Re: Hardware Recommendations


I apologize in advance if this is the wrong place to post. If so, please
redirect. Thanks!

Finally broke down and ordered a MacPro and a 23 monitor with FC 2
Studio. Yes, I know Mac's are way over-priced etc. But, all my friends
are Mac people and I have some experience with this system. So, that is
why I went that route.

With the ability to use Windows on a Mac now.. there are fewer reasons not
to make a Mac a home computer.

I thought of running XP off this computer, but bitter memories of windows
simulated software in the 90's keeps me on a dual path. I know they are not
the same animal, but that was a total nightmare. Plus, I ran into a problem
trying use a PC Excel spread*** file to a Mac a couple months ago. I'm
not going there again.


Bought it at the spur of the moment and didn't consult with anyone in the
video business before making the purchase.

I'm basically an amateur in making videos, but would like to find out if
this is really for me.

Here is what I bought
Processor: Two 2.8 Quad Core Intel Xenon
4 GB memory
1 320 GB 7200 drive
1 500 GB 7200 drive
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 512 MB (Two Dual Link DVI)
1 Apple Cinema 23" Display
2 !6 x Superdrives
1 Airport extreme card (Wi-Fi)
Apple Mighty mouse
Apple keyboard + Mac OS X
Apple Care protection

I probably wouldn't even be posting, but out of curiosity I did some web
browsing on Mac systems and came up with the site of a company that
pre-configures Macs for digital editing.
http://www.promax.com/Landing/Apple/good_better_best_macpro.html

A couple items stood out on their better systems that I most likely won't
have on mine. Would like to know if they would be useful or would be a
waste of money.

1. Firewire: On their better systems they had a. Firewire based DVCPRO
HD inputs/outputs or
b. Firewire based XDCAM inputs/outputs

yes, you will want at least one FW connection. I'm pretty sure your Mac
has FW800 (firewire 800 aka 1394b) connections. Even better.
FW800 interfaces are twice as fast as normal FW400 (firewire 400 aka 1394)
interfaces.

I hope the cable comes with the computer.


2. Compressed storage: a. 4 hours of 1080i Compressed HD storage or
27 hours of 35Mbit 1080i Compressed HD storage

Gonna depend on content and type as to how many drives and if you stripe
them.

I'm going to have someone help me here. Will either write back when it
comes in or get someone to help me.

It is best to not keep your video footage and elements on the same drive
as your operating system and programs.
This is probably less important now with fast SATA3g drives etc.. but
still a good practice.

Good idea. Probably will use the 320 GB hard drive for booting up and
elements and the 2nd drive for video footage. Also, already have one
external drive for back up.



3. Audio Mixer and Speakers for sound monitoring. (I know I didn't get
an audio mixer, I guess that is something I could buy later. I didn't
ask about the speakers. I imagine they come with either the display or
separately.)

Do NOT use your display speakers or any 'PC' speakers to moitor your audio
if you can avoid it.
Get a nice(decent) pair of powered monitors to listen and a small mixing
board to feed.
Plug the output of your Mac directly into the powered speakers, and feed
the output of your mixing board into the input of the Mac.
examples:
http://tinyurl.com/2mxovo

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/426134-REG/Tapco_By_Mackie_MIX_100_MIX100_10_Channel_Mixer.html


Then you can plug in mics, cd players, tape decks, phonographs, etc into
your mixer, send it to the audio inputs of your machine and record away.

Thanks for that info. I feel sound might prove to be my biggest challenge.
I'm a bit hearing impaired and not all that sophisticated regarding mixing
sound with video.



On a separate note:

4. I bought one 23 " display. Is there a real benefit to having two
monitors? If so, should they be the same size? If I call back now and
add it to the order, then it would come under the 3 year warrantee.

If you are only going with one monitor, get at least a 24" (and if getting
more than one, try to make at least one a 24").
Not a must, especially if you are only doing stand. def editing, but a 24"
monitor is a s small as you can get and still view 1920x1080, the current
holy grail of HD editing. Future proof
They do not have to be the same size, no.

The display I ordered is the Apple 23 " Cinema HD display. It's not 24".
It's an inch smaller. Would that still do the trick? Or, would I be better
off with the 30 in display? I could get both the 24" and 30".

At the local cable company they also run an inexpensive 15 " monitor for
transferring info from the tape deck to the computer. Might that be a good
idea too? (Just realized I have a couple 15: monitors already.)

Anything else I might have missed?

I didn't order any software like MS Office. I use a PC in the real
world.

Mac doesn't have Blueray yet. Probably would replace one with Blueray in
the future.



.

Quantcast