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Posted by FCP User on 10/09/06 22:58
In article <timepixdc-E6A801.12441609102006@news.central.cox.net>,
timepixdc <timepixdc@aol.comx> wrote:
> In article <newvideo-4BFBCB.20340808102006@news.west.cox.net>,
> FCP User <newvideo@fastq.com> wrote:
>
> > > The configuration that I put together when the original poster asked for
> > > an HD capable system for under $5K included an Apple monitor, three hard
> > > drives (250GB & 500Gb internal, 500Gb external and 4Gb of RAM along with
> > > Final Cut Studio for around $4700. If you put that system together at
> > > the Apple website without taking advantage of education discounts and
> > > not installing your own RAM and extra hard drive it'll run you around
> > > $6300.
> >
> > OK fine,
> >
> > As long as you realize that your specs are self-selected and pretty
> > meaningless.
>
> Hardly meaningless. The original poster asked for a system for under $5K
> that would allow him to edit 100 hours of HDV tape. That system will do
> it quite nicely.
As will systems within his target price point. THAT was my point, and it
still stands.
>
> > You don't NEED 4gigs of ram to do HDV work.
>
> You don't NEED a 23 inch LCD monitor either but it's nice to have that
> instead of a 14 inch CRT screen when you're editing video, isn't it?
Maybe so, maybe no. For example, I ordered (and am wirting this) on a
30" Cinema Display. Frankly, I'm trying to adjust to it after being
perfectly happy with my previous 23" Cinema Display.
On my two tier editing desk, it's been kinda hard to mount it to my
satisfaction. Down on the lower shelf, it feels too close and too big
and I'm having trouble adjusting to it. On the upper shelf, I have to
tilt my head back and it's putting unusual strain on my neck.
Yeah, it's big. But I'm not sure it's RIGHT for me. (Jury's out)
So monitor size is a personal thing. Sure it's nice to have more
timeline, but the extra resolution makes type smaller and I find myself
writing more, for example in 18 pt type, just to make it easier on the
eyes.
YMMV, and the point is that advice about what someone ELSE should "need"
can be suspect, on it's face.
> > And you don't NEED that many drives.
>
> One drive to hold the operating system and the programs. One hard drive
> to hold the working FCP files (you really don't want to store your FCP
> files on your boot disk) and one hard drive for back up.
>
> > Unlike the past, my system is running both the boot stuff AND FCP AND my
> > capture scratch all off the main drive
>
> Then you're going against every knowedgeable person I've ever talked to
> on the subject, as well as Apple's reccomendations.
Those recommendations came out BEFORE we had Quad processors. My
experiences are sitting at the desk, doing the work, on precisely the
kind of system we're discussing. Yours are reading about it. People can
make up their own minds.
> > So unless the person needs to work in uncompressed HD or perhaps gently
> > compressed XDCAM RIGHT NOW, that much drive space is overkill.
>
> Not overkill, just safe. If you're going to start editing 100 hours of
> HDV you really don't want to scream "Oh shit!" when you've gotten to
> hour 96.
Nope, but there's absolutely NO evidence of that happening anywhere,
anytime, to anyone - on one of these modern systems.
Perhaps it's time to reserve advice until you have some experience with
the particulars rather than just generalized knowledge?
>
> > Finally, the difference between $6300 and $5000 is $1300 bucks. A less
> > than 15 percent bump.
>
> You may be wealthy enough to think of $1300 as a mere trifle but I
> consider it serious money.
Of course it's serious money. I'd expect to spend it ONLY if I was
reasonably sure that doing so would help me earn multiple TIMES that. If
I felt confident in that, then the expense is sensible. If not, it's
wasteful. Just like all other investments.
>
> > With a system like that, if you can't earn an extra $1300 in increased
> > productivity in the first 60 days
>
> If you've paid $1300 less for the system and make an additional $1300
> within 60 days than you're $2600 ahead.
Or, the time you wasted trying to squeeze the system down that $1300 is
worth more than the money - or the TIME you lost fiddling to get that
number down below that arbitrary limit - puts you at a competitive
disadvantage verses someone else who lands the gig that the company down
the road is bidding next month while you're trying to find it cheaper
somewhere else.
Everything's relative. It's time verses money. Only ONE of which you
have any chance in life to re-supply.
>
> > Go with a simpler system, learn your chops, then buy the big gun after
> > you have a sense of the target you're after.
>
> And lose money when you trade up to a better system. I learned early on
> that it pays to buy good the first time as you'll wind up paying less in
> the long run. An non-video example: Buy a cheapo Fender Stratocaster
> (guitar) and a cheapo amp. Six months later trade up to (and lose money
> on) a mid-range Strat. A year after that trade up to (and lose money on)
> a really nice top-of-the-line Strat. That'll cost you hundreds of
> dollars more than just buying the good one at the beginning. BTDT.
And for every time that scenario comes true, there are probably a
hundred where someone spends for the big AX, only to discover that they
don't have what it takes to play like a pro. And it sits in their game
room gathering dust. Most people LEARN on modest tools and when their
talents develop, they buy better tools. Tried and true pathway to
professionalism. And what I'm advocating here. Grow your skills with
whatever you CAN afford. Do that, and you'll eventually find yourself
with great gear and never have to worry about what it costs.
>
> > And if you really know your stuff, the big gun systems aren't required,
> > they're just a bit quicker and more flexible and NICER.
>
> So why not be nice to yourself? If you're going to be spending hundreds
> of hours into front of your monitor editing footage you might as well be
> looking at a good screen connected to a good computer.
Maybe. But that kid who's working on a 13" laptop and editing NOW, might
be making more progress than the guy spending time and effort fretting
over threads like this.
I'll say it again, buy what you can afford. Split your efforts 90% on
editing and customer relations skills and 10% dinking around with
becoming an amateur systems configuration pro - and you'll likely smoke
the competition. Change those numbers around and you're setting yourself
up to be another guy in a couple of years with a suddenly "old" system
and no money to replace it.
FWIW
--
Bill Davis
StartEditingNow.com
DVD editing instruction with Multi-Track Movies
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