Joel Dech
April 19th, 2006, 02:14 PM
I have a serious decision to make, and well I need the help of you professionals.
I will openly admit I am completely new to the video realm, so please bare with me. I do not know the video slang, all devices, proper paths, most efficient procedures, or pretty much ANYTHING. But I am NOT new to business or success so I do know ALOT of things, like what directions I want to go, what I want in the end, and usually how to get it.
This post may be long, but I know you guys need to know the most about me, my plans and situation to best give me the proper advice, so please bare with this post (my second one) the best you can. PLUS I am just answering questions that you would ask me anyway, so I just am putting them ALL into one post, so you can know. -- and I thank you all in advance.
First of all the decision I need to make is what video cam to get. First of all a little about me and the needs/usage of this cam.
I own a Independent Record Label (Roulette Records - www.rouletterecords.com), along with that obviously comes several budding artists, and along with that we obviously have a 100% COMPLETELY professional recording facility. The reason I said facility and not studio is because I am into video as well. We have done editing, transferring, and alot of small SD low level projects. I mean so low level that we use my "Circuit City" purchased Sony Video Cam (DCR-TRV27 Mini DV HandyCam) to shoot and then do the rest in the computer. We are talking birthdays, events, weddings, family outings, etc... I was editing and doing transitions so great that alot of others started asking me to do stuff for them. I actually done some instructional videos for exercise videos and a Karate video too. I also got into doing web commercials and we are getting alot of requests for that. I am working on mine now actually. Some are asking about HD too.
That part is budding big time. BUT it is not the MAIN reason I want a seriously KICK BUTT Cam. Owning this record label, we have a artist or two that is getting pretty big, and needing a video soon, therefore soon we need SEVERAL videos. These are to be aired on BET MTV 2 , etc... so they have to be top notch. BUT at the same time I have time to grow into doing it, no rush. I have a good staff of people here as well, some even went to/go to school for all this video stuff, so we are doing good and have potential if we got the gear. SO please don't advise me on a "booty" camera because you think I am not ready for a real one.
I also have REAL plans, like: When we want to do some REAL movie/film type stuff (eventually, cause we ARE !!) then we will RENT a completely over the top camera or two or three for shooting, rent all the other stuff needed as well, BILL the client for it, etc...
Other things I HAVE currently and are going to get are things NEEDED beyond just being able to rent like: I am currently on a PowerMac G5 Dual 2.7Ghz with 8Gb of ram, a Magma Expansion chassis with 7 PCI slots, "Final Cut STUDIO Pro HD" (Final Cut Pro HD, Motion, DVD Studio Pro HD, Live Type, Soundtrack Pro, the WHOLE suite), also I have "After Effects 7 Pro". All these are the latest versions ALWAYS, and all my gear and plugins ,etc.. are completely maxed out, blown out the the extreme ALWAYS. I have pretty much every plug in and extra package available for ALL programs I have. I have a Kona LH capture card which is a GREAT card for BOTH SD and HD.
Now I understand at NAB Apple will release some news (as always) so as soon as they do, or when ever they do I plan on WAITING for that and then getting whatever the NEWEST top of the line Mac comes out. I will keep my Dual 2.7 though because it is a great computer and it will run the audio part of my facility just fine for years. So the new set up will be strictly for the video room. I also plan on getting a good large RAID Hard Drive system set up with that computer via Fiber Channel. (basically a bad a$$ set up.)
So now what I want, and the questions I have -- I want a camera in the $0.00 - $8,000 range that will do me good for NOW, plus allow me to grow into it and make me learn things as well. REMEMBER not too serious of one ($100,000.00 camera) because I will RENT those when the time is right, then return them, that way I am not caught up in a serious investment that also goes obsolete so soon. As a company I worked out a good contract with a local rental company as well, so I am good to go with that.
I definitely want to venture into HD, but I have so many questions about it. I also want a camera that will do both SD and HD (I think) but be the best quality it can of each. My questions involve things like: 1- Should I go strictly HD ? 2- Should I go strictly SD and skip HD for now, then get it later ? 3- Should I go SD & HD so I can do stuff now, and fiddle with HD NOW to learn, also having HD to film my first HD commercial, or video, etc.. ? 4- IS there any other cameras that offer BOTH SD and HD than the Canon XL H1 ?
I have more questions, and I will number them properly, but wait until they are more relevant. The three cameras I have thought about (but please give me others if I should know about them) are the: Canon XL2 - if I should just go SD,,,, or the: Sony FX1 - if I should just go HD,,,,,, or what I am really leaning towards is the: Canon XL H1 - to have SD & HD capabilities.
The questions that keep me from just buying it now are: (con't from above) 5- Are the concerns people had at first about the XL H1 not recording TRUE 30p a real problem ?? 6- Is it the BEST SD recorder at that price, ALSO is it the best HD recorder at that price ? In other words, those using it, do you notice it recording SD better than the XL2 at the SAME settings ? Or do you notice it recording HD better than the FX1 at the SAME settings ?
Other questions / rumors I heard more general: 7- I heard JVC and Panasonic do 1080i at their highest side, whereas Sony and Canon do 1080i x 1290i or something like that.,, TRUE ? or it had to do with tape, HDV -vs- Mini DV, etc.. ? Anyway I heard this Canon was the way to go for the 1290 thing. 8- Also I see you guys talking about how Final Cut doesn't edit in HD, but I thought it does. My Final Cut Pro says HD, also the manual talks about doing things in HD,, I have a friend currently doing a short commercial in HD on Final Cut Pro HD 5,, so what gives ? 9- Is there different HD's in other words ?? Like You can do a "fake" HD that doesn't take up as much hard drive space and Final Cut can work with it ? Or is my friend editing TRUE HD in Final Cut right now ? He says it is, but he may not know. I want to know the REAL DEAL. 10- Is it better to skip HD for now, because at NAB some newer better stuff will be announced, buy a XL2 for now, then buy a HD camera later, and have BOTH later ?? 11- Does SD get better as time passes, or have they gaven up on making it better ? Like, if I do buy a XL2 now, then I get a HD camera later, will the XL2 hold up for future SD standards ??
I just want to make a GOOD decision that wont come back to haunt me. I want to get work and projects done NOW, at the same time I want to be learning/ fiddling around in HD, or should I wait for that. What should I do ???
I have more questions, but they will be more relevant later... For now, lets go on all that about me, and see if we can decide which camera would be best for ME, my goals, and my business.
Thank You Guys SOOOOOO much --
I will openly admit I am completely new to the video realm, so please bare with me. I do not know the video slang, all devices, proper paths, most efficient procedures, or pretty much ANYTHING. But I am NOT new to business or success so I do know ALOT of things, like what directions I want to go, what I want in the end, and usually how to get it.
This post may be long, but I know you guys need to know the most about me, my plans and situation to best give me the proper advice, so please bare with this post (my second one) the best you can. PLUS I am just answering questions that you would ask me anyway, so I just am putting them ALL into one post, so you can know. -- and I thank you all in advance.
First of all the decision I need to make is what video cam to get. First of all a little about me and the needs/usage of this cam.
I own a Independent Record Label (Roulette Records - www.rouletterecords.com), along with that obviously comes several budding artists, and along with that we obviously have a 100% COMPLETELY professional recording facility. The reason I said facility and not studio is because I am into video as well. We have done editing, transferring, and alot of small SD low level projects. I mean so low level that we use my "Circuit City" purchased Sony Video Cam (DCR-TRV27 Mini DV HandyCam) to shoot and then do the rest in the computer. We are talking birthdays, events, weddings, family outings, etc... I was editing and doing transitions so great that alot of others started asking me to do stuff for them. I actually done some instructional videos for exercise videos and a Karate video too. I also got into doing web commercials and we are getting alot of requests for that. I am working on mine now actually. Some are asking about HD too.
That part is budding big time. BUT it is not the MAIN reason I want a seriously KICK BUTT Cam. Owning this record label, we have a artist or two that is getting pretty big, and needing a video soon, therefore soon we need SEVERAL videos. These are to be aired on BET MTV 2 , etc... so they have to be top notch. BUT at the same time I have time to grow into doing it, no rush. I have a good staff of people here as well, some even went to/go to school for all this video stuff, so we are doing good and have potential if we got the gear. SO please don't advise me on a "booty" camera because you think I am not ready for a real one.
I also have REAL plans, like: When we want to do some REAL movie/film type stuff (eventually, cause we ARE !!) then we will RENT a completely over the top camera or two or three for shooting, rent all the other stuff needed as well, BILL the client for it, etc...
Other things I HAVE currently and are going to get are things NEEDED beyond just being able to rent like: I am currently on a PowerMac G5 Dual 2.7Ghz with 8Gb of ram, a Magma Expansion chassis with 7 PCI slots, "Final Cut STUDIO Pro HD" (Final Cut Pro HD, Motion, DVD Studio Pro HD, Live Type, Soundtrack Pro, the WHOLE suite), also I have "After Effects 7 Pro". All these are the latest versions ALWAYS, and all my gear and plugins ,etc.. are completely maxed out, blown out the the extreme ALWAYS. I have pretty much every plug in and extra package available for ALL programs I have. I have a Kona LH capture card which is a GREAT card for BOTH SD and HD.
Now I understand at NAB Apple will release some news (as always) so as soon as they do, or when ever they do I plan on WAITING for that and then getting whatever the NEWEST top of the line Mac comes out. I will keep my Dual 2.7 though because it is a great computer and it will run the audio part of my facility just fine for years. So the new set up will be strictly for the video room. I also plan on getting a good large RAID Hard Drive system set up with that computer via Fiber Channel. (basically a bad a$$ set up.)
So now what I want, and the questions I have -- I want a camera in the $0.00 - $8,000 range that will do me good for NOW, plus allow me to grow into it and make me learn things as well. REMEMBER not too serious of one ($100,000.00 camera) because I will RENT those when the time is right, then return them, that way I am not caught up in a serious investment that also goes obsolete so soon. As a company I worked out a good contract with a local rental company as well, so I am good to go with that.
I definitely want to venture into HD, but I have so many questions about it. I also want a camera that will do both SD and HD (I think) but be the best quality it can of each. My questions involve things like: 1- Should I go strictly HD ? 2- Should I go strictly SD and skip HD for now, then get it later ? 3- Should I go SD & HD so I can do stuff now, and fiddle with HD NOW to learn, also having HD to film my first HD commercial, or video, etc.. ? 4- IS there any other cameras that offer BOTH SD and HD than the Canon XL H1 ?
I have more questions, and I will number them properly, but wait until they are more relevant. The three cameras I have thought about (but please give me others if I should know about them) are the: Canon XL2 - if I should just go SD,,,, or the: Sony FX1 - if I should just go HD,,,,,, or what I am really leaning towards is the: Canon XL H1 - to have SD & HD capabilities.
The questions that keep me from just buying it now are: (con't from above) 5- Are the concerns people had at first about the XL H1 not recording TRUE 30p a real problem ?? 6- Is it the BEST SD recorder at that price, ALSO is it the best HD recorder at that price ? In other words, those using it, do you notice it recording SD better than the XL2 at the SAME settings ? Or do you notice it recording HD better than the FX1 at the SAME settings ?
Other questions / rumors I heard more general: 7- I heard JVC and Panasonic do 1080i at their highest side, whereas Sony and Canon do 1080i x 1290i or something like that.,, TRUE ? or it had to do with tape, HDV -vs- Mini DV, etc.. ? Anyway I heard this Canon was the way to go for the 1290 thing. 8- Also I see you guys talking about how Final Cut doesn't edit in HD, but I thought it does. My Final Cut Pro says HD, also the manual talks about doing things in HD,, I have a friend currently doing a short commercial in HD on Final Cut Pro HD 5,, so what gives ? 9- Is there different HD's in other words ?? Like You can do a "fake" HD that doesn't take up as much hard drive space and Final Cut can work with it ? Or is my friend editing TRUE HD in Final Cut right now ? He says it is, but he may not know. I want to know the REAL DEAL. 10- Is it better to skip HD for now, because at NAB some newer better stuff will be announced, buy a XL2 for now, then buy a HD camera later, and have BOTH later ?? 11- Does SD get better as time passes, or have they gaven up on making it better ? Like, if I do buy a XL2 now, then I get a HD camera later, will the XL2 hold up for future SD standards ??
I just want to make a GOOD decision that wont come back to haunt me. I want to get work and projects done NOW, at the same time I want to be learning/ fiddling around in HD, or should I wait for that. What should I do ???
I have more questions, but they will be more relevant later... For now, lets go on all that about me, and see if we can decide which camera would be best for ME, my goals, and my business.
Thank You Guys SOOOOOO much --