Serious Magic DVRack

Nick McCarthy · February 1st, 2006, 12:28 AM

However, if you're more interested in DV rack for picture calibration, I believe the HVX200 has a buit in Histogram feature

Barry Gribble · February 3rd, 2006, 10:25 AM

I'm getting a laptop soon, and I will be getting DV-Rack with it also. I want to know what things I should look at in the laptop specs that will impact the DV-Rack performance the most.

Specific questions:

Does the type of video card matter?

Does the video memory matter?

Does 2 GB RAM matter over 1GM RAM?

Can I capture directly to a USB external hard drive hooked to the laptop?

And lastly....

Are they do for a software upgrade any time soon that may change these answers?

Thanks all...

Andrew Todd · February 3rd, 2006, 10:42 AM

they all matter.. im not the best to give info on computers components.. but i know you cant capture straight to an external usb harddrive. you would need a program.. you could look at direct to disk solutions but thats something different.

Don Donatello · February 3rd, 2006, 11:15 AM

"Can I capture directly to a USB external hard drive hooked to the laptop?"

i capture laptop to 1394/USB2 external 2 1/2" 5400rpm drive over USB2 ...

my old laptop worked with 512 ram .. current laptop has 1 gig = i see no difference = they both worked excellent with DV rack ...

old laptop video card shared memory and new laptop video card has 64mgs ram = they both worked ..

i have not seen any past upgrades to software make any current computer obsolete ( maybe DV rack with HDV might make a older slower CPU BUT that is a different product not a upgrade )

Kevin Shaw · February 3rd, 2006, 12:29 PM

Any suggestions on how to best use DVRack with the HDV upgrade for matching up the latest HD cameras for a comparison test? Serious Magic has been kind enough to give me the software needed to do this and walked me through the basic process, so I'm just looking for any further tips from DVRack users on how to get the cameras as closely matched as possible. In particular, any thoughts on how to match up a Panasonic HVX200 would be appreciated, since the only thing I can think of is to test it in DV mode before switching to HD mode for recording.

Also, any ideas on how to set exposures to deal with dark-skinned subjects against a wall-of-windows background? I could just eyeball that but would prefer a more rigorous process, plus any hints from people who have used the various HD cameras under such conditions. The test is coming up in less than two weeks, so any advice on all of this would be much appreciated.

Kevin Shaw · February 3rd, 2006, 12:42 PM

I was at the DVRack office yesterday and was told they're considering a P2 upgrade, but it doesn't sound like that's imminent yet. I'd suggest HVX200 owners contact both Panasonic and Serious Magic to express their interest in that.

In the meantime, would it be possible using FCP, Avid or Edius Broadcast to capture P2 data "live" via a firewire cable from the camera to a laptop?

Christopher Glaeser · February 7th, 2006, 01:51 PM

My XL H1 is due to arrive tomorrow. I plan to order DV Rack HD Powerpack, but currently only have DV Rack. Will the H1 work with DV Rack in SD mode without the DV Rack Powerpack?

Best,
Christopher

Kevin Shaw · February 7th, 2006, 01:59 PM

If the XL-H1 can downsample to SD resolution via the firewire output then I would think it should work, but to make sure try contacting DVrack tech support:

dvracksupport@seriousmagic.com

Shawn Alyasiri · February 7th, 2006, 02:25 PM

Please let me know what you find out - mine shows up Thursday. I expect that it will work in the 1080 60i mode, but may get flakey in 24F. I'm trying to figure out my flow or project settings for 24F anyway, so please let us know what you hear.

Thanks again
Shawn

Jack Foley · February 7th, 2006, 03:13 PM

We used the DVrack HD Powerpack demo and it worked excellent with 25F. The "Console" tool from Canon crashed after a few seconds everytime we tried it.

I can recommend DVrack to everybody.

Christopher Glaeser · February 7th, 2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Foley

We used the DVrack HD Powerpack demo and it worked excellent

How is the demo limited? (e.g. time limited, feature limited, or both)? I downloaded the Powerpack demo, but I'm not sure I want to install it since the licensed version of DV Rack is already installed. Perhaps I should just use DV Rack until the licensed copy of Powerpack arrives.

I also have and plan to use Serious Magic Ultra 2. Has anyone here used the H1 with Ultra?

Best,
Christopher

Jack Foley · February 7th, 2006, 03:39 PM

It is time limited to 30 days I think, but full functional.

Karl Soule · February 15th, 2006, 02:14 PM

Intel Graphics are kind of hit or miss. There are some Intel chipsets that don't even support 32-bit color. Others have pretty good 3D support. Most Intel graphics chipsets that have the word "Extreme" in the title have enough 3d support to run DV Rack just fine.

Robert M Wright · February 16th, 2006, 11:30 PM

Playing video (even high def) doesn't require very much from the video adapter.

It's gaming, and other tasks that do 3D rendering on-the-fly and such, that really taxes a video card.

Robert M Wright · February 16th, 2006, 11:34 PM

A quick follow up.

Decompressing HDV isn't all that hard on a processor either. HDV is MPEG-2, which even at high def, a modern processor can handle fairly easily (MPEG-4, by comparison, takes quite a bit more processing power to decompress).

February 3rd, 2006, 10:25 AM	#242
Barry Gribble Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 817	Advice on Laptop purchase I'm getting a laptop soon, and I will be getting DV-Rack with it also. I want to know what things I should look at in the laptop specs that will impact the DV-Rack performance the most. Specific questions: Does the type of video card matter? Does the video memory matter? Does 2 GB RAM matter over 1GM RAM? Can I capture directly to a USB external hard drive hooked to the laptop? And lastly.... Are they do for a software upgrade any time soon that may change these answers? Thanks all... __________________ Barry Gribble Integral Arts, IMDB

February 3rd, 2006, 10:42 AM	#243
Andrew Todd Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Saint John, CANADA Posts: 633	they all matter.. im not the best to give info on computers components.. but i know you cant capture straight to an external usb harddrive. you would need a program.. you could look at direct to disk solutions but thats something different. __________________ video : xl2 / letus35xl / bogen 503 photo- canon 1dmkII - bronica etrsi

February 3rd, 2006, 12:29 PM	#245
Kevin Shaw Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,488	Using DVRack to match HD cameras Any suggestions on how to best use DVRack with the HDV upgrade for matching up the latest HD cameras for a comparison test? Serious Magic has been kind enough to give me the software needed to do this and walked me through the basic process, so I'm just looking for any further tips from DVRack users on how to get the cameras as closely matched as possible. In particular, any thoughts on how to match up a Panasonic HVX200 would be appreciated, since the only thing I can think of is to test it in DV mode before switching to HD mode for recording. Also, any ideas on how to set exposures to deal with dark-skinned subjects against a wall-of-windows background? I could just eyeball that but would prefer a more rigorous process, plus any hints from people who have used the various HD cameras under such conditions. The test is coming up in less than two weeks, so any advice on all of this would be much appreciated.

February 7th, 2006, 01:51 PM	#247
Christopher Glaeser Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pleasanton, CA Posts: 258	DV Rack with Canon XL H1 in SD mode? My XL H1 is due to arrive tomorrow. I plan to order DV Rack HD Powerpack, but currently only have DV Rack. Will the H1 work with DV Rack in SD mode without the DV Rack Powerpack? Best, Christopher

February 15th, 2006, 02:14 PM	#253
Karl Soule Serious Magic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 106	Intel Intel Graphics are kind of hit or miss. There are some Intel chipsets that don't even support 32-bit color. Others have pretty good 3D support. Most Intel graphics chipsets that have the word "Extreme" in the title have enough 3d support to run DV Rack just fine. __________________ Karl Soule' Product Marketing Manager, Serious Magic Professional Products Group. ksoule@seriousmagic.com

February 1st, 2006, 12:28 AM	#241
Nick McCarthy Tourist Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2	However, if you're more interested in DV rack for picture calibration, I believe the HVX200 has a buit in Histogram feature

February 3rd, 2006, 11:15 AM	#244
Don Donatello Hawaiian Shirt Mogul Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northern cailfornia Posts: 1,261	"Can I capture directly to a USB external hard drive hooked to the laptop?" i capture laptop to 1394/USB2 external 2 1/2" 5400rpm drive over USB2 ... my old laptop worked with 512 ram .. current laptop has 1 gig = i see no difference = they both worked excellent with DV rack ... old laptop video card shared memory and new laptop video card has 64mgs ram = they both worked .. i have not seen any past upgrades to software make any current computer obsolete ( maybe DV rack with HDV might make a older slower CPU BUT that is a different product not a upgrade )

February 3rd, 2006, 12:42 PM	#246
Kevin Shaw Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,488	I was at the DVRack office yesterday and was told they're considering a P2 upgrade, but it doesn't sound like that's imminent yet. I'd suggest HVX200 owners contact both Panasonic and Serious Magic to express their interest in that. In the meantime, would it be possible using FCP, Avid or Edius Broadcast to capture P2 data "live" via a firewire cable from the camera to a laptop?

February 7th, 2006, 01:59 PM	#248
Kevin Shaw Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,488	If the XL-H1 can downsample to SD resolution via the firewire output then I would think it should work, but to make sure try contacting DVrack tech support: dvracksupport@seriousmagic.com

February 7th, 2006, 02:25 PM	#249
Shawn Alyasiri Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 256	Please let me know what you find out - mine shows up Thursday. I expect that it will work in the 1080 60i mode, but may get flakey in 24F. I'm trying to figure out my flow or project settings for 24F anyway, so please let us know what you hear. Thanks again Shawn

February 7th, 2006, 03:13 PM	#250
Jack Foley Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 42	We used the DVrack HD Powerpack demo and it worked excellent with 25F. The "Console" tool from Canon crashed after a few seconds everytime we tried it. I can recommend DVrack to everybody.

February 7th, 2006, 03:39 PM	#252
Jack Foley Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 42	It is time limited to 30 days I think, but full functional.

February 16th, 2006, 11:30 PM	#254
Robert M Wright Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota (USA) Posts: 2,171	Playing video (even high def) doesn't require very much from the video adapter. It's gaming, and other tasks that do 3D rendering on-the-fly and such, that really taxes a video card.

February 16th, 2006, 11:34 PM	#255
Robert M Wright Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota (USA) Posts: 2,171	A quick follow up. Decompressing HDV isn't all that hard on a processor either. HDV is MPEG-2, which even at high def, a modern processor can handle fairly easily (MPEG-4, by comparison, takes quite a bit more processing power to decompress).