. Personally I really enjoy FCP and the new ProRes codec. It of course works seamlessly with 24f. The only con is the price of the hardware. However a stocked MacPro is not much different than a similar Dell. __________________ will griffith producer/editor

August 16th, 2007, 03:10 PM	#8
Chet Kenisell Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 42	Do you want to run SDI out of the H1? Are you capturing HDV to tape? __________________ Chet

August 17th, 2007, 08:39 AM	#12
Chet Kenisell Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 42	Since you're only looking at HDV for now, you might think about a Dell 690 Workstation with a Matrox RT.X2. I've been looking at getting this for work. If you think you might eventually want to capture HD-SDI straight from the camera or a deck, I would take a look at the Matrox AxioHD. I've seen both and they look good using Adobe Premiere, but I'm sure there are others out there. I haven't really done a very good job of comparing them. Especially value/dollar. __________________ Chet

August 26th, 2007, 04:40 PM	#15
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	What deck for HDV / FireWire capture is Frequently Asked (answer: use a consumer Canon HDV camcorder). What deck for SDI capture: you must use the XL H1 in VCR mode (as a deck) in order to capture from SDI. Alternatively, if you recorded to an external deck via SDI in the first place, then you use that deck for capture from SDI. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 8th, 2007, 01:34 PM	#3
Brian Ladue Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 149	I'm seriously considering getting a mac, though i've invested quite a bit into PC already....but i think because i'm going to need to upgrade both computer and Editor, i'm thinking about doing the switch..... i think it might be a good time...mainly because of Bootcamp allowing me to use alot of software that i have, and of course the new Final Cut Studio.....i've heard good things about it. My alternative is getting a new souped up Dell PC and upgrading Premiere to CS3 and getting Aspect HD, but i think the Mac might serve me well..... oh yeah, and i don't much care for the new Vista OS, too many compatibility issues right now.

August 8th, 2007, 01:55 PM	#4
Brian Ladue Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 149	Will, what are you doing to monitor with FCP? what is the best way to do realtime monitoring? MXO? Second Display?

August 8th, 2007, 05:41 PM	#5
John DeLuca Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 496	Check out this company. http://polywell.com/us/index.asp

August 13th, 2007, 04:14 PM	#6
Jonathan Selesu New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 9	I have a PowerMac G5 and love it. I can't wait until my new Mac Pro comes in, it should be much more performant then the G5 in HDV.

August 13th, 2007, 05:22 PM	#7
Herman Van Deventer Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: cape town South-Africa Posts: 251	Running a dual core PC with Prospect 2K. Prospect and 24F - ... I'm in PAL valley 25F ..... Simply the best investment i have made in many years.