PC + Avid Liquid or Mac + FCP? at DVinfo.net

Erik Palm · March 10th, 2007, 04:30 AM

Dear experts,

I am going to produce mostly 4:3 PAL SD TV with an Canon XH-A1. Sometimes also HDV. The raw material would be shot in HDV so I have a good archive. I wonder what is the best solution:

1) Buy a PC laptop plus Avid Liquid software. Could this downconvert HDV to 4:3 SD quickly? Does Avid Liquid accept Canon XH-A1? How much power do I need for the PC laptop?

2) Mac book pro 17 with Fincal Cut Pro. This would manage the A1 I'm sure but I suspect it would be more expensive than the PC solution.

What is your advice and experience?

Thanks Erik

David W. Jones · March 10th, 2007, 07:58 AM

PCs and Macs are tools. Which tool are you most comfortable with,
A Mac or a PC?

For my portable solution, I purchased a New MacBook Pro.
That way I can run FCP or any other mac program I desire.
And I can boot up in Windows and run any windows app as well.
Sort of a double edge sword, if you will.

Dom Stevenson · March 10th, 2007, 08:48 AM

Does Avid Liquid accept Canon XH-A1?

You need to visit the Avid site.

Which is best pc or mac?

Who cares. Get the fastest machine you can. Broadly speaking the build quality of macs is superior but there are some good PC companies building laptops for video editos with quality components and suitable software bundled at not unreasonable prices. Off the shelf Intel macs are ready to go edit workstations. I use FCP on a mac pro and it's excellent, but if you need to keep your costs down the express version will probably do what you need.

Whichever way you go remember to buy a large/fast external HD for either laptop. Keep your projects on your boot drive and your media on the 2nd.

enjoy!

Chris Hurd · March 10th, 2007, 09:55 AM

There is no right or wrong answer here (however you need to be aware that at this time Avid does not support the Frame modes of Canon HDV). What you need to do is get some "stick time" with both applications. If you don't have a Mac, find the nearest Apple Store or Apple retailer. The right software for you is the one that's most intuitive and comfortable for you to use.

Erik Palm · March 10th, 2007, 11:08 AM

Thanks for your advice. I am familiar with Avid Express so that is why I consider the PC+liquid solution. But I am not sure it handles the conversion of HDV to 4:3 that well. The Mac FCP/FCE should be no problem.

Any advice on a good PC laptop for editing? Dell? HP? Compaq?

/Erik

David Parks · March 10th, 2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Palm

But I am not sure it handles the conversion of HDV to 4:3 that well.
/Erik

Erik, Actually compared to Xpress, Liquid handles HDV to 4:3 very well. In fact, it scales to 4:3 cropped or letter box in real-time from an HDV MP@HL timeline. (fuse/codec) You can scale on a clip by clip basis or timeline using fit y keep aspect or fit x keep aspect. So, scaling tools are a strength in Liquid. Unlike the reformat Xpress effect pallette tools which IMO really don't do the job.

March 10th, 2007, 04:30 AM	#1
Erik Palm Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 64	PC + Avid Liquid or Mac + FCP? Dear experts, I am going to produce mostly 4:3 PAL SD TV with an Canon XH-A1. Sometimes also HDV. The raw material would be shot in HDV so I have a good archive. I wonder what is the best solution: 1) Buy a PC laptop plus Avid Liquid software. Could this downconvert HDV to 4:3 SD quickly? Does Avid Liquid accept Canon XH-A1? How much power do I need for the PC laptop? 2) Mac book pro 17 with Fincal Cut Pro. This would manage the A1 I'm sure but I suspect it would be more expensive than the PC solution. What is your advice and experience? Thanks Erik

March 10th, 2007, 09:55 AM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	There is no right or wrong answer here (however you need to be aware that at this time Avid does not support the Frame modes of Canon HDV). What you need to do is get some "stick time" with both applications. If you don't have a Mac, find the nearest Apple Store or Apple retailer. The right software for you is the one that's most intuitive and comfortable for you to use. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 10th, 2007, 11:08 AM	#5
Erik Palm Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 64	thanks - which is best for converting HDV to 4:3 SD? Thanks for your advice. I am familiar with Avid Express so that is why I consider the PC+liquid solution. But I am not sure it handles the conversion of HDV to 4:3 that well. The Mac FCP/FCE should be no problem. Any advice on a good PC laptop for editing? Dell? HP? Compaq? /Erik

March 10th, 2007, 07:58 AM	#2
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	PCs and Macs are tools. Which tool are you most comfortable with, A Mac or a PC? For my portable solution, I purchased a New MacBook Pro. That way I can run FCP or any other mac program I desire. And I can boot up in Windows and run any windows app as well. Sort of a double edge sword, if you will.

March 10th, 2007, 08:48 AM	#3
Dom Stevenson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 430	Does Avid Liquid accept Canon XH-A1? You need to visit the Avid site. Which is best pc or mac? Who cares. Get the fastest machine you can. Broadly speaking the build quality of macs is superior but there are some good PC companies building laptops for video editos with quality components and suitable software bundled at not unreasonable prices. Off the shelf Intel macs are ready to go edit workstations. I use FCP on a mac pro and it's excellent, but if you need to keep your costs down the express version will probably do what you need. Whichever way you go remember to buy a large/fast external HD for either laptop. Keep your projects on your boot drive and your media on the 2nd. enjoy!