Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.production,rec.video.desktop (More info?)
Since Crow's original post got hijacked, I figured we owe him/her the
courtesy of trying to answer the original questions which were:
*************************************
I need to buy a computer to edit a video documentary and it would be
easier if I could use a laptop. This will be my first documentary and
I'm still not sure what software or hardware that I'll use?
I've been reading about real-time pci editing cards such as the Matrox
RT.X10(0) and wondering how useful such a card would be? If they make
the editing process much quicker and intuitive, then I'll forgo the
convenience of a laptop and build myself a desktop.
If I do go for a laptop then I'm considering a Pentium M or Athlon 64
based unit. Any ideas on which of these would be more suitable for
video editing? I don't want a P4 based machine as I'd like a lower
power CPU for the usual reasons.
I'd basically like a laptop that can run cool, quiet & long from the
battery, but can still kick ass when running at full speed from the
mains. An Athlon XP-M is another option to as they are fairly low
power.
In many reviews that I've read of laptops, it's not clear whether the
benchmarks are done from battery power, with the associated loss of
performance. I'm only interested in the video editing performance
when utilising the full system performance from the mains.
*************************************
I'm strictly a desktop user so I can only speak about the laptop comments
from respected users on the various Vegas forums I subscribe to.
The answer is a very definite yes. The very fact that the DV format puts so
little strain on drives has allowed folks to edit using Vegas without any
problems whatsoever. It's real-time preview is a definite bonus compared to
other apps.
Douglas Spotted Eagle (aka DSE aka Spot) and Tim Duncan are hosts on the DMN
forums at http://tinyurl.com/cg3t and are doing workshops literally all over
the world using laptops.
You might find the posts from the May 5/04 thread titled "Vegas rules at
30,000 feet" at http://tinyurl.com/24l3t interesting. Here's the lead post
from Tim Duncan:
"Today I had the pleasure of editing a Sheryl Crow video on a United
Airlines flight from Chicago to LA. Not only did the editing take place on
the plane, but the performance was recorded as well. This concert in the sky
was a shot on five Sony XDCam cameras then the discs were handed to me with
less than an hour before landing. I was able to digitize five camera angles
of almost five minutes each and do a multi-camera edit on my lap-top
delivering a four and a half minute finished video on both DV and Hi-8
including showing the video to Sheryl for approval. Just after landing, the
tape was uplinked via satellite as part of a huge press event for Sony
Connect and United Airlines.
No one could believe that it could be done and delivered that quickly.
Then during the cab ride over to Sony Music for a grand finalle party, I did
color correction on one of the camera angles and delivered a DVD that was
shown during the party. Our team worked together very well to make this
possible. Can you imagine a steadycam on a plane? Plus lights and portable
sound system? It was amazing.
I'll post more details perhaps tomorrow.
Thanks to Vegas and Excalibur!
Keep your eyes open for some great press about this. Media was everywhere
and there were many shots taken of Vegas running on my laptop."
Do a search on "laptops" on this forum and the Sony Vegas forum at
http://tinyurl.com/2kjms and I you'll find out that laptop editing is being
done on a daily basis.
Please don't get the idea that I'm a Vegas sales rep. It's just that it's
the first inexpensive NLE (compared to the cost of the dps Velocity I use at
work) I used and I've stayed with it ever since.
I strongly urge you to try out both Vegas and Premiere, read the various
forums and make up your own mind.
Mike
Since Crow's original post got hijacked, I figured we owe him/her the
courtesy of trying to answer the original questions which were:
*************************************
I need to buy a computer to edit a video documentary and it would be
easier if I could use a laptop. This will be my first documentary and
I'm still not sure what software or hardware that I'll use?
I've been reading about real-time pci editing cards such as the Matrox
RT.X10(0) and wondering how useful such a card would be? If they make
the editing process much quicker and intuitive, then I'll forgo the
convenience of a laptop and build myself a desktop.
If I do go for a laptop then I'm considering a Pentium M or Athlon 64
based unit. Any ideas on which of these would be more suitable for
video editing? I don't want a P4 based machine as I'd like a lower
power CPU for the usual reasons.
I'd basically like a laptop that can run cool, quiet & long from the
battery, but can still kick ass when running at full speed from the
mains. An Athlon XP-M is another option to as they are fairly low
power.
In many reviews that I've read of laptops, it's not clear whether the
benchmarks are done from battery power, with the associated loss of
performance. I'm only interested in the video editing performance
when utilising the full system performance from the mains.
*************************************
I'm strictly a desktop user so I can only speak about the laptop comments
from respected users on the various Vegas forums I subscribe to.
The answer is a very definite yes. The very fact that the DV format puts so
little strain on drives has allowed folks to edit using Vegas without any
problems whatsoever. It's real-time preview is a definite bonus compared to
other apps.
Douglas Spotted Eagle (aka DSE aka Spot) and Tim Duncan are hosts on the DMN
forums at http://tinyurl.com/cg3t and are doing workshops literally all over
the world using laptops.
You might find the posts from the May 5/04 thread titled "Vegas rules at
30,000 feet" at http://tinyurl.com/24l3t interesting. Here's the lead post
from Tim Duncan:
"Today I had the pleasure of editing a Sheryl Crow video on a United
Airlines flight from Chicago to LA. Not only did the editing take place on
the plane, but the performance was recorded as well. This concert in the sky
was a shot on five Sony XDCam cameras then the discs were handed to me with
less than an hour before landing. I was able to digitize five camera angles
of almost five minutes each and do a multi-camera edit on my lap-top
delivering a four and a half minute finished video on both DV and Hi-8
including showing the video to Sheryl for approval. Just after landing, the
tape was uplinked via satellite as part of a huge press event for Sony
Connect and United Airlines.
No one could believe that it could be done and delivered that quickly.
Then during the cab ride over to Sony Music for a grand finalle party, I did
color correction on one of the camera angles and delivered a DVD that was
shown during the party. Our team worked together very well to make this
possible. Can you imagine a steadycam on a plane? Plus lights and portable
sound system? It was amazing.
I'll post more details perhaps tomorrow.
Thanks to Vegas and Excalibur!
Keep your eyes open for some great press about this. Media was everywhere
and there were many shots taken of Vegas running on my laptop."
Do a search on "laptops" on this forum and the Sony Vegas forum at
http://tinyurl.com/2kjms and I you'll find out that laptop editing is being
done on a daily basis.
Please don't get the idea that I'm a Vegas sales rep. It's just that it's
the first inexpensive NLE (compared to the cost of the dps Velocity I use at
work) I used and I've stayed with it ever since.
I strongly urge you to try out both Vegas and Premiere, read the various
forums and make up your own mind.
Mike
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