The Ultimate Editing System at DVinfo.net

David Applegate · December 15th, 2003, 09:55 PM

What is the ultimate Digital Video Editing System under 25,000?

Bret Pritchett · December 15th, 2003, 10:46 PM

I think... Avid Media Composer 9000XL

Glenn Chan · December 16th, 2003, 12:14 AM

It might depend on what you want to use it for- the kind of editing and the formats you are working with. You also need to mention if it includes all the other stuff like NTSC monitor, audio monitors, etc. etc.

It's probably going to be a tossup between Final Cut Pro and Avid.

Also check out http://www.go-l.com. Their computers are amazing(ly expensive)! :D I don't know if they run Avid well. Avid actually recommends dual Xeons as their setup. I don't know if they are gunning for that (they do sell servers that are very workstation like and they have a video editing angle). Go-l doesn't sell Macs. Maybe it doesn't help you but their computers are neat. Check out the monitors by the way! :D

Bill Pryor · December 16th, 2003, 09:12 AM

Avid has had some price drops recently. I think the Adrenaline package is under $25K, but obviously you'd need monitors, decks, etc. in addition.

It's amazing how prices have gone down in recent years, and how much you get for your money these days from Avid--thanks in large part, I'd bet, to FCP. When we converted from Betacam SP to DVCAM, we sold our old Media Composers and went with Xpress Pro, which is actually better than the older 7.2MCs we were using (assuming all you're doing is DV25). A complete package, including the dual gig G4, 400+ gigs of storage, two 20" monitors, was under $8K. We already have decks, but if a guy was starting from scratch, you could add about another $8K for a DVCAM deck like the DSR1800 with component in and out, a used UVW1800 for about $4K if you need to do Betacam dubs for TV stations (hook it up component-to-component, or get the Avid Mojo box for under $1K), and a couple thousand for an NTSC monitor, a few hundred bucks for a mixer...and you're an edit suite--all for around $20K. Amazing. Just a few years ago we had about $20K just in hard drives, and that was only for about 75 gigs for each system. Throw in another $25K for something like a DSR570 with a good lens, about $5K for lights, $3500 for a tripod, $3500 for basic audio gear, and maybe another $5K for a doorway dolly and jib...and now you're a full blown production house--all for around $50,000. It wasn't that long ago that you'd spend that much for just a camera package, tripod and some lights.

DV is good.

December 15th, 2003, 09:55 PM	#1
David Applegate Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 41	The Ultimate Editing System What is the ultimate Digital Video Editing System under 25,000?

December 15th, 2003, 10:46 PM	#2
Bret Pritchett Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 44	I think... Avid Media Composer 9000XL

December 16th, 2003, 12:14 AM	#3
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	It might depend on what you want to use it for- the kind of editing and the formats you are working with. You also need to mention if it includes all the other stuff like NTSC monitor, audio monitors, etc. etc. It's probably going to be a tossup between Final Cut Pro and Avid. Also check out http://www.go-l.com. Their computers are amazing(ly expensive)! :D I don't know if they run Avid well. Avid actually recommends dual Xeons as their setup. I don't know if they are gunning for that (they do sell servers that are very workstation like and they have a video editing angle). Go-l doesn't sell Macs. Maybe it doesn't help you but their computers are neat. Check out the monitors by the way! :D

December 16th, 2003, 09:12 AM	#4
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Avid has had some price drops recently. I think the Adrenaline package is under $25K, but obviously you'd need monitors, decks, etc. in addition. It's amazing how prices have gone down in recent years, and how much you get for your money these days from Avid--thanks in large part, I'd bet, to FCP. When we converted from Betacam SP to DVCAM, we sold our old Media Composers and went with Xpress Pro, which is actually better than the older 7.2MCs we were using (assuming all you're doing is DV25). A complete package, including the dual gig G4, 400+ gigs of storage, two 20" monitors, was under $8K. We already have decks, but if a guy was starting from scratch, you could add about another $8K for a DVCAM deck like the DSR1800 with component in and out, a used UVW1800 for about $4K if you need to do Betacam dubs for TV stations (hook it up component-to-component, or get the Avid Mojo box for under $1K), and a couple thousand for an NTSC monitor, a few hundred bucks for a mixer...and you're an edit suite--all for around $20K. Amazing. Just a few years ago we had about $20K just in hard drives, and that was only for about 75 gigs for each system. Throw in another $25K for something like a DSR570 with a good lens, about $5K for lights, $3500 for a tripod, $3500 for basic audio gear, and maybe another $5K for a doorway dolly and jib...and now you're a full blown production house--all for around $50,000. It wasn't that long ago that you'd spend that much for just a camera package, tripod and some lights. DV is good.