PERRYSTONE04 0 #1 July 20, 2008 hey guys i need your help !!! i need to buy a computer for video editing. question is there something i can buy off the shelf or do i have to get one made' i have a budget of 3000.00 dollars Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiveoc 0 #2 July 20, 2008 I just had a shop build a quad core with 3 gigs of ram , 512 graphics card, with Vegas platinum. Cost me $1500...shoot me an email in a week and ill let yo know how i like it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #3 July 20, 2008 what is your current platform? If you're a Mac user, get another Mac, although for HD, 3K isn't gonna get you very far. If you're a PC user, you can use off the shelf if you're using HDV or AVCHD, faster is better. If you're SD, doesn't really matter what you get. Both platforms have advantages, both platforms have disadvantages. You can get into high level video much less expensively on a PC than on a Mac, but Bootcamp also makes the PC access pretty easy. FAR, FAR more options on a PC than Mac for editing. You're gonna want multi-core, fast CPU's, at LEAST two HDD's, one for media, one for OS...If XP is your thing, 2GB of RAM, if Vista is your thing, then at least 4GB of RAM, if MAC...as much RAM as you can afford. Dual head vid card DVD burn (maybe BD?) Lots of slots Lots of USB 1394 connection Card bay is nice I'm missing a few things here, it's late. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PharmerPhil 0 #4 July 20, 2008 Quote....If you're a Mac user, get another Mac, although for HD, 3K isn't gonna get you very far. ... Dual head vid card DVD burn (maybe BD?) Lots of slots Lots of USB 1394 connection Card bay is nice ??? For 3K you can get a dual quad core MacPro (i.e. 8 cores) with 2gig RAM, bundled software, and all the stuff listed above. Plus you can still buy another hard drive to use one for capture only and still be under 3K (plus still have two empty hard drive slots, Firewire 800, SP-DIF digital audio in/out, three open PCI slots, etc.). For even less, you can buy a Mac with the measly single quad core recommended above, and Final Cut Express and still have money left over!!! Don't let the anti-Mac crowd tell you you can't get a great Mac for the money. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HUSHPUPPY 0 #5 July 20, 2008 QuoteQuote....If you're a Mac user, get another Mac, although for HD, 3K isn't gonna get you very far. ... Dual head vid card DVD burn (maybe BD?) Lots of slots Lots of USB 1394 connection Card bay is nice ??? For 3K you can get a dual quad core MacPro (i.e. 8 cores) with 2gig RAM, bundled software, and all the stuff listed above. Plus you can still buy another hard drive to use one for capture only and still be under 3K (plus still have two empty hard drive slots, Firewire 800, SP-DIF digital audio in/out, three open PCI slots, etc.). For even less, you can buy a Mac with the measly single quad core recommended above, and Final Cut Express and still have money left over!!! Don't let the anti-Mac crowd tell you you can't get a great Mac for the money. I agree! GET A MAC! "You made my panties wet!" Skymama (Fitz 09) "Never argue with an idiot. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #6 July 21, 2008 Are Macs playing nice AVCHD yet? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #7 July 21, 2008 QuoteAre Macs playing nice AVCHD yet? Not in their pro software. I live in both worlds. I have four Macs in my personal space, all run Bootcamp, three run Parallels. My company has around 30 MBPs, and approx 65 PC laps. In other words, I'm non-biased; it's about the tools. The Mac vs PC debate is simply stupid. There are SO many things a Mac can't do as easily as a PC, and SO many things a PC can't do as easily as a Mac. Mac is a lifestyle and a tool. PC is a tool, period, IMO. If you wanna change your lifestyle, get a Mac. If you want a tool and don't care about the insipid head-in-the-sand philosophies that accompany iCock, iRock, and iDon'tCare, then get a Mac. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dugy 0 #8 July 21, 2008 DSE: (Or anyone) What sorta spec level do you think you'd need out of a laptop to be able to edit digital footage? I realise a desktop pc would be a more powerful (better)option, but a laptop that could run Vegas and do the jump footage would be mighty handy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #9 July 21, 2008 Any laptop built in the last 2 years will easily edit SD footage without hitching, using Vegas or Edius, or even Adobe Premiere. Most any recent laptop properly configured can easily edit HDV as well, without losing frames using Vegas or Edius, and some will be fine with Premiere. I edit quite often on a laptop, much of the time over the past year on my MacBook Pro running Bootcamp and Vegas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 0 #10 July 21, 2008 If the laptop runs vista you need a minimum of 2gb RAM, 3 or 4 gb is better. For XP, 2 GB is plenty. You want a real video card so Ati or Nvidia no intel chip crap. An intel dual core processor is (way) better then an AMDx2 but amdx2 will do in a pinch, get an intel x2 if you have the choice (I didn't ). Get an external harddrive for the videofiles. Of course you need a firewire port - my current EUR 1400 laptop didn't come with one, had to add it but you can't always do that! Large screen is nice, I like editing on my old 17" better than on my newer 12" You probably want a DVD burner (some smaller notebooks have no disc drive) Any laptop with above specs will comfortably let you edit and render video. Not as fast (the rendering mainly) as a tricked out pc but still quite alright. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PERRYSTONE04 0 #11 July 21, 2008 wow thanks for all the help but i think i am still lost right now i have a PC but i have lots of editing to do before this winter . and i was thinking that this would be easy to fined a new PC shit was i wrong Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #12 July 21, 2008 What editing system are you already familiar with? Do you want to learn a new one? Those are the bigger questions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PERRYSTONE04 0 #13 July 21, 2008 QuoteWhat editing system are you already familiar with? Do you want to learn a new one? Those are the bigger questions.. currently i am using premier pro and sometime elements 2.0 the company that wants to send me some work are using avid but they say not for long so i think i just might try Sony Vega pro ? i have herd allot of good things about it so as you can see i am lost . PS DSE i just bought your DVD inside the Sony HC series nice work . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #14 July 21, 2008 I was searching again for pc's and I found this article: http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-3118_7-6623901.html?tag=prmo1 Quad core for under 600 bucks. I was originally looking at a 4500 dollar mac pro setup but I realized since I am only doing SD for the foreseeable future that I can't justify that level of expense."The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #15 July 21, 2008 QuoteI was searching again for pc's and I found this article: http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-3118_7-6623901.html?tag=prmo1 Quad core for under 600 bucks. I was originally looking at a 4500 dollar mac pro setup but I realized since I am only doing SD for the foreseeable future that I can't justify that level of expense. that Quadcore will also edit HD just fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PERRYSTONE04 0 #16 July 21, 2008 just so you see i am not wasting your time. here is a video i did last year . this was for a racing series year end party' they have asked me to do another one this year and also the touring car series have asked . and maybe some drifting guys also http://videos.streetfire.net/video/TOYOTA-ECHO-RACING_138388.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #17 July 22, 2008 QuoteWhat editing system are you already familiar with? Do you want to learn a new one? Those are the bigger questions. 05' pwr book, FCE and a little experience with 05' I movie. Is that enough? Or is it 3 years behind the power book curve for AVCHD? Not a lifestyle issue. Lifestyle is about knees in the breeze. Gadgets and gizmos are here today and gone tomorrow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #18 July 22, 2008 Hmm... You'll need to upgrade your FCE or iMovie for AVCHD, but otherwise...you're good to go, or should be. I don't have a system quite that old to test...Which OS version are you running? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #19 July 22, 2008 I was under the impression from our talks that mac/imovie was not AVCHD friendly, but could be HD friendly, say a HC 1 etc. ??? Maybe I mis understood, because I do have an interest in getting an HC -1 or 3,5,9 sometime down the road, but not if I would have to get a new editing system, I'm VERY happy with my mac and imovie 06 and gee three add ons.you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #20 July 22, 2008 HC camcorders are HDV, which is MPEG 2. All Apple software has a conversion that makes it MPEG 2-friendly. So yes...Apple accepts HDV without a hitch. iMovie manages AVCHD now as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #21 July 22, 2008 QuoteiMovie manages AVCHD now as well. Do you mean only the new 08 imovie or would an older 06 handle it too. I assume I would have to get an upgrade of software? I thought AVCHD was mpeg 4.you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #22 July 22, 2008 AVCHD is in the MPEG4 family, yes. Which is why I specified MPEG 2 in the previous post. You'll need to upgrade to the latest versions of iMovie and FCE to enjoy AVCHD support. I can't remember if iMovie 06 allows MPEG 2/HDV or not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #23 July 22, 2008 Ok, I'm not as confused as I thought then. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laszloimage 0 #24 July 23, 2008 I just have to agree with DSE about MAC. Currently I'm involved to create a TV show. The project is edited on a 1 year old super-duper G5 sysytem using Final Cut Pro (in a pro studio about $15,000 system) The issue we have is different file formats and frame rates. FCP doesn't really handle it!!! $69 Sony Vegas does handle multiple frame rates and formats in a same time line! But that softwarre won't run on MAC... Now some of the fotage needs to be converted on a third party software. Extra work... DSE recommended Boot Camp (thanks Spot for the help on the phone!) -Laszlo- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PharmerPhil 0 #25 July 23, 2008 QuoteThe project is edited on a 1 year old super-duper G5 sysytem (sic)... That'd be pretty tough. The last G5 PowerMac was introduced in 2005. Sounds like a 3-year old (at least) computer to me... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
