DV Rack - very nice if it works as advertized

Rob Lohman · October 6th, 2004, 06:11 AM

I don't think this will work or be fast enough. Virtual PC on Windows
itself does not support firewire for one. Does VPC on the Mac
support that?

Christopher C. Murphy · October 6th, 2004, 06:31 AM

If you look at the specs on Microsoft's site - Virtual PC for Mac is suppose to be really fast. I've also got a G5 dual 2.0ghz, so that ought to help.

The main thing is that Mark mentioned that the inside guts of DV Rack need something in Windows that wasn't provided in previous Virtual PC for Mac software. I think it was Direct X? If this newer version just released has that inner workings then maybe DV Rack will work? I am just wondering.

Murph

Mark Mapes · October 6th, 2004, 02:43 PM

Murph,

I think your question about Virtual PC 7 was directed at Mark Randall, who's infinitely more tech-savvy than I am. I haven't discussed your question with him, but I did run it by DV Rack's lead developer. He found that the web site did not provide enough information to draw any conclusions. When we have a chance, we'll give it a try.

Christopher C. Murphy · October 6th, 2004, 04:25 PM

Excellent! I appreciate it, and I'd love to see HDV support on Mac with Virtual PC or even Mac native! I think there are a bunch of people interested in it.

Murph

Christopher C. Murphy · October 25th, 2004, 07:12 PM

Any word on DV Rack for Mac via VirtualPC??

Also, any word on HDV support...even on PC??

Murph

Kent Dammand · October 27th, 2004, 01:51 PM

any way to record multiple audio inputs -like more than 2 using dvracK?

Im using dvx100 and have many audio interfaces avaialbe,adat? rca?analog, input combinations w firewire??

also

assuming cost is no object, what laptop is "the best, biggest baddest etc" i have a powerbook so i would not do this unless i had an equally powerful pc laptop

Mark Mapes · October 27th, 2004, 02:18 PM

Kent,

The short answer is no, at least not from within DV Rack. It receives audio only from the DV camera via FireWire, and while you can switch cameras through the app, you can only record or monitor one camera at a time. I'm sure there are ways that you could feed multiple audio inputs into some cameras, and DV Rack would record all that audio, but it would not recognize it as separate tracks (apart from the right and left channels, of course)

Murph,

I've been trying to get an answer for you on DirectX support in Virtual PC. So far I haven't found any definitive info, but what I have learned is not encouraging. There's some disagreement on other forums as to whether Virtual PC has zero support for DirectX or whether it's just limited. The consensus seems to be that plans to implement Direct 3D support were scrapped. In any case, we hold out little hope that it would allow DV Rack to run on a Mac.

On HDV support: You are among a surprising number of customers and potential customers who are very interested in DV Rack working with HDV. We've certainly discussed this and will be keeping tabs on sales of HDV cameras before moving in that direction.

Kent Dammand · October 27th, 2004, 02:22 PM

please allow sync audio from second source in your development.

any way to sync with this tool to allow for complexe audio? this would be the holy grail

Christopher C. Murphy · October 27th, 2004, 03:47 PM

Mark, sounds great...from what I've seen HDV is a winner.

Murph

Chris Mills · October 27th, 2004, 10:57 PM

Does DV Rack support true 16:9 PAL? I can't seem to find anything other than the letterbox button which crops my image. Any ideas here?

Barry Green · October 27th, 2004, 11:08 PM

The latest update lets you control the aspect ratio of the monitor. You can select practically any aspect ratio from 1.000:1 down to 2.35:1, including 16:9.

Chris Mills · October 28th, 2004, 05:14 AM

Does the trial version allow for custom aspect ratios?

Edit: found it - its on page two of the menu controls. Cool!

Ricardo Renaldi · October 29th, 2004, 04:10 PM

My vote for HDV support and more audio feeds (not thru firewire).

That way this app would be the perfect Pro HDV recorder, avoiding the crappy compressed HDV audio. I think the market for such an app is huge.

cheers

Ric

Mark Mapes · October 29th, 2004, 04:47 PM

I've added the ability to record multiple audio feeds to our lengthy list of proposed enhancements. If this suggestion makes the cut, we would almost certainly implement it so that the additional audio is recorded as one or more separate clips (depending on the number of audio devices). Otherwise, we would be violating DV Rack's prime directive not to alter the DV data received from the camera.

Ricardo Renaldi · October 29th, 2004, 04:58 PM

Mark,

Do it the way you want, but the extra audio is a must. Our next documental piece to be shoot wiith the Sony FX1 needs surround sound. We are considering a laptop plus ProTools for the audio .

If we had an unique device (notebook) that lets us adquire the audio AND the video at the same time would be great for us and I think many more people in the industry.

tks

Ric

October 6th, 2004, 06:11 AM	#46
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I don't think this will work or be fast enough. Virtual PC on Windows itself does not support firewire for one. Does VPC on the Mac support that? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 6th, 2004, 06:31 AM	#47
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	If you look at the specs on Microsoft's site - Virtual PC for Mac is suppose to be really fast. I've also got a G5 dual 2.0ghz, so that ought to help. The main thing is that Mark mentioned that the inside guts of DV Rack need something in Windows that wasn't provided in previous Virtual PC for Mac software. I think it was Direct X? If this newer version just released has that inner workings then maybe DV Rack will work? I am just wondering. Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

October 6th, 2004, 02:43 PM	#48
Mark Mapes Serious Magic Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 68	Virtual PC 7 Murph, I think your question about Virtual PC 7 was directed at Mark Randall, who's infinitely more tech-savvy than I am. I haven't discussed your question with him, but I did run it by DV Rack's lead developer. He found that the web site did not provide enough information to draw any conclusions. When we have a chance, we'll give it a try. __________________ Mark Mapes OnLocation QA Manager, Adobe Systems

October 6th, 2004, 04:25 PM	#49
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Excellent! I appreciate it, and I'd love to see HDV support on Mac with Virtual PC or even Mac native! I think there are a bunch of people interested in it. Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

October 25th, 2004, 07:12 PM	#50
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	DV Rack for HDV?? Any word on DV Rack for Mac via VirtualPC?? Also, any word on HDV support...even on PC?? Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

October 27th, 2004, 01:51 PM	#51
Kent Dammand Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 80	any way to record multiple audio inputs -like more than 2 using dvracK? Im using dvx100 and have many audio interfaces avaialbe,adat? rca?analog, input combinations w firewire?? also assuming cost is no object, what laptop is "the best, biggest baddest etc" i have a powerbook so i would not do this unless i had an equally powerful pc laptop

October 27th, 2004, 02:18 PM	#52
Mark Mapes Serious Magic Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 68	Kent, The short answer is no, at least not from within DV Rack. It receives audio only from the DV camera via FireWire, and while you can switch cameras through the app, you can only record or monitor one camera at a time. I'm sure there are ways that you could feed multiple audio inputs into some cameras, and DV Rack would record all that audio, but it would not recognize it as separate tracks (apart from the right and left channels, of course) Murph, I've been trying to get an answer for you on DirectX support in Virtual PC. So far I haven't found any definitive info, but what I have learned is not encouraging. There's some disagreement on other forums as to whether Virtual PC has zero support for DirectX or whether it's just limited. The consensus seems to be that plans to implement Direct 3D support were scrapped. In any case, we hold out little hope that it would allow DV Rack to run on a Mac. On HDV support: You are among a surprising number of customers and potential customers who are very interested in DV Rack working with HDV. We've certainly discussed this and will be keeping tabs on sales of HDV cameras before moving in that direction. __________________ Mark Mapes OnLocation QA Manager, Adobe Systems

October 27th, 2004, 02:22 PM	#53
Kent Dammand Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 80	please allow sync audio from second source in your development. any way to sync with this tool to allow for complexe audio? this would be the holy grail

October 27th, 2004, 03:47 PM	#54
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Mark, sounds great...from what I've seen HDV is a winner. Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

October 27th, 2004, 10:57 PM	#55
Chris Mills Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 77	16:9 PAL support for DV Rack? Does DV Rack support true 16:9 PAL? I can't seem to find anything other than the letterbox button which crops my image. Any ideas here? __________________ Regards, Chris http://www.lizardlounge.com

October 27th, 2004, 11:08 PM	#56
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	The latest update lets you control the aspect ratio of the monitor. You can select practically any aspect ratio from 1.000:1 down to 2.35:1, including 16:9.

October 28th, 2004, 05:14 AM	#57
Chris Mills Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 77	Does the trial version allow for custom aspect ratios? Edit: found it - its on page two of the menu controls. Cool! __________________ Regards, Chris http://www.lizardlounge.com

October 29th, 2004, 04:10 PM	#58
Ricardo Renaldi Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Posts: 40	My vote for HDV support and more audio feeds (not thru firewire). That way this app would be the perfect Pro HDV recorder, avoiding the crappy compressed HDV audio. I think the market for such an app is huge. cheers Ric

October 29th, 2004, 04:47 PM	#59
Mark Mapes Serious Magic Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 68	I've added the ability to record multiple audio feeds to our lengthy list of proposed enhancements. If this suggestion makes the cut, we would almost certainly implement it so that the additional audio is recorded as one or more separate clips (depending on the number of audio devices). Otherwise, we would be violating DV Rack's prime directive not to alter the DV data received from the camera. __________________ Mark Mapes OnLocation QA Manager, Adobe Systems

October 29th, 2004, 04:58 PM	#60
Ricardo Renaldi Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Posts: 40	Exelent Mark, Do it the way you want, but the extra audio is a must. Our next documental piece to be shoot wiith the Sony FX1 needs surround sound. We are considering a laptop plus ProTools for the audio . If we had an unique device (notebook) that lets us adquire the audio AND the video at the same time would be great for us and I think many more people in the industry. tks Ric