Best Computer for Video Editing

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Eric

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I am in the market for a new computer. I'm interested in video
editing and need to know what specs to look for. I have a friend that
keeps telling me I need to get a Mac.

What do you guys suggest? Also, what is the best video editing
software for newbie.

Thx
 
G

Guest

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

You'll get a lot of different opinions on this one. Mine is to get a new
Windows XP based machine, P4, whatever the latest "speed" is, as much RAM
as you can afford (at least 1 gig), minimum of two (three if you can get it)
hard drives, one being VERY large to hold your downloaded/edited video, a
DVD burner and a decent (read latest, 256 mb or 512 mb dual head) video
card. A must have is an IE1394 firewire input to get your video into the
computer. As for a monitor/s, that's up to you, but plan on going with two
for max video editing space at some point.

As for editing software, I own/use about everything, but do the majority of
editing in Vegas 5/Canopus Edius/Adobe Premiere, in that order. Stay away
from anything that starts with "Pinn" and ends with "acle". OK, the
Hollywood effects are so-so, but the rest of the software is buggy.

JMHO, but this would be a fairly good place to start. Dell would be good
place to look. Stand by for a barrage of other opinions on this well worn
topic.

rqo



"Eric" <utseay@aol.com> wrote in message
news:ebea297a.0410310701.3eb470e9@posting.google.com...
>I am in the market for a new computer. I'm interested in video
> editing and need to know what specs to look for. I have a friend that
> keeps telling me I need to get a Mac.
>
> What do you guys suggest? Also, what is the best video editing
> software for newbie.
>
> Thx
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Haa... and let me be the second of many to come.

This is less opinion than some maybe. Since the first responder
mentioned Canopus... If you plan to use Canopus tools and especially
their hardcore capture card like DVStorm2. Be aware that there are
many problems with AMD stuff. Not just AMD in general but
specifically socket 754 stuff (Athlon64). And even then it is really
the chipset on mobo that is the most likely culprit. Mine is an asus
K8v deluxe with VIA K8T800 chipset.

That particular one WILL NOT WORK with DVStorm. I just learned that
hard lesson after building up a serious machine on Athlon64 3400+.
Now I'm building a second system on P4 like the first responder
suggested. P4 3.2gh and all the ram you can stand. A good solid
mobo is asus P4C800 delux. But again that board doesn't support
Socket 754. (in the intel world that would be socket 754 i915 chipsets)
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

rqo wrote:

> You'll get a lot of different opinions on this one. Mine is to get a new
> Windows XP based machine, P4, whatever the latest "speed" is, as much RAM
> as you can afford (at least 1 gig), minimum of two (three if you can get it)
> hard drives, one being VERY large to hold your downloaded/edited video, a
> DVD burner and a decent (read latest, 256 mb or 512 mb dual head) video
> card. A must have is an IE1394 firewire input to get your video into the
> computer. As for a monitor/s, that's up to you, but plan on going with two
> for max video editing space at some point.

Unless you also have analog, IEEE would be fine. If you have analog,
you'll need a convertor. Pinnacle has one (MovieBox that also includes
firewire) and Canopus (ADC-100 and up). The Pinnacle will cost you about
$140, Canopus a little more (but also does more).
I agree with the ram, the more the better. I have had success with AMD
systems, but P4's have the edge in speed, but also cost more. IF time is
not of the essence (and we are not talking about a whole lot of time,
seconds basically), AMD is the way to go. Also, agreed, you will need a
drive dedicated for your AV stuff. The bigger the better (picked up a
200 gig 7200 Maxtor for $99. Works just fine for miniDV).
>
> As for editing software, I own/use about everything, but do the majority of
> editing in Vegas 5/Canopus Edius/Adobe Premiere, in that order. Stay away
> from anything that starts with "Pinn" and ends with "acle". OK, the
> Hollywood effects are so-so, but the rest of the software is buggy.

I have used Premiere with great success (5-6.5), but have now switched
to Pinnacle's Liquid Edition. Once you learn the interface, so much more
intuitive than Premiere, and everything is intergrated into the program
(audio, dvd, etc.). It has worked well for me (and many others)
including burning DVD's.
>
> JMHO, but this would be a fairly good place to start. Dell would be good
> place to look. Stand by for a barrage of other opinions on this well worn
> topic.

Never had an experience with Dell's. Find out whether you are going
strictly software for editing, or software/hardware for editing. Also,
doing this as a hobby or plan to go pro in the future? Pinnacle Studio 9
is a low cost do everything. And remember... the tools help, but you are
the creative force in editing.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

On 31 Oct 2004 07:01:28 -0800, utseay@aol.com (Eric) wrote:
>I am in the market for a new computer. I'm interested in video
>editing and need to know what specs to look for. I have a friend that
>keeps telling me I need to get a Mac.
>What do you guys suggest? Also, what is the best video editing
>software for newbie.

TurnKey systems with many options
http://www.alienware.com/main_creative_pro.aspx


John Thomas Smith
http://www.direct2usales.com
http://www.pacifier.com/~jtsmith
 
E

Eric

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Thanks for the opinions guys. Here's another software based question.
What are some good resources on learning to use such programs as
premiere. I've tried to mess around with the program in the past, and
it seems really complicated (plus the computer I was trying it on
didn't have near the speed needed to have any success).

Would you suggest informational websites, classes, or just trial and
error?
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Eric wrote:

> Thanks for the opinions guys. Here's another software based question.
> What are some good resources on learning to use such programs as
> premiere. I've tried to mess around with the program in the past, and
> it seems really complicated (plus the computer I was trying it on
> didn't have near the speed needed to have any success).
>
> Would you suggest informational websites, classes, or just trial and
> error?

You didn't say which version of Premiere... here is a link for 6.5...
https://www.adita.com/premiere6.htm
 
G

Guest

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Eric,

there are a number of good video editing solutions for both Mac and PC.
Really there's nothing in these days. I find Macs far more reliable
that PCs (I have a mac at home and use PCs all day at work) but some
people don't like being limited by the choices Mac corners you into
(there's really only the Final Cuts and some Avid software, there's a
wider selection for PC, though Vegas and Premiere Pro are the only
reall competitors)

Pretty much ANY computer you buy now will be capable of editing video.
Any Pentium 3 or higher, or Mac G4 or higher, minimum 256Mb RAM (but
RAM is so cheap there's no point in not bumping it up to 512MB - it
will be better) and 30GB free hard drive space should be enough to
start.

The only thing you'll need is a firewire card if you want to do DV
in/out, which come as standard on all Macs but not on all PCs.

For a Newbie, you might be happy with the rather basic software that
comes with most computer operating systems for free (MovieMaker with
XP, iMovie with Mac OSX) and spend a few months with whichever until
you feel you've outgrow it.
 
G

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

In article <ebea297a.0410310701.3eb470e9@posting.google.com>, Eric wrote:
> I am in the market for a new computer. I'm interested in video
> editing and need to know what specs to look for. I have a friend that
> keeps telling me I need to get a Mac.

Get a Mac. 8^)

....Sean.
 
G

Guest

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

In article <slrncrblff.9n.Stalky14@thehill.comcast.net>,
CheetoDust <Stalky14@synonymforenthuse.com> wrote:

> In article <ebea297a.0410310701.3eb470e9@posting.google.com>, Eric wrote:
> > I am in the market for a new computer. I'm interested in video
> > editing and need to know what specs to look for. I have a friend that
> > keeps telling me I need to get a Mac.
>
> Get a Mac. 8^)

Get a Mac.
 
G

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Vingo Optomalicious" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:me-C9F3EB.08192707122004@newssvr14-ext.news.prodigy.com...

> >
> > Get a Mac. 8^)
>
> Get a Mac.

I agree. Especially if you want your system to lockup ten times a day.
 
G

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

In article <I0ltd.37927$bP2.37156@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com>, Rnaap wrote:
>
> "Vingo Optomalicious" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:me-C9F3EB.08192707122004@newssvr14-ext.news.prodigy.com...
>
>> >
>> > Get a Mac. 8^)
>>
>> Get a Mac.
>
> I agree. Especially if you want your system to lockup ten times a day.

I agree, but only if you're running a pre-OSX machine. I wouldn't touch
a Mac before OSX (Well, 10.2 for stability's sake) came out. We've got
an 8.6 Mac with Media 100 at work and it's a disaster.

....Sean.
 
G

Guest

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"CheetoDust" <Stalky14@synonymforenthuse.com> wrote in message
news:slrncretoh.e6.Stalky14@thehill.comcast.net...
> In article <I0ltd.37927$bP2.37156@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com>, Rnaap
wrote:
> >
> > "Vingo Optomalicious" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
> > news:me-C9F3EB.08192707122004@newssvr14-ext.news.prodigy.com...
> >
> >> >
> >> > Get a Mac. 8^)
> >>
> >> Get a Mac.
> >
> > I agree. Especially if you want your system to lockup ten times a day.
>
> I agree, but only if you're running a pre-OSX machine. I wouldn't touch
> a Mac before OSX (Well, 10.2 for stability's sake) came out. We've got
> an 8.6 Mac with Media 100 at work and it's a disaster.
>
> ...Sean.
>

But I AM talking ab out an OSX machine. At work they have two Dual G5s
running OSX, Final Cut 4.5. They lock up all the time.
 
R

rs

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Oh, for crying out loud.

Mac people are Mac people and never the twain shall meet.

Yes, a Mac will do video editing just fine. Yes, a PC will do video editing
just fine.

What to get?

Your concerns are.
a second, large as you can get drive for video capture and editing. You'd
rather not capture/render your video onto your system drive. You can if you
have to, but you'd rather not.

Lots of memory. A gig would be good, but you can live with 512

Best processor you can afford. Rendering is processor dependent.

People just starting out always ask about video cards. Which is best?
Fastest? Editing does not put heavy demand on a video card. No 3d needed.

So - Storage, Ram, Processor. Thats what you care about the most. Make sure
it has Firewire.

If you need TV In/Out and want or need conversion of analog, then examine
this group for posts on capture cards.
"CheetoDust" <Stalky14@synonymforenthuse.com> wrote in message
news:slrncrblff.9n.Stalky14@thehill.comcast.net...
> In article <ebea297a.0410310701.3eb470e9@posting.google.com>, Eric wrote:
> > I am in the market for a new computer. I'm interested in video
> > editing and need to know what specs to look for. I have a friend that
> > keeps telling me I need to get a Mac.
>
> Get a Mac. 8^)
>
> ...Sean.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

>From: "RS" idontthinkso@mail.com

>You'd
>rather not capture/render your video onto your system drive. You can if you
>have to, but you'd rather not.
>

Why not?

Thanks,
Chase
 
G

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 01:30:53 GMT, "Rnaap" <RNAP@mymail.com> wrote in
rec.video.desktop:

>But I AM talking ab out an OSX machine. At work they have two Dual G5s
>running OSX, Final Cut 4.5. They lock up all the time.

Do you repair permissions on a regular basis?

--

dwaes /at hetnet /dot nl

Going too far
WE don't go too far!
None of us will go too far...
Maybe sometimes we WENT too far
But now WE WON'T!
Because we're real nice guys!
 
G

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"tetraplan" <dwaes@spamdeath.hell> wrote in message
news:t16hr0tno8u32a8g75ffnalvmscl8qvsut@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 01:30:53 GMT, "Rnaap" <RNAP@mymail.com> wrote in
> rec.video.desktop:
>
> >But I AM talking ab out an OSX machine. At work they have two Dual G5s
> >running OSX, Final Cut 4.5. They lock up all the time.
>
> Do you repair permissions on a regular basis?
>
> --
Yes. We even REINSTALL FROM SCRATCH on a regular basis. Doesn't help.
 
G

Guest

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Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

On Fri, 10 Dec 2004 03:27:04 GMT, "Rnaap" <RNAP@mymail.com> wrote in
rec.video.desktop:

>
>"tetraplan" <dwaes@spamdeath.hell> wrote in message
>news:t16hr0tno8u32a8g75ffnalvmscl8qvsut@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 01:30:53 GMT, "Rnaap" <RNAP@mymail.com> wrote in
>> rec.video.desktop:
>>
>> >But I AM talking ab out an OSX machine. At work they have two Dual G5s
>> >running OSX, Final Cut 4.5. They lock up all the time.
>>
>> Do you repair permissions on a regular basis?
>>
>> --
>Yes. We even REINSTALL FROM SCRATCH on a regular basis. Doesn't help.

Sounds like hardware failure to me.
I had similar problems with a Mirrored Drive Door dual G4 (spits on
ground- nothing against macs, but I hate that MDD) that would lock up
every time. Fresh installs, upgrade to 10.3, nothing worked. Had it
serviced and it appeared it needed a new mainboard.

I suggest you take it to an appletech, official or unofficial, and
have it checked.

--

dwaes /at hetnet /dot nl

Going too far
WE don't go too far!
None of us will go too far...
Maybe sometimes we WENT too far
But now WE WON'T!
Because we're real nice guys!
 
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