Thanks.

heath

I've had no issues with Compressor's image quality, I use it to encode 24p material. I used the demo version of Bitvice (which adds a "bug" on the screen making it look like network TV) and there was all sorts of digital artifacting on the edges of the black letterbox bars (my aspect ratio was slightly wider than 16:9, thus requiring more bars). Other than that it seemed to look OK, but I'll stick with Compressor for sure.

TV tuners for the Mac
 

Does anyone use a PCI or USB tv tuner with thier macs? What do you think about it? I've been checking them out and see that some will allow for selectable quicktime codecs for TV capture. Does anyone know if you can use the QT mpeg2 codec with any of these devices?

Final Cut Express & After Effects 6.0
 

Right now, I'm using Final Cut Express in 10.2.8. I will be upgrading to 10.3 and Final Cut Pro 4 later next year (after all the bugs get worked out and everyone is running smoothly). However, I would like to buy After Effects 6.0. Basically I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with FCE and AE6. I know FCE doesn't have AE plug-in support, but how easy is it to go back and forth between the programs (most likely by saving as a final cut project file)? Also, have there been any bugs with AE6 running on 10.3?
I just downloaded the trial version of AE6, so I'll definately get some idea of how well these programs work together, but any extra help would be very appreciated.

Automatic Duck might work for importing your whole project into AE. Not just individual clips.

The other way is to manually bounce files around by exporting reference movies from FCE and importing rendered movies back into FCE.

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...en_fcp_ae.html

$299
 

Go to: http://www.formac.com/p_bin/?cid=solutions_converters_studiodvtv

Hope this helps.

multiple camera imports
 

Hi there. I think there are probably a few of these posts out there already, so I apologize if I am repeating one.

I'd like to get into monitoring and recording multiple camera's for shows that I will be recording. Instead of recording the show individually on the seperate cameras, then syncing it all up in FCP, I'd like to be able to import and record live from multiple cameras, or at least be able to switch between cameras live, then do my editing in FCP.

Any suggestions? I'm up for practically anything. Any hardware and/or software I might need to accomplish something like that.

Thank you,
Josh

You'll need an additional piece of equipment that acts as a Special Effects Generator (wipes, fades etc.), Frame Synchronizer, and Switcher. You'll need to monitor the individual feeds to the board and switch it live, the output going to your NLE to be recorded. It may be more trouble and expense than doing it all in post with FCP. It could save a lot of time though.

HAHA, you sure make it seem like that, however, if it can be done and made easy to do, in the long run, it might be easier to do it live, rather in the post.

Thank you very much

You should be able to convert the footage once it is in the
computer (although the quality might not be too great). The
problem here is getting it into your computer. Another company
might be the way to go indeed.

Any video mixer would do that. In the past I've used a Videonics MX-1 but it isn't that good (lag when you hit buttons being the main concern). There's lots of old analog mixers on eBay if you're ok with taking that risk. There's also DV mixers like the Videonics MX-Pro DV (something like that).

There are some software programs that try to do the same thing as a video mixer. Live Channel Pro for Mac, a few ones for PC like Isadora. I have no idea if these work. Live Channel Pro does work but I'm not sure if it can record at full quality at the same time.

Live editing is a bit faster but more nerveracking and it takes experience to get it right. Editing live events in post is a huge pain.

There's also some expenses on top of the mixer (software) like walkie talkies and cables. Remember to include those costs.

Which handbook for FCP?
 

Does anybody have any recommendations for a handbook for FCP 4. I'm a relative novice and have only edited using Imovie so far. Thanks

So nice to meet you Robb! How is the weather in Cork? :o)

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...lisa_fcp4.html

http://kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp....html#tutorial

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...x.html#fcp_4.0

http://www.lafcpug.org

- don

Thanks. I'll check those sites out. It's wet and windy as usual!!! Robb