Hardware accelerator for rescaling at DVinfo.net

Keith Loh · February 25th, 2005, 02:36 PM

I have a client who is asking if there is a card that will help in rescaling video.

His job requires that he takes a MiniDV format and then, after editing, outputs it as an .mov (or other format) rescaled down. He is complaining that the rescaling takes a lot of time and wants to know if getting a card will help.

Unfortunately I don't at this time know what his platform is. I know he works on a Mac but he may also transfer directly onto a PC with his camera if it is more economical.

I just want to know in theory if a card will help with rescaling processing (not effects or real-time editing).

From what I've read so far it looks like this is far more dependent upon the CPU than any accelerator card.

Steve Withers · February 25th, 2005, 04:19 PM

I think a video card would only help with the playback/previewing.

A CPU/Ram upgrade would probably do him better, as you mentioned. =)

Kevin Shaw · February 25th, 2005, 07:44 PM

I don't know if this will help for downsampling below SD resolution, but here's something to consider:

http://www.canopus.us/US/products/ED...SNX_Pro_02.asp

Rob Lohman · February 26th, 2005, 06:38 AM

I assume you are talking about SD resolution footage? If so I
doubt the downscaling is what is taking the time. I bet the time
is really in the encoding (with the chosen codec) of the QuickTime.

Can you give us some more details on what he is doing exactly?
From which resolution to which resolution? What settings for
the QuickTime encode? Which program is he using? etc. etc.

Patrick Jenkins · March 21st, 2005, 02:41 PM

Is this person working on a Mac at all (because of quicktime)...

It's easy enough to automate/script out the resample/export process in Quicktime Pro using Applescript. If it's time consuming to click through each one, it's pretty easy to set up a one time Applescript or macro to batch process.

February 25th, 2005, 02:36 PM	#1
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Hardware accelerator for rescaling I have a client who is asking if there is a card that will help in rescaling video. His job requires that he takes a MiniDV format and then, after editing, outputs it as an .mov (or other format) rescaled down. He is complaining that the rescaling takes a lot of time and wants to know if getting a card will help. Unfortunately I don't at this time know what his platform is. I know he works on a Mac but he may also transfer directly onto a PC with his camera if it is more economical. I just want to know in theory if a card will help with rescaling processing (not effects or real-time editing). From what I've read so far it looks like this is far more dependent upon the CPU than any accelerator card. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

February 26th, 2005, 06:38 AM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I assume you are talking about SD resolution footage? If so I doubt the downscaling is what is taking the time. I bet the time is really in the encoding (with the chosen codec) of the QuickTime. Can you give us some more details on what he is doing exactly? From which resolution to which resolution? What settings for the QuickTime encode? Which program is he using? etc. etc. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 25th, 2005, 04:19 PM	#2
Steve Withers Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Haven, CT, USA Posts: 59	I think a video card would only help with the playback/previewing. A CPU/Ram upgrade would probably do him better, as you mentioned. =)

February 25th, 2005, 07:44 PM	#3
Kevin Shaw Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,488	I don't know if this will help for downsampling below SD resolution, but here's something to consider: http://www.canopus.us/US/products/ED...SNX_Pro_02.asp

March 21st, 2005, 02:41 PM	#5
Patrick Jenkins Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 382	Is this person working on a Mac at all (because of quicktime)... It's easy enough to automate/script out the resample/export process in Quicktime Pro using Applescript. If it's time consuming to click through each one, it's pretty easy to set up a one time Applescript or macro to batch process.