MOTUnation.com

Hi-

I'm a composer and have to replace my old G4 Gigabit Ethernet sometime with a newer Mac soon (Intel desktop), and wonder if using the G4 for video only makes sense. It's as hotrodded as an old G4 can be- dual 1.6 Ghz processor, Radeon 9000 video (also a DC30 with the Squared Five driver). I get sent a lot of different types of video to work with- from DVCPro, H264, MJPEG, you name it and it would be great to play it natively, and have it sync up perfectly with DP (both video AND audio). I'm not a picture editor, though, and I don't ever need to capture video. Thoughts?

just do it all in your new mac and retire the G4.

i just have the picture editor make the QT for me. usually either a full rez DV or a sorensen video 320 x 240 .mov when posting it on a server.

sometimes i even get a DVD that i rip into a DV file myself. i watch picture on a second mac monitor and have had NO problems in about 7 years of working this way. Oh, make sure that they burn TC on the QT.

makes it a whole lot easier on me and i leave the QTiming to the picture editor

.

I'm sure you could still give your old G4 something useful to do. Work it to death

Maybe you can run a VI, or as you mentioned, the video files. That would be at least one thing less for your new computer to process. Especially if you're gonna load it with VIs, you can share less demanding tasks with your G4. I mean, you already have it...

I'd like to bump this subject.
Anyone could tell me what's the best way to use a second Mac for Video playback as I'm working on my MBP with DP?

Dwetmaster wrote:I'd like to bump this subject.
Anyone could tell me what's the best way to use a second Mac for Video playback as I'm working on my MBP with DP?

Use it as a table to support your flat screen; just don't plug it in.

I did my G4 up just to get it to run some of my software but when I get my new Mac Pro I will be giving it to my wife. The deal is render time and running things in real time. Also some of the stuff in CS3 Production Bundle will run on a Pro but not run on a G4, it is a bummer to have to use it on a PC. The bottom line is you will not need it and it will be more of a problem than it is worth.

twistedtom wrote:I did my G4 up just to get it to run some of my software but when I get my new Mac Pro I will be giving it to my wife. The deal is render time and running things in real time. Also some of the stuff in CS3 Production Bundle will run on a Pro but not run on a G4, it is a bummer to have to use it on a PC. The bottom line is you will not need it and it will be more of a problem than it is worth.

Great minds think alike. My G4 with a 1.4 gHz upgrade is in my wife's 4th grade class at her desk with a 22" flat screen. She runs instructional DVDs and does all her "paper work" from there. I actually have monitor envy as I only have two 19" screens.

Yes that is true MIDI we know how to make the woman happy.
My wife has my 1st G4 that I buffed up as well I do not know what I will do with it when I give her my G4.
I have a 20" apple flat display and a 19" Lacie Tube right now. I am going to replace the Lacie with a flat monitor at 20" or more. It may not be an Apple as it will be the 2nd monitor and the colors do not have to be spot on like the primary display does. I wish I had the bucks for a Apple 30" but I am on strike so it is eating into my new computer fund.

To justify buying my new MacPro in a few weeks, I will buy my wife MacBook...

I think the new Mac Pro's will be out soon so as advised by the smart folks here I am holding off until the come out.

I don't know much about the DC30, but I'm a video/film editor.
I'm quite confident, that it can't be done without extra hardware, cause you need to be able to:
A: slave your G4/Software via LTC (and i don't think QT has an interface for that), aka having him CHASE the timecode signal.
or
B: Remote it via Sony 9Pin (RS422)

The 828mk2 and 3 have Wordclock I/Os or you could use any analogue IN to receive SMPTE timecode (which can be set up in the 'SMPTE Setup.app'that comes with you Motu-driver if you have that hardware).
If there's any destined video playback software to make use of that… I don't know.
I know AVID can be run in slave mode (having another device control it for playback), but that is serious money, cause you need the hardware too.

I know some soundeditors/designers that use the ROSENDAHL Bonsaidrive ( http://www.rosendahl-studiotechnik.com/bonsai.html ), but that is also some big investment:1800 Euro…

I guess the cheapest way will be to buy a firewire video interface, like the Canopus ADVC 110 or 300 (or a cheap firewire- camera able to record via firewire) and make use of DP6's ability to stream your video track through that device. When you have your MacPro, it should be sufficient to do that and still process lots of tracks and plugins.

I'd be interested in any solution to that, though. maybe someone has an idea.

Good Luck!

p.s. what will that next MacPro be? 16 Core?[*]

I think they will just bump up the speed and do some minor changes, thing is you will be able to get the mid range one for the low range price when the do.
I like your Apple logo gref

the 16 core was actually a joke… although…
I like your bumpy head too, twistedtom

Never know 16 would cost big bucks for now.

billy is spot on with all his comments, particularly

homebilly wrote:Oh, make sure that they burn TC on the QT.

but if they don't do it - and sometimes these days, they don't! - go search for an amazing little app called "TokiTC". It's dirt cheap and will do a beautiful window burn for you on to your QT movie!