HDV editing solution for a laptop? at DVinfo.net

Tommi Gustafsson · June 6th, 2006, 03:40 AM

Hi guys!

What's a good editing solution for HDV (1080i) for a laptop? My vendor suggested Pinnacle Liquid, but my laptop did not meet its minimum requirements (it requires 256 MB video RAM for 1080i).

My laptop specs these:

HP Compaq NW8240
Processor: Intel Pentium M 760 (2.0 GHz)
Chipset: Intel 915PM (533 MHz FSB)
Graphics: ATI Mobility FireGL V5000 128 MB GDDR3
Screen: 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680x1050)
Memory: 1.5 GB DDR2-533 (upgradeable to 2GB)
Hard Drive: 60 GB 7200 rpm (+500 GB storage space in external drives)

I would like to have a relatively smooth program that produces good quality results, and has a wide support for computer codec formats. DVD production capabilities is a plus, but not a requirement, since DVD isn't HD anyways.

Steven Davis · June 6th, 2006, 05:54 AM

I'll hold up the Vegas Flag.

P.s. You most likely will need more 'umph' in your laptop for almost any software.

Tommi Gustafsson · June 6th, 2006, 09:26 AM

Do you mean upgrading RAM to 2 GB? There is not much else I can upgrade here. Other components are as fast as they can get. The processor could be upgraded to 2.26 GHz for $800-$1000, but I don't think it's worth the money.

David Kennett · June 6th, 2006, 10:29 AM

If you can get trial software from anyone, give it a shot! I bought JVC HD-10 three years ago (720P HDV), and used their included software on my PIII-900MHz laptop. Playing clips and previews was jerky, but played smooooth in the camera after being laid back to HDV tape. Getting a clean capture onto the internal (slow) hard drive was iffy, but external firewire drive worked fine.

I have my issues with Ulead, but you can download a month free trial of media studio pro. I think version 8 has ability to edit and capture both 1080i and 720p HDV.

Good luck!

Steven Davis · June 6th, 2006, 10:37 AM

What Dave said, and know if I spend anywhere close to 1000 bucks to upgrade a computer, I'm buying new.

Kevin Shaw · June 6th, 2006, 11:40 AM

Your best bet on that laptop would be either Premiere Pro or Vegas using the Cineform plugin. Long term you should plan on upgrading to a dual-core laptop for HDV work, maybe something like the following:

http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/s...s-on-pre-sale/

Tommi Gustafsson · June 6th, 2006, 01:08 PM

Thanks for replies, guys.

Lawrence Spurgeon · June 8th, 2006, 12:09 AM

Ulead Videostudio 10 would be another good bet. May take years to render - just like any other program, but it can run in a pretty small envelope.

I have it running on an IBM X40 - wouldn't want to do real work on the laptop, but it runs.

George Ellis · June 8th, 2006, 03:44 AM

I have used Liquid 6 with 128MB of video memory on some of the first clips that came out using my workstation. What you definitely lose is the real-time playback, but it will still edit it (1080i). Did not try AL7 though.

Tommi Gustafsson · June 8th, 2006, 04:20 AM

I might have an option to upgrade my laptop to a new one with 256 MB video memory and hardware H.264 support (HP Compaq nw8440). Now, would you say that Liquid would triumph over Vegas in HDV editing? If that's the case (as my vendor suggested) upgrading the laptop might be a wise move.

George Ellis · June 8th, 2006, 09:59 AM

I have not compared the two side by side, so I cannot say. Maybe your vendor has a couple of stations setup so you can feel which fits you better?

Chris Barcellos · June 8th, 2006, 11:56 AM

I have used Premiere Pro 2.0, Vegas Movie Studio Platinum +DVD, and Pinnacle's Studio 10 Plus, which has the same editing engine as the Liquid, to edit HDV natively. I am doing this on a dual core AMD 3800+. I feel most comfortable wiht the Premiere Pro 2.0 in terms of getting trouble free results. VMS and Pinnacle Studio are a bit buggy. Pinnacle studio, seems to be faster in terms of renders, though, under certain situations. None of the programs worked that well on my lap top with similar spec to yours, and if I was using it to edit HDV, I would go with an intermediate editing system like Cineforms Aspect.

June 6th, 2006, 03:40 AM	#1
Tommi Gustafsson New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 5	HDV editing solution for a laptop? Hi guys! What's a good editing solution for HDV (1080i) for a laptop? My vendor suggested Pinnacle Liquid, but my laptop did not meet its minimum requirements (it requires 256 MB video RAM for 1080i). My laptop specs these: HP Compaq NW8240 Processor: Intel Pentium M 760 (2.0 GHz) Chipset: Intel 915PM (533 MHz FSB) Graphics: ATI Mobility FireGL V5000 128 MB GDDR3 Screen: 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) Memory: 1.5 GB DDR2-533 (upgradeable to 2GB) Hard Drive: 60 GB 7200 rpm (+500 GB storage space in external drives) I would like to have a relatively smooth program that produces good quality results, and has a wide support for computer codec formats. DVD production capabilities is a plus, but not a requirement, since DVD isn't HD anyways.

June 6th, 2006, 05:54 AM	#2
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	I'll hold up the Vegas Flag. P.s. You most likely will need more 'umph' in your laptop for almost any software. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

June 6th, 2006, 10:29 AM	#4
David Kennett Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio Posts: 407	If you can get trial software from anyone, give it a shot! I bought JVC HD-10 three years ago (720P HDV), and used their included software on my PIII-900MHz laptop. Playing clips and previews was jerky, but played smooooth in the camera after being laid back to HDV tape. Getting a clean capture onto the internal (slow) hard drive was iffy, but external firewire drive worked fine. I have my issues with Ulead, but you can download a month free trial of media studio pro. I think version 8 has ability to edit and capture both 1080i and 720p HDV. Good luck! __________________ Dave

June 6th, 2006, 10:37 AM	#5
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	What Dave said, and know if I spend anywhere close to 1000 bucks to upgrade a computer, I'm buying new. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

June 8th, 2006, 11:56 AM	#12
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	I have used Premiere Pro 2.0, Vegas Movie Studio Platinum +DVD, and Pinnacle's Studio 10 Plus, which has the same editing engine as the Liquid, to edit HDV natively. I am doing this on a dual core AMD 3800+. I feel most comfortable wiht the Premiere Pro 2.0 in terms of getting trouble free results. VMS and Pinnacle Studio are a bit buggy. Pinnacle studio, seems to be faster in terms of renders, though, under certain situations. None of the programs worked that well on my lap top with similar spec to yours, and if I was using it to edit HDV, I would go with an intermediate editing system like Cineforms Aspect. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

June 6th, 2006, 09:26 AM	#3
Tommi Gustafsson New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 5	Do you mean upgrading RAM to 2 GB? There is not much else I can upgrade here. Other components are as fast as they can get. The processor could be upgraded to 2.26 GHz for $800-$1000, but I don't think it's worth the money.

June 6th, 2006, 11:40 AM	#6
Kevin Shaw Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,488	Your best bet on that laptop would be either Premiere Pro or Vegas using the Cineform plugin. Long term you should plan on upgrading to a dual-core laptop for HDV work, maybe something like the following: http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/s...s-on-pre-sale/

June 6th, 2006, 01:08 PM	#7
Tommi Gustafsson New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 5	Thanks for replies, guys.

June 8th, 2006, 12:09 AM	#8
Lawrence Spurgeon Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 31	Ulead Videostudio 10 would be another good bet. May take years to render - just like any other program, but it can run in a pretty small envelope. I have it running on an IBM X40 - wouldn't want to do real work on the laptop, but it runs.

June 8th, 2006, 03:44 AM	#9
George Ellis Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Suwanee, GA Posts: 1,241	I have used Liquid 6 with 128MB of video memory on some of the first clips that came out using my workstation. What you definitely lose is the real-time playback, but it will still edit it (1080i). Did not try AL7 though.

June 8th, 2006, 04:20 AM	#10
Tommi Gustafsson New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 5	I might have an option to upgrade my laptop to a new one with 256 MB video memory and hardware H.264 support (HP Compaq nw8440). Now, would you say that Liquid would triumph over Vegas in HDV editing? If that's the case (as my vendor suggested) upgrading the laptop might be a wise move.

June 8th, 2006, 09:59 AM	#11
George Ellis Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Suwanee, GA Posts: 1,241	I have not compared the two side by side, so I cannot say. Maybe your vendor has a couple of stations setup so you can feel which fits you better?