Posted by Kill Bill on 10/04/06 16:11

leekazimir@gmail.com wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I've just shot 100 hours of HDV tape for a documentary I'm making. I'm
> now facing the question of how to edit it all.
>
> Back when I bought into the format last January, there was no clear
> editing solution for HDV. Edius Canopus, Final Cut HDV, Vegas, and
> several others were all being talked about. I've been totally out of
> the loop for 9 months now and I'm wondering if there is a clear
> favorite yet.
>
> I want to spend a maximum of 5,000 USD on a setup. I'm willing to go
> either PC or Mac, depending on which works better for me. (I've never
> owned a Mac, having done all my previous editing in Adobe Premiere.)
>
> So the first question is: what platform and what software do you
> recommend?
>
> Also, what are my main concerns with hardware? Maximum storage space?
> Fast disks? I know HDV is supposed to take up 40 gigs per hour, but
> isn't that ONLY while it's uncompressed?
>
> Frankly, I'm a total newbie when it comes to editing HDV, so any
> recommendations you could give (or links to websites with descriptions
> of the hardware and software concerns of HDV) would be a major help.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Lee

Make mine another bid for the Mac/FCP combo. I'm a PC and Mac person.
I was using Premiere 6.5 when they went to version 1.5.. I hated it!
Took on FCP, and never looked back since. Native support for HDV built
right into FCP from the get go. No need to buy anything else.

5K is a great budget and well doable.

1) Computer. Get either a iMac or Mac Pro desktop. Both will work
great, but the Mac Pro is faster and upgradeable for later expandability.

2) Storage. Get a External hard drive such as a G-Raid drive if you
plan on staying in HDV mode. Get a G-Speed (Massive Teribyte size) if
you're planing on going HD uncompressed 8/10 bit!

3) Software. iMovie supports HDV, so if you like.. try iMovie to save
some more cash. It comes with every new Mac. Then, later on, go pro
with FCP studio package.

4) Delivery. One would assume that your going to deliver your media on
a DVD. Every Mac includes iDVD which is free on OSX. And if you like
to go pro, Apple's DVD Studio is included with FCP studio. And DVDSP
really is the cats meow!! Once you get to the authoring stages of your
project, DVDSP IS the undisputed winner!

-Bill

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