Any workprinter owners using a Mac?

[tacotim]

Are any of you workprinter folks using a mac? I'm ready to make the leap, but just want some extra confirmation from another mac user. I'm planning to use it to transfer footage shot at 24 fps, convert to 29.97 in after effects, then edit in Final cut Pro and output to tape (and DVD) Does this sound like a reasonable workflow? Anyone with a mac wanna answer some questions?

Thanks, Tim irwin

[MovieStuff]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by macnessa:
With the higher end systems like the Workprinter XP he said there seems to be more of an issue with losing an odd frame here and there with macs</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

Actually, some clarification here. Using a Mac does not mean you will necessarilly drop any frames but it does mean that certain equipment requirements must be met for best results.

The WorkPrinter-XP has a top speed of about 8.5fps, though listed on-site as only 6fps. At 6fps+, you really need a Raid-0 drive configuration whether you are using a Mac or a PC, if you want consistant, trouble-free performance. I have a handful of clients that claim to successfully use a single drive on both Macs and PCs but my experience is that using a single drive does not give consistant results, though it can be made to work. So the need for a Raid at 6fps+ is not unique to using a Mac.

As noted, I will be offering the WorkPrinter-Jr at a reduced price without the remote. The remote is kind of a pain and virtually no one uses it. Also, I am seeing about what I can do to increase the speed of the WorkPrinter-Jr to about 3fps. Since single frame advance will be lost without the remote, there is no reason to maintain the slower 1fps speed. At 3fps, virtually any Mac or PC can handle the capture without a Raid and with minimal system requirements.

Roger

[macnessa]

I just talked to Roger at Moviestuff yesterday about this very issue, (I'm a mac guy, and I'm probably going to buy one) he's very cool, and uprfont about the strengths and weaknesses of the system, and I encourage you to give him an e-mail, or a call. (He called me back long distance from Texas to Los Angeles).

He said that the workprinter Jr. has no problem whatsoever working with a mac, it's just slow (same as the PC). With the higher end systems like the Workprinter XP he said there seems to be more of an issue with losing an odd frame here and there with macs, but I encourage you to talk to him about it directly. The computer recources needed for those higher end machines are considerable, but he said the Workprinter Jr. you could work on a laptop with 256 mgs of Ram no problem. Based on this conversation with him, I'm probably going to get a Workprinter Jr. just to keep simple. He said they were going to drop the price on the Jr. too, and not include the remote.

Anyway, I'd love to hear from a mac person who actually has one to encourage me to take the plunge also!

[macnessa]

Roger- do you know when I should check back to see when the 3 fps workprinter might become available? I'd much rather have that then the 1fps.