hello all.

OK, I'm very new at this business. Only done 1 weddings so far...(will post a vid soon) but I'm here to ask for your help. I'm moving down to South America were I plan to work doing weddings and events. Below you can take a look at what gear I have already. Before I go I'm planning on getting the pana HMC150, a cheaper HD second camera and a new MBP (waiting till summer hoping for the lates processors), a dell 2408 or a new ACD....so

I have never worked with HD before so...in terms of editing...

what else do you think I need?

will my G5 be able to handle this?
do I need to update the video card?
do I need to get a capture card?
do I need to have raid?

what do you think? what will you do? you problably done this and have some experience. can you share please?
Thanks so much.

Osmany Tellez




FCPS2, G5 Dual core 2.0 GHz, 2.5 Ram, Dell 2408, M-audio DX4, DVX 100A, Sachtler DV6, Manfrotto 561B, Zoom H-4, RE-50, AT890 shotgun, steadicam Merlin,

You will need a new computer. The aging G5 will not work with AVCHD files, for that you need an Intel Mac. Stock graphics card on a new Mac Pro would be fine. Rumor has it that a better graphics card with better core image support is due out before the end of the month. Motion would be the application that would do better with a beefier graphics card, so depending on how much you use Motion would determine your need for said card. After that, you just need plenty of storage. I wouldn't worry about creating a software RAID (you can edit these files from a single drive). And hardware RAIDs will be expensive. Just have a solid back up plan in the event a drive fails.

Mike

Thanks a lot Mike. It really helps. Thanks.

UMMM. G5 will not work???? wuao. Well, I was ready to buy a MBP after the next update....will that handle AVCHD? I think so... I guess my G5 will be left for SD projects... any idea if people are interested on buying a dual core PPC G5 this days? or should I get the Mac Pro instead of the MBP? ahhhhh. any suggestions?

What do you think about my gear? do you see anything I most get? Weddings and events mainly.

Mike, thank you. And everybody in here for such a great forum.

Peace
Osmany Tellez.

Hi Osmany. At the moment, most NLEs dun do AVCHD that well compared to HDV or even HD. I guess selecting a HDV cam would be a better choice for weddings otherwise u will be one of those in the frontline (beta tester). Something like Canon A1 or HPX170 may be better for you if budget allows.

I think a MBP+FCPS2 combo would do better for u.

Thanks Sean.

I'm aware of the laking support for AVCHD at this moment...I'm hoping that by sep. Oct. even Nov..(this is when I'll have the cam in my hands) there will be support for this with all main NLE programs...don't you think?. HMC150 wont come out until then... I need to take a closer look to other options still..but from what I gather so far it looks like the HMC150 will be much better quality then Canon AX1...don't you think? I will really like to get the HPX170 but I'm afraid the cost of P2 cards will be too much for me.

Is it true that my PPC dual core 2.0 GHz wont be able to handle AVCHD? Mike..I believe you...it just that I can believe it myself. My G5 already outdated..darn. it puts me in...MBP or MP, now.

Thanks again
Osmany

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305997

Mike...you are the best. Thanks so much. more decisions to make now. if you don't mind. THE MBP...can it handle AVCHD? 1 or 2 streams? what about AVCHD..using other software than FCP?

I hope I'm not bothering too much. Now I'm thinking if I should get a MBP or Mac Pro..after the news...or maybe forget AVCHD and go to HDV.

Again...thanks a lot.

Osmany

What do you mean by handle? Obviously the MBP/FCS2 will do AVCHD but I certainly wouldn't want to try it off the laptops internal drive. I suppose your could, but I doubt you would get more than one stream once you started editing. I would be using external drives. The faster the drives, the more streams you could do.

As far as other software that handles AVCHD, I don't know. Premiere doesn't yet. FCE will. I think in terms of using another editor, you would need to think about converting the AVCHD files into something more "generic". I would hesitate on HDV. I think the future will be tapeless acquisition: P2, SxS, AVCHD.

Mike

Yes, I was planning on having and external HD for capturing to. Still I'm thinking it cost $100 more to upgrade to a 7200 internal HD as well. What I meant by handle is that I don't want to be waiting for renders every time I make a simple edit or effect...and being able to do at least 2 streams for sure.

I heard Edius Pro does AVCHD native...

Yes, I'm only trying to avoid HDV as well..thanks for helping me clarify this.

I think P2 and SxS are too expensive for me still, so my next option will be avchd...I guess I should forget about a MBP and go for the Mac Pro.

What is your opinion?

You will need a new computer. The aging G5 will not work with AVCHD files, for that you need an Intel Mac. Stock graphics card on a new Mac Pro would be fine. Rumor has it that a better graphics card with better core image support is due out before the end of the month. Motion would be the application that would do better with a beefier graphics card, so depending on how much you use Motion would determine your need for said card. After that, you just need plenty of storage. I wouldn't worry about creating a software RAID (you can edit these files from a single drive). And hardware RAIDs will be expensive. Just have a solid back up plan in the event a drive fails.

Mike

Aging G5 won't work with AVCHD? I've got one of the oldest G5's around (1.8G single processor), and it handles AVCHD just fine, albeit a bit slow ... like forget real time rendering of special effects. A new machine would be nice, but not necessary.

Aging G5 won't work with AVCHD? I've got one of the oldest G5's around (1.8G single processor), and it handles AVCHD just fine, albeit a bit slow ... like forget real time rendering of special effects. A new machine would be nice, but not necessary.

hey Waldemar..that's so good to hear. I own a 2.0 GHz dual core G5 and I thought it was worthless for AVCHD..but now you give me hopes.

Can you share your workflow and maybe a bit about your limitations using your single core G5 and avchd?

I'm curious to hear since apple says one needs a intel proccesor for avchd.

Thanks a lot.

Osmany Tellez

That is news to me as well. Especially when you consider that Apple themselves say that a G5 doesn't do AVCHD (link provided earlier). Are you using a third party solution/conversion?

Mike

That is news to me as well. Especially when you consider that Apple themselves say that a G5 doesn't do AVCHD (link provided earlier). Are you using a third party solution/conversion?

Mike

Yes, and it was stupid of me for not mentioning it earlier. Visual Hub. $29.95. Convert to MPEG2 (or whatever you want). Much broader acceptance of formats than MPEGStreamclip, which could only read about 30 seconds of a 2 minute clip. I've only had need of AVCHD acquisition once for one of those odd phone requests from an acquaintance, and Visual Hub was the only way to get the video recognized off of the camera's disc.
I got Visual Hub on Steve Mullin's advice (visit the AVCHD section, JVC Everio forum) because I was having issues with JVC's Everio camera's .tod files. Imported into iMovie 08 and then exported as an XML file FCP can read. worked OK with AVCHD disc camera as well as JVC .tod file. Tried the same process on my intel Mac laptop. Processing was much faster.


Since I don't own an AVCHD camera and have only had to do it once, I didn't take notes about process. But it appears to me I'm going to have to revisit the process and provide an explanation. That will take a few days as I've got a lot on my plate right now. I get back to you all.

hey Waldemar..that's so good to hear. I own a 2.0 GHz dual core G5 and I thought it was worthless for AVCHD..but now you give me hopes.

Can you share your workflow and maybe a bit about your limitations using your single core G5 and avchd?

I'm curious to hear since apple says one needs a intel proccesor for avchd.

Thanks a lot.

Osmany Tellez


I was just wondering about this since I have a same G5, about to get a MBP and my first AVCHD camera. Thanks for the info.

so when apple says you need an intel based to work with AVCHD they mean NATIVE AVCHD, right?

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305997

Stefan..what about after those 3hrs per hour of footage? do you have to render a lot? any real time effects? slow scrubbing? any problems?

wuao...I see...big files....means more $$$$$

I'm debating between my first MBP or go for the Mac Pro...also I wonder if my be better to go straight to P2. I wonder if they $$$ will even out between P2 cards and faster computer with a lot of storage for AVCHD.

Any advice, opinions?

Thanks again.

Osmany

this reply was to a comment on the avchd forum... my mistake, sorry, sorry. If I could I would delete.
sorry

Well, I will chime in.... I am a huge fan of P2. Let me modify that, I am a huge fan of DVCPro 50 and DVCPro HD. The easiest method of capturing DVCPro HD being via P2 (or a Firestore hard drive).

First, in terms of editing, DVCPro HD will be easier. It is also an I-frame only compression scheme no NO motion artifacts. AVCHD and HDV are both Long GOP compression schemes. Plus, you are capturing 4:2:2, not 4:2:0. And keep in mind that by using p2, you don't HAVE to capture DVCPro HD, you could do DVCPro 50 which is still SD but @ 4:2:2 instead of DV's 4:1:1!

IMHO, the only disadvantage to P2 cameras to date are that they aren't the best in low light. However, the newer cameras are suppose to do better. And there is the cost of P2 media. However, for even work, I would think a Firestore hard drive would be in order. And while it's not cheap, it's less than the cost of all the tape I have used!

Mike

Thanks for your feed back Mike. I'm now reconsidering the whole thing and looking at P2 as a good option. I read a lot of good things about DVCPRO 50 and looks like I could use that with my dvx100a for SD jobs. Still I was hoping to have two HD cameras to be confortable for a HD job. When I was looking at the HMC150 avchd I was also thinking on getting a cheaper avchd for B camera.
So now my question is....
what will be a good B camera to go with the HPX170?

Firestore looks like a good solution for saving $$$$.. Do you use them? how reliable they are?
can I trust a paid job on them?

Trying to put some number down to see what I can afford.

thanks again.

Osmany Tellez

Sorry for my late reply, been busy...

We don't own or use a P2 camera/Firestore. Yet. I current plan is to get at least on Panasonic 170 when released. At that point it is a cascading effect: what will the street price for the camera be? What will the price be for the 64GB P2 card as well has how much have the other P2 cards come down. This determines the feasibility of whether we are getting a 2nd 170. I imagine not. In which case, we are looking at the 150 AVCHD. I was at a seminar the other day talking to a Panasonic rep and I feel good that the 150 will offer at the very least, an image comparable to HDV; probably better. That is my hold out on AVCHD, most don't think it is any better than HDV and many think it's worse. There is no doubt that on paper the codec is better, but it has yet to translate into a camera (or so I've read). Provided that 150 does deliver the expected results, that will be out 2nd camera. 3rd & 4th cameras will be of a consumer variety for specific purposes... and I won't even look into that until the above plays itself out.

There are a LOT of other factors involved for us. But I know for a fact that we will be doing at least one P2 camera and in all likelihood a Firestore hard drive. However, I know P2 media is MUCH more flexible and built like a rock so if I can come up with enough used 16GB cards when the 64GB card is on the market, who knows? The only other camera we considered was the EX1. I love full raster 1920x1080 (this kinda offsets the Panasonic's 4:2:2 advantage) but the rolling shutter and Long GOP compression didn't do it for me.

Mike