[MacDV] Re: Cinema Display and comments...

[Frank Wiewandt]

Richard Brown writes:

> I recently did NOT purchase the 23" Cinema Display, in favor of a
22"
> CRT for about $2,700 less money. When I was considering the Cinema
> Display, I ONLY considered the 23" as it has vastly better specs as
to
> graphics work.

Better specs that a high-end CRT? Just asking as I totally agree with
your decision.

> The single most important thing you can do for Final Cut
> is to buy the Contour Shuttle Pro.

I've heard mixed reviews of the Shuttle Pro. Personally I'm thinking
of getting a FCP optimized keyboard for use with my TiG4 PB. The
Shuttle would definitely be more portable, though.

> However, it is absolutely crucial that you have an NTSC monitor
online
> all the time in FCP editing. It is the ONLY way to grade color if
using
> color correction, and the better the monitor, the better off your
> results.

Yep, right on the money.

> I use a Sony Broadcast Monitor normally with SMPTE C Phosphors.
> This allows setting to bars, and doing "standardized" color
correction.

I would have gone with the Sony but my budget was already blown, so I
ended up with a re-furb JVC TM-910SU instead. I haven't done a
side-by-side comparison but the JVC has done the job for me both in
the field & in the studio editing.

> If you look at DVCAM footage from a PD150 on such a monitor and a
Beta
> SP or DigiBeta on another monitor of the same ilk, the similarities
so
> outweigh the differences that when "going home," they could be
> interchangeable. We have. No one noticed. Brave New World..

I've gota lot of experience with BetaSP & DVCPRO & totally agree.

> For cutting, short of color correction, using even just using the
TiBook
> for FCP is fine. Newer generation ADS Pyro Drives (the ones that
DON'T
> look like their industrial design comes from 1961) work perfectly
for
> DVCAM/DV streaming relative to FCP editing.

Do you capture straight to your FW drive? I recently got an OWC Elite
FW drive, but haven't used it for a FCP project yet (soon, *very*
soon! ;-). I've heard of problems capturing to the FW drive, but
nothing spacific, just recomendations to capture to the internal
drive, then copy it to the external. Also, are you using a deck or the
Pd150 to feed to TiG4 PG?

Take care,

Frank Wiewandt