I have been researching and investing in a 3-D Video System Build. It's been an informative process. I've spent thousands so far. I might be taking some stuff back to the store because this 3-D editing area is not clear yet. It's all still being figured out industry-wise. I don't want to custom-build my system to match the camera I am currently using, which is MVC file format, because that might change down the road as soon as a few months from now.
Are you setting yourself up to shoot/edit for YouTube on 3D? If so, I believe the top two 3D cameras are the ones by Sony and JVC which run under $2k. They have two lenses and shoot one file format. The Sony shoots an MVC format. The only other one is a Panasonic which goes for $21k. Sony is coming out with a few 3D Production cameras in the $5k range, supposedly. Both are file-based, MVC and the more expensive one SxS cards (left/right).
Although Sony Vegas Professional 10 offers the only native ingestion out there, I've heard professionals don't go there. I would definitely entertain using it because it will be cheaper in the short run to edit 3-D videos for YouTube. As for getting broadcast quality acceptable video and Blu-Ray/DVDs produced, that might require a $5k+ production monitor that has the brains to color correct or you can get rejected by the buyer of the video product. Otherwise, if you color correct off the computer monitor, it could be inaccurate and rejectable. You can get away with it for YouTube, for now. I do know that producers often search for good content on-line there. You never know if someone will offer to buy it from you other than the many that try to get it for free.
You must decide if you are a hobbyist, a YouTube Program Participate to earn money with Google Adsense, or if you really want to take it to the next level to make money being able to deliver video content to emerging 3-D broadcast channels (perhaps even on-line ones) and producing content for Blu-ray/DVD too. THAT will determine your system.
The other option, 3-D-editing-wise other than Sony Vegas Pro 10 and Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11, is the more expensive but more standard Adobe route. You basically have to spend a lot more money to do it and it would put you through at least three conversions to start editing:
- Prosumer or Professional 3-D Video Card
- Adobe Production Suite
- Cineform Neo 3D (or less features on HD) Plugin
- Prosumer or Professional 3-D Capture Card
- MVC to AVI convertor third party software
- RAID array (for storage of large uncompressed HD files to avoid dropped frames if professional delivery is in your future) that comes with your tower or buy one or two (scratch and storage)
- Fast CPU without integrated graphics, same with motherboard (see the videoguys' recommendation against I7s for NLE systems)
- Fast Boot drive (SSD or 10000RPM)
- Fast Scratch Drive/s (SSD is cost prohibitive, try 7200RPM or 10000RPM)
- Decently fast Storage Drives (5200 RPM or 7200RPM)
- CPU Water cooling helps (enclosed)
- Nicely cooled tower (check for noisiness)
- For real time preview: Production 3D Monitor to connect to Prosumer/Professional 3D Capture Card (if you care about color correcting for broadcast quality)
- For Storyline editing: Computer monitor 3D (a gaming one like Acer or Alienware) with nVidia 3D Vision Ready + Active Shutter Glasses
- Alternately: for storyline editing or real-time preview (if you don't need color correcting for broadcast quality) 3DTV HD LED 32"-42" but you must use nVIDIA 3DTVPlay software and the TV's manufacturer active or passive shutter glasses for this to work, but it's your preference how you want to edit on 3D, passive or active. Passive would give me a headache working on it too long, but maybe just for reference and then once settings are set, use the left eye to continue the editing process.
Note. I was considering buying the Matrox MXO2 with Max and before that, the Mini-Max, but then I discovered they don't yet offer 3-D features. They have a wonderful feature that turns a monitor into broadcast quality which is a wonderful asset if you're looking to save thousands on a production monitor. It only works on HD from what I've learned. Can't wait to see if they will make 3-D available!
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