NLE Mac / Final Cut questions from 2003

Rhett Allen · March 3rd, 2003, 01:21 PM

I would agree with Jeff and use Carbon Copy Cloner. Clone an exact BOOTABLE copy of your drive onto a firewire drive (make sure it is a bootable firewire drive) and then replace you harddrive and clone it back.
It is completely possible to install Jaguar without OS 9, (and I even prefer it). Just copying the "System Folder" does not work for OSX. There are about 45,000 (literally) hidden files that OSX needs and they do not get copied with the system folder. Carbon Copy Cloner is the ONLY way I know to copy the entire contents of your disk and still have a working volume when you are done.
Or you could just install the Jaguar disk and boot from it and start over fresh.

Matt Stahley · March 3rd, 2003, 06:31 PM

Thanks for the help ! i will probably go the carbon copy cloner route once i install the drive.

David Slingerland · March 3rd, 2003, 06:38 PM

i have a imac g3, ofcourse i have to render everything, do you know if its possible for me to get a realtime card so i dont have to render so much...Is it worth the money?
thanks for the info...

Jeff Donald · March 3rd, 2003, 07:23 PM

iMac G3's generally aren't worth the cost of upgrading. Performance gains are just marginal, at best. I would look at new equipment. A G4 will really speed up your work and rendering times are greatly improved by the altivec processor.

Patrick McLoad · March 4th, 2003, 04:54 PM

I would like to know the general consensus between Discreet Cleaner and Sorenson Squeeze. Seems I need to go to a "pro" compression software to do what I want....that is, put a 7 minute A/V sequence onto a CD-ROM. I've tried all of the quicktime (and FCP Movie) export options and settings and the resulting "movie" is just too big for a CD-ROM. I've been to both websites and have read about their products. I need this CD to work on both PC's and Macs, and, I want the picture to look halfway decent, not full of compression artifacts. It would also be nice if I don't have to reduce it down to postage stamp size.

Both Sorenson and Discreet cost about the same (about $450), but which has more bang for the buck? I could probably edit down to 5 or 6 minutes if I have to. Is this doable with either of these products?

Thoughts?
Thanks!

(FCP 3, QT Pro, G4 w/superdrive, 4x36 RAID, CineWave)

Jenn Kramer · March 4th, 2003, 05:03 PM

All the realtime cards I know of are PCI, as well, and none of the G3 iMacs I know of have PCI slots.

Rhett Allen · March 4th, 2003, 05:11 PM

Cleaner will do many more formats and has better controls for compression. I have tried both and for the Mac, Cleaner 6 is the way to go.

Do a quick search and you will find this topic discussed in more depth around here.

John Locke · March 4th, 2003, 06:32 PM

FYI - There are some beautiful original Mac fonts available for free download at this site.

(from the same guy who designed the packaging for some of the Star Wars merchandise)

Rik Sanchez · March 4th, 2003, 07:22 PM

John,
thanks for the link, downloaded some fonts, now if I could only find a site that has some cool calligraphy style Japanese kanji fonts.

Jeff Donald · March 4th, 2003, 09:24 PM

Cleaner for CD, DVD etc. Squeeze for web work, in my opinion.

Jeff Donald · March 4th, 2003, 09:28 PM

I was referring to processor upgrades. Jeff K. is correct in that no PCI solutions exist for the G3 iMac.

Jay Gladwell · March 5th, 2003, 10:58 AM

I was in the same situation you are in. I did the research, talked to folks, looked at various samples, etc.. I settled on Sorenson Squeeze 3 Compression Suite--very powerful, very flexible, many formats! Works for both web AND disc media It does a beautiful job at a price $150 less than Discreet Cleaner. Too, it's available in either Mac or PC versions. Just my two cents.

Using Squeeze 3, I compressed a 14 minute video into a file that was just under 160MB--480x360, stereo (mp-3), frame rate of 1:1 and it's flawless. I shouldn't think you'd have any problems with only 7 minutes of video.

Patrick McLoad · March 5th, 2003, 02:57 PM

Thanks; I appreciate the input from all of you. I think I'll try Cleaner 6 first; then Sorenson later.

Patrick

Felix Jones · March 5th, 2003, 11:50 PM

Hi there,

I finally got my mac and now i need to figure which editing suite to get.

I only use my Panasonic MX5000 and Canon MiniDV cameras and never plan on going to film. Will I be ok just using FCP Express? What will I miss out if I go that route?

Thanks in advance.

Ken Tanaka · March 5th, 2003, 11:57 PM

Hello Felix,
A very frequent question here. So frequent that Jeff Donald has prepared a standing thread on this topic at the top of this part of the forum. It should answer most of your questions.

March 3rd, 2003, 06:38 PM	#183
David Slingerland Major Player Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Soest ,Holland Posts: 307	imac :running faster with fcp i have a imac g3, ofcourse i have to render everything, do you know if its possible for me to get a realtime card so i dont have to render so much...Is it worth the money? thanks for the info... __________________ D.Slingerland director/cameraman http://www.slingerlandproductions.nl

March 3rd, 2003, 07:23 PM	#184
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	iMac G3's generally aren't worth the cost of upgrading. Performance gains are just marginal, at best. I would look at new equipment. A G4 will really speed up your work and rendering times are greatly improved by the altivec processor. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

March 4th, 2003, 04:54 PM	#185
Patrick McLoad Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 52	Discreet Cleaner or Sorenson Squeeze? I would like to know the general consensus between Discreet Cleaner and Sorenson Squeeze. Seems I need to go to a "pro" compression software to do what I want....that is, put a 7 minute A/V sequence onto a CD-ROM. I've tried all of the quicktime (and FCP Movie) export options and settings and the resulting "movie" is just too big for a CD-ROM. I've been to both websites and have read about their products. I need this CD to work on both PC's and Macs, and, I want the picture to look halfway decent, not full of compression artifacts. It would also be nice if I don't have to reduce it down to postage stamp size. Both Sorenson and Discreet cost about the same (about $450), but which has more bang for the buck? I could probably edit down to 5 or 6 minutes if I have to. Is this doable with either of these products? Thoughts? Thanks! (FCP 3, QT Pro, G4 w/superdrive, 4x36 RAID, CineWave)

March 4th, 2003, 06:32 PM	#188
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Mac Fonts...from a galaxy far, far away FYI - There are some beautiful original Mac fonts available for free download at this site. (from the same guy who designed the packaging for some of the Star Wars merchandise) __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

March 4th, 2003, 07:22 PM	#189
Rik Sanchez ChorizoSmells Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 424	John, thanks for the link, downloaded some fonts, now if I could only find a site that has some cool calligraphy style Japanese kanji fonts. __________________ ChorizoSmells Video Barrio Tamatsukuri, Osaka, JAPAN

March 3rd, 2003, 01:21 PM	#181
Rhett Allen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 607	I would agree with Jeff and use Carbon Copy Cloner. Clone an exact BOOTABLE copy of your drive onto a firewire drive (make sure it is a bootable firewire drive) and then replace you harddrive and clone it back. It is completely possible to install Jaguar without OS 9, (and I even prefer it). Just copying the "System Folder" does not work for OSX. There are about 45,000 (literally) hidden files that OSX needs and they do not get copied with the system folder. Carbon Copy Cloner is the ONLY way I know to copy the entire contents of your disk and still have a working volume when you are done. Or you could just install the Jaguar disk and boot from it and start over fresh.

March 3rd, 2003, 06:31 PM	#182
Matt Stahley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Waynesboro, PA Posts: 648	Thanks for the help ! i will probably go the carbon copy cloner route once i install the drive.

March 4th, 2003, 05:03 PM	#186
Jenn Kramer Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 389 Images: 1	All the realtime cards I know of are PCI, as well, and none of the G3 iMacs I know of have PCI slots.

March 4th, 2003, 05:11 PM	#187
Rhett Allen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 607	Cleaner will do many more formats and has better controls for compression. I have tried both and for the Mac, Cleaner 6 is the way to go. Do a quick search and you will find this topic discussed in more depth around here.

March 4th, 2003, 09:24 PM	#190
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Cleaner for CD, DVD etc. Squeeze for web work, in my opinion. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

March 4th, 2003, 09:28 PM	#191
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I was referring to processor upgrades. Jeff K. is correct in that no PCI solutions exist for the G3 iMac. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

March 5th, 2003, 10:58 AM	#192
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	I was in the same situation you are in. I did the research, talked to folks, looked at various samples, etc.. I settled on Sorenson Squeeze 3 Compression Suite--very powerful, very flexible, many formats! Works for both web AND disc media It does a beautiful job at a price $150 less than Discreet Cleaner. Too, it's available in either Mac or PC versions. Just my two cents. Using Squeeze 3, I compressed a 14 minute video into a file that was just under 160MB--480x360, stereo (mp-3), frame rate of 1:1 and it's flawless. I shouldn't think you'd have any problems with only 7 minutes of video.

March 5th, 2003, 02:57 PM	#193
Patrick McLoad Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 52	Thanks; I appreciate the input from all of you. I think I'll try Cleaner 6 first; then Sorenson later. Patrick

March 5th, 2003, 11:50 PM	#194
Felix Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Auckland, NZ. Posts: 60	FCP or FCP Express? Hi there, I finally got my mac and now i need to figure which editing suite to get. I only use my Panasonic MX5000 and Canon MiniDV cameras and never plan on going to film. Will I be ok just using FCP Express? What will I miss out if I go that route? Thanks in advance.

March 5th, 2003, 11:57 PM	#195
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Hello Felix, A very frequent question here. So frequent that Jeff Donald has prepared a standing thread on this topic at the top of this part of the forum. It should answer most of your questions. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com