NLE Mac / Final Cut questions from 2002

[Jeff Donald]

There have been posts on Apples FCP discussions and I would refer you there. I seem to recall people getting dropped frames both ways. If they looped the camera through the external drive it might drop frames. If they captured to the internal drive and the system, application and media where all on the same partition it might drop frames. The newer, faster TI Powerbooks may have solved much of the dropped frame issue. It might also relate to the use or non use of the faster Oxford 911 bridge the some external firewire drives use. Check out the Apple discussions and good luck

Jeff Donald

[Mike Finnerty]

I'm getting ready to finally purchase my G4 dp 1ghz machine and I'd like to know what type of internal hard drive I should be looking at installing for my captured/rendered video.

I've thought about just having Apple install it, but $250 seems a little steep for a hard drive and from what I've seen it looks like a fairly easy item to install myself. I need to save all the money I can for purchasing Final Cut Pro.

What should I be looking at for specs? Any brands better than others?

Thanks for your help.

[Vic Owen]

I added a Seagate Barracuda to my DP-1G machine. It just pops right in. The 80GB main drive that comes with the MAC is also a Seagate Barracuda. Don't have Apple (or anyone else) do it. It's about a 5 minute job, and will cost you a bunch less if you do it yourself.

[Joe Redifer]

Macs have yet to offer DDR RAM for the main memory. I have heard from people who use DDR memory that even with the same system specs otherwise, the computer goes much faster. I have never used DDR. Is it all it's cracked up to be? Would DDR help the Mac kick more ass? Or is SDRAM all anyone really needs?

I have been holding off on a new Mac until I can get DDR.

[Vic Owen]

SDRAM memory utilizes only the rise time of the pulse -- DDR utilizes the fall time, as well. Theoretically, you've doubled the read-write rate. Those that have used it say it makes a noticeable difference. It doesn't necessarily follow, though, that the computer will be twice as fast. Lots of other things to factor in. In the new desktop MACS, I believe that video cards uses DDR ram.

I have one of the DP 1GHz models -- it kicks some pretty good booty, itself!

[Ken Tanaka]

I'd certainly 2nd Vic's remarks on both fronts. Perhaps the best way to view a computer's overall performance is by looking at the balance of all relevent components. RAM, cpu, supporting chipsets/subsystems, bus and disks need to be in harmony.

I don't believe that the currrent Mac architecture would really benefit from DDR. RIght now the current G4 family's design seems pretty well balanced for general-purpose computing.

[Adrian Douglas]

When you consider the cost / preformance increase DDR RAM isn't really that good. Sure you get a small performance increase, but at the price you pay is isn't worth it.

The current MAC FSB speed is only 133mhz so even if you did have PC2100 DDR RAM it would still only work at 133mhz.

If Apple increase the FSB speed with the G5, then you might see a change to DDR RAM

[Ken Tanaka]

The Seagate drive is a good one. I use a 120Gb IBM DeskStar drive. Exactly the same drill as Vic described for the Seagate. (You'll find the basic installation instructions in your G4 manual.) I really would recommend installing the drive yourself. It really is a pretty straight-forward process.

Could someone please advise on whether it is possible to mix miniDV and DVCAM format tapes / footage in the editing? Specifically when editing in FinalCutPro? I assume that the deck or camera needs to be able to playback either format (such as PD150). Are there any other considerations?

Thanks!

[Andrew Hogan]

Ok here's my recommendations. I have a DP800 G4 and use FCP 3 with my XL1s.

I got a 80gig HDD with the G4. works well but after you add programs etc it fills up fast. When you start to delete files to make space, for new project captures, you won't have a nice fresh clean HDD anumore and it will be a bit Fragmented. It is best to have a second BIG HDD to do your capturing with and a smaller HDD to keep your programs and operating systems on.

I have a second HDD 120gig IMB Deskstar 7200RPM nice and big and fast to stop the risk of dropped frames when playing back edited stuff in FCP.

My Mac shop installed it for free while I waited and it only took about 5 minutes so i let them do it. but i think there is instructions in the Mac manual on how to do it yourself. You need to set the jumpers on the back of the HDD to your required config. I think the Mac guy said he was setting it up as a slave HDD. not absolutely sure though.

So in sumary: get 2 Hard disk drives one can be small ie 20 or 40 gig for your programs and OS and a big one for your video captures.

[Chris Ferrer]

Same here, IBM Deskstar 120Gb 7200 rpm with FCP 3 on a DP 1ghz, love it!

Chris

[Jeff Donald]

Hi,

To the best of my knowlege you only have to be sure that your sequence in FCP is set up for how the DVCAM is shot and then imported. Post your question on 2-pop (http://www.2-pop.com/) or do a search on importing DVCAM there. Good luck.

Jeff Donald

[arenhansen]

Hi,

I just bought myself a second hard drive finally and want to move my projects with media, exactly as they are to the new drive. What's the best way to do this without losing all my links? Thanks,
Aren.

[Joe Redifer]

Well keep 'em in the same folder. Say you have one folder on your desktop foll of MOV files. Then a few audio files that are used in the same project scattered around on the desktop. And then of course your FCP file (for example, you may be using something else) which you click on to open the project also sitting on the desktop. Create a new folder and move everything in there. Keep the MOV's in their own folder, the audio files and the FCP file outside of that folder, but inside of the new folder that you have created. On the new drive just click on the FCP file and everything will open up just fine. It'll work.

I archive all of my projects onto CD-R when I am finished so that I can go back later and play with them if I want to. Some of the smaller projects have actually been able to run off of the CD-ROM when I've done this. FCP never complains. Usually the project will need to be stored on multiple CD-R's, but then everything can just be copied back to the desktop where it once was for editing. CD-R's are so cheap nowadays that it makes more sense to archive on those instead of taking up valuable hard drive space.

The differences between DV & DVCAM are minor in practical editing terms. One such issue would be locked/unlocked audio, for instance. For a useful explanation, check out:

http://www.adamwilt.com/DV-FAQ-tech.html