RT.X10 or RT.X100

[Paul Leung]

I am very new to DV editing, thinking to venture into the area a bit more. I managed to learn using Premiere 6.5. Would the forum readers recommend that I buy an advanced card such as X100 and Storm2 now, so that I can go straight to using many realtime effects and realtime MPEG output? or should I buy something like a X10 as I won't do DVD output oftenly.

I don't know whether X10 would still satisfy my needs as I continue to do more editing. I really don't want to upgrade to Storm2 or X100 just 3 months after using the X10. Also, how often would professionals use effects such as ripples and particles in their edits? I don't often see such transition/effects in films and TV ads. Would someone please give me some advice?

I understand the requirements differ from one person to another. However, I really want to know your experience. Say, if you look back, would you have bought x10 or x100 at the time you start doing DV editing.

Thanks.

[Robert Knecht Schmidt]

"Would the forum readers recommend that I buy an advanced card such as X100 and Storm2 now, so that I can go straight to using many realtime effects and realtime MPEG output? or should I buy something like a X10 as I won't do DVD output oftenly."

Well, if you really plan on getting into video as a primary hobby or even a part-time occupation, you might find you get fed up with less capable products. Personally, I'd recommend the Storm2, but you should buy whatever best fits your usage and your budget, of course.

"how often would professionals use effects such as ripples and particles in their edits? I don't often see such transition/effects in films and TV ads."

I think you're right. In the 70s and early 80s music videos got caught up in the transition fad, but thankfully that era lapsed, giving way to morphing effects and skip-bleach color effects (90s) and now, bullet-time slow motion, speed ramping, and Saving Private Ryan-style shutter effects are in vogue, all of which require more artistry and tweaking than a video editing card currently provides.

"Say, if you look back, would you have bought x10 or x100 at the time you start doing DV editing."

My first video editing card back in the mid 90s was a Truevision Bravado 1000. It compressed analog video with its own lousy hardware codec and dropped frames like crazy. It was obsolete the year after I bought it, but it was junk even when I bought it. Do I regret having invested in it? No, I had fun with that card and made some crazy stuff on it. I did buy the DV Rex (predecessor to the DV Storm2) as soon as it was available.

Depending on what you do with video, you may be able to accomplish all you want to accomplish with a fast computer running Vegas Video and a cheap OHCI firewire card. The Storm2 is nice for real-time color correction of long clips...

But, if you wait a year or two, I bet there will be high definition editing solutions for home computers...

[Ted Mason]

I have used the RT.x10, RT.x100, and RT2500. I would recommend one of the RTx's (IF YOU HAVE THE CPU POWER). The only real difference to me is the number of transitions you get if you opt for the RT.x100.

For a review and comparison of these compared to others, take a look here:

www.videoguys.com

Good luck with your decision,

Ted

[Ed Smith]

I also believe that RTX 100 has DV real time output and RTX 10 has not.

For more info visit:

www.matrox.com/video

All the best,

Ed