NLE Mac / Final Cut questions from 2002

Guy Pringle · December 8th, 2002, 04:50 PM

Jeff,

Thanks for the news! Just so that I understand what you've said..

As an 800 owner, in about 6 months time I should be able to purchase the Superdrive and replace my existing drive with it without changing the ribbon cable.

Jeff Donald · December 8th, 2002, 05:20 PM

Guy, you are correct, Your 800MHz will not require a new ribbon cable. I doubt the drives will be available from Apple. I would get in contact with http://store.powerbook1.com/ and ask to be contacted when the new Superdrives become available.

Jeff

David C. Scott · December 9th, 2002, 10:09 AM

Thanks to all who responed to my request for opinions as to the best FCP instruction. As per one suggestion, I've ordered two CDs from DVCreators and will see how far I get. DCS

December 9th, 2002, 06:39 PM

How is software RAID? I'm very distrustful of it both from a performance and a reliability standpoint. But that could be a viable creative solution to my problem.

-Aaron

Jeff Donald · December 9th, 2002, 07:26 PM

The very fact your doing a redundancy (RAID 1) your losing some performance. The software RAID will cost you some CPU cycles. I would not recommend it for rendering. You will have a decrease in performance. But for large swap files (Photoshop) or DV capture it will be barely noticed.

How are you planning to mount 5 drives in G4? Are you doing FireWire or SCSI and going external?

Jeff

December 10th, 2002, 01:07 PM

I have one of the new Mirror Macs which have 4 3.5inch slots plus I'm not using both 5.25inch slots, so that's 5.

RAID 10 makes up for some of the speed loss, especially in hardware implementations.

The thing I'm worried most about is the heat, though the Mirror Macs are also Wind Tunnels.

-Aaron

Simon Davies · December 10th, 2002, 03:30 PM

Hello everyone

I reduced the size of my clip frame and rotated it by less than 45 degrees to give the final result a cartoon like look. The problem I have is the edges of the clip are now 'saw-tooth' like and along with a flickering makes the new look very difficult to watch. I noticed if I rotate the clip by exactly 45 degrees then these consequences disappear and it looks just like normal. The problem for me is that 45 degrees is too much rotation. I want less!

Is there a way to make those edges sharp again?

Cheers!

Simon

Ken Tanaka · December 10th, 2002, 03:42 PM

Simon,
The problem you are seeing is called "aliasing" and it's common.

First off, what tool are you using? I assume you're using Final Cut Pro 3, but I don't want to assume so.

Next, are you observing this problem on your computer screen or on a television monitor?

Guy Pringle · December 10th, 2002, 04:25 PM

Jeff,

Got a reply from store.powerbook1. He figures once they've tested the Superdrive should be ready in as little as 2-3 months.

Simon Davies · December 10th, 2002, 05:06 PM

Hi Ken

Thanks for the reply, I'm using FCP 3.0.2, OS X and I'm observing the problem both on the computer monitor and the small portable TV monitor I have too. Is there anything I can do?

Cheers!

Simon

Ken Tanaka · December 10th, 2002, 05:24 PM

There's really no magic bullet to eliminate all of the jaggedness. I would first apply the "Anti-Alias" filter (found under Effects>Video Filters>Sylize). It has a default setting of "1". It will soften your image but it will also help to mitigate the jaggedness.

Render that out and inspect the results. Adjust to taste <g>.

When you're happy with that, and if your clip still has the "jitters" you can try the "Flicker Filter" (under Effects>Video Filters>Video). It basically adjusts the interlacing.

In general, it's best to shoot your original footage on angle (known as "dutch" shots) if you expect to use it on angle in post.

Good luck!

Simon Davies · December 10th, 2002, 05:34 PM

OK I'll give that a go, thanks for your help Ken

Cheers!

Simon

Jeff Donald · December 10th, 2002, 10:31 PM

Here's some links on RAIDs and drives. Watch the age on some of the articles.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/IDE.html

http://www.barefeats.com/fire26b.html

http://www.barefeats.com/hard21.html

This will make for some interesting reading for you.

Jeff

Mark Austin · December 11th, 2002, 01:03 AM

Does anyone know of a card/system like the RTMac that allows both audio and video to be captured (FCP3 OSX)? Does the RTMac work in OSX yet? It's the only one I have heard about and it was supposed to allow a couple or real time transistions without rendering. Any other ideas how to get stuff in and out and reduce my render time? (I DON"T like to render!)
Thanks
Mark

Ken Tanaka · December 11th, 2002, 01:21 AM

The RTMac still does not support OS-X. It only provided "real time" renders for certain effects anyway. The smart money is on FCP4 to provide a significant upgrade to its handling of effects rendering, so I'd sit tight for a while.

I don't really understand your question concerning capture. The RTMac simply provided a break-out box for composite analog.

December 8th, 2002, 04:50 PM	#1246
Guy Pringle Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 82	Jeff, Thanks for the news! Just so that I understand what you've said.. As an 800 owner, in about 6 months time I should be able to purchase the Superdrive and replace my existing drive with it without changing the ribbon cable. __________________ Amacitia Reddit Honores (Friendship Brings Honour) Guy Pringle Silver Reflections guypringle@yahoo.com +27(0)83 256 8566

December 9th, 2002, 10:09 AM	#1248
David C. Scott Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 43	Final Cut Pro Instruction Thanks to all who responed to my request for opinions as to the best FCP instruction. As per one suggestion, I've ordered two CDs from DVCreators and will see how far I get. DCS __________________ David C. Scott

December 10th, 2002, 03:30 PM	#1252
Simon Davies Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London Posts: 37	jagged edges when rotating wireframe Hello everyone I reduced the size of my clip frame and rotated it by less than 45 degrees to give the final result a cartoon like look. The problem I have is the edges of the clip are now 'saw-tooth' like and along with a flickering makes the new look very difficult to watch. I noticed if I rotate the clip by exactly 45 degrees then these consequences disappear and it looks just like normal. The problem for me is that 45 degrees is too much rotation. I want less! Is there a way to make those edges sharp again? Cheers! Simon

December 10th, 2002, 03:42 PM	#1253
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Simon, The problem you are seeing is called "aliasing" and it's common. First off, what tool are you using? I assume you're using Final Cut Pro 3, but I don't want to assume so. Next, are you observing this problem on your computer screen or on a television monitor? __________________ 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

December 10th, 2002, 04:25 PM	#1254
Guy Pringle Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 82	Jeff, Got a reply from store.powerbook1. He figures once they've tested the Superdrive should be ready in as little as 2-3 months. __________________ Amacitia Reddit Honores (Friendship Brings Honour) Guy Pringle Silver Reflections guypringle@yahoo.com +27(0)83 256 8566

December 8th, 2002, 05:20 PM	#1247
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Guy, you are correct, Your 800MHz will not require a new ribbon cable. I doubt the drives will be available from Apple. I would get in contact with http://store.powerbook1.com/ and ask to be contacted when the new Superdrives become available. Jeff

December 9th, 2002, 06:39 PM	#1249
Guest Posts: n/a	How is software RAID? I'm very distrustful of it both from a performance and a reliability standpoint. But that could be a viable creative solution to my problem. -Aaron

December 9th, 2002, 07:26 PM	#1250
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The very fact your doing a redundancy (RAID 1) your losing some performance. The software RAID will cost you some CPU cycles. I would not recommend it for rendering. You will have a decrease in performance. But for large swap files (Photoshop) or DV capture it will be barely noticed. How are you planning to mount 5 drives in G4? Are you doing FireWire or SCSI and going external? Jeff

December 10th, 2002, 01:07 PM	#1251
Guest Posts: n/a	I have one of the new Mirror Macs which have 4 3.5inch slots plus I'm not using both 5.25inch slots, so that's 5. RAID 10 makes up for some of the speed loss, especially in hardware implementations. The thing I'm worried most about is the heat, though the Mirror Macs are also Wind Tunnels. -Aaron

December 10th, 2002, 05:06 PM	#1255
Simon Davies Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London Posts: 37	Anti aliasing Hi Ken Thanks for the reply, I'm using FCP 3.0.2, OS X and I'm observing the problem both on the computer monitor and the small portable TV monitor I have too. Is there anything I can do? Cheers! Simon

December 10th, 2002, 05:24 PM	#1256
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	There's really no magic bullet to eliminate all of the jaggedness. I would first apply the "Anti-Alias" filter (found under Effects>Video Filters>Sylize). It has a default setting of "1". It will soften your image but it will also help to mitigate the jaggedness. Render that out and inspect the results. Adjust to taste <g>. When you're happy with that, and if your clip still has the "jitters" you can try the "Flicker Filter" (under Effects>Video Filters>Video). It basically adjusts the interlacing. In general, it's best to shoot your original footage on angle (known as "dutch" shots) if you expect to use it on angle in post. Good luck! __________________ 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

December 10th, 2002, 05:34 PM	#1257
Simon Davies Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London Posts: 37	OK I'll give that a go, thanks for your help Ken Cheers! Simon

December 10th, 2002, 10:31 PM	#1258
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Here's some links on RAIDs and drives. Watch the age on some of the articles. http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/IDE.html http://www.barefeats.com/fire26b.html http://www.barefeats.com/hard21.html This will make for some interesting reading for you. Jeff

December 11th, 2002, 01:03 AM	#1259
Mark Austin Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 188	Kind of along those same lines.. Does anyone know of a card/system like the RTMac that allows both audio and video to be captured (FCP3 OSX)? Does the RTMac work in OSX yet? It's the only one I have heard about and it was supposed to allow a couple or real time transistions without rendering. Any other ideas how to get stuff in and out and reduce my render time? (I DON"T like to render!) Thanks Mark __________________ I'm humbled by the greatness that surrounds me.

December 11th, 2002, 01:21 AM	#1260
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	The RTMac still does not support OS-X. It only provided "real time" renders for certain effects anyway. The smart money is on FCP4 to provide a significant upgrade to its handling of effects rendering, so I'd sit tight for a while. I don't really understand your question concerning capture. The RTMac simply provided a break-out box for composite analog. __________________ 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