computer advice for non-linear editing

[woods01]

I am going to be shopping for a new computer
next month (maybe sooner if there are any
deals). I want to have it set up for
editing. What type of hardware do you
reccomend? I am considering getting dual
processors but that would certainly make
things more expensive. Is it worth it?

My budget is $1700 US. I have an old
monitor I can use which frees up a bit
more money. I am going to get an Athlon
to save as well.

Any advice on what to get would be of help.
Also I'd like to know what type of computer
you guys are using and how its held up
for you.

[Actor]

Apple cannot be dismissed when it comes to video editing.

Go to http://www.apple.com and get a new eMac. It comes with G4 processor, two firewire ports and iMovie. iMovie will give you enough editing power until you can upgrade to Final Cut Pro 3.0 which, if you qualify for the educational discount, can be had for $300. While you're at it, max out the memory and get a really big external firewire drive to hold your video.

[Alex]

You don't want to scrimp on the monitor.

[machead]

I've just started burning DVD's, awsome, I'd recomend a Mac simply for the solutions they provide in this area. And for the fact Final Cut Pro is only available on a Mac

[tim.callaghan]

go here

www.dvdoctor.net

Look stuff up, and if you have any more questions, then ask.

The above mentioned forum is a more qualified place to answer you queries (no disrespect to here)

Tim

[woods01]

Thank yo for pointing out the dvdoctor site
its very helpful. I'm curious to know what other
people's computer setups & software are and your
thoughts on how they have worked for you.
I am seeing some strong Mac support so far...

[machead]

I own a G4 350mghz PowerPC (about 3 years old) 756megs of PC-100 RAM (I think) 2 internal Hard drives 10 gig and 40Gig. One Firewire external Hard drive 40 gig. An Internal Pioneer DVD-R recently ripped out the old drive and upgraded so I can burn DVD's. I have no doubts people will laugh at the technical spec of my PowerPC.

I edit using Final Cut Pro 2 in OS.9 (can't afford to upgrade yet to the OS-X version)

I author and burn DVD's in OS-X. (and OS-X hasn't crashed once on me in over 18 months that I've been using it.)

Although its a very old computer I'm incredibly happy with it, Render times with complex filter arrangements can be slow at times. I just time these arround a planned break like lunch, or occasionally sleep.

[Alex]

It's very important to make one distinction with anything "DV".

DV is a self-promotion format. ALL vendors who supply information on DV have a certain self-serving purpose, they stand to sell you something if they hook you.

So what is the controversy? It's 4.1.1. digital sampling versus 4.2.2. digital sampling.

4.2.2. is superior to 4.1.1, but it costs at least double to set up a 4.2.2. NLE version compared to a 4.1.1.

The Digital sites that rave and give information about 4.1.1. processing while ignoring the crowd that spent extra (because those who spent extra are a minority), are actually committing a form of fraud.

Since Digital is considered a "lossless medium", the assumption is made that Digital is a "perfect" medium. When in fact, mini-dv is not as good as JVC's Digital-S, Sony's Digital BetaCam, or Panasonic's DVC-Pro 50 (which should not to be confused with DVC Pro, an earlier, 4:1:1 version of the newer DVC-Pro 50 [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

Just remember, those who cared most about quality, lose out editing jobs to those who bought the cheaper systems, because "heck, it 's all digital, isn't it?"

Don't trust everything you read. A lot of it is useful information, and you will rely on an NLE forum to get you through the tough spots. The most important thing you can do is to book time with someone who already owns a system you want to buy.

See how they use their system to get your small job done, and use that as the tool to determine if that is the system you want to buy.