BUILDING EDITING SYSTEMS
Resolve 8 from Blackmagic Design now includes OpenCL processing, which brings this advanced node-based colour correction tool to users of the iMac and MacBook Pro. For £695, such users can experience real-time noise reduction, curve grading, object tracking, advanced multi point stabilisation as well as automatic stereoscopic 3D image alignment.
Desktop powerhouse However, Jigsaw’s Allan says there will always be demand for Apple workstations in tower form, able to be fitted with multiple PCI cards, massive amounts of RAM (the current limit is 64 GB) and, crucially for HD and higher resolutions, the ability to constantly upgrade storage capabilities. “If you are working with a lot of high resolution media, and you are not connecting to a network, you are always going to need a tower machine with fast internal storage that is able to be expanded,” he says. It’s a view shared by Chris Bailey, workflow designer at Root 6. “We build tailored Mac- based systems with pre-installed components on a frequent basis,” he says. “For a professional post operation, currently we’d recommend a Mac Pro with a 12-core ‘Westmere’ processor, a minimum of 8GB of RAM and a graphics card – the Radeon 5770 with 1GB of RAM would be ideal.” Such a configuration currently comes in at around £4k on the Apple Store. Bailey also recommends Blackmagic Design’s video I/O solutions for the PCIe-equipped Mac Pro. “Where budgets permit, the DeckLink HD Extreme 3D covers all the bases with 3 Gb/s SDI, 4:2:2, 4:4:4 RGB, with native 12-bit and frame rates supported up to 1080/p60,” he explains.
Monitors and peripherals Just as important in editing and finishing workflows are the screens you use. These should ideally be capable of running HD video. “If you’re looking to impress, then the stylish Apple Cinema Displays capable of 1650 x 1080 resolution are a potential must-have for a GUI monitor, but the choice of monitors are endless,” says Bailey. “For real-time monitoring of 3G and HD video, we’d recommend the JVC DT- V24G11Z 3G Grade 2 Monitor. It’s such a pity it doesn’t have a sexy name but it’s a stunning monitor with endless features,” he adds. Dedicated keyboards are available for Final
Cut Pro, but those looking to get more hands- on control would be better opting for a control surface. These are produced by several established manufacturers and can be used for such tasks as navigating through footage or adjusting colour
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correction using a more tactile interface such as trackballs, buttons and knobs. Experienced colourists can take advantage of the DaVinci Resolve control surface, specially designed to work in harmony with Resolve software.
Storage considerations “I think one of the most misunderstood aspects of building the correct editing system is working out how much and what kind of storage you need,” believes Mike George, senior account manager at Square Group. “Whether something is compressed or not has huge implications on the resultant file size,” he says. “The term ‘HD’ can mean anything from just a few MB/s in the video world to hundreds of MB/s – and this will have a significant impact on what storage system and how much storage you will require.” “If you truly are working on fully uncompressed HD, at say, 10bit 1080p at 24fps, then you are going to need something substantial,” continues George, adding that Apple’s RAID solution for the Mac Pro, which configures four drives in a RAID 5 configuration, might not be enough. “You wouldn’t expect [even] this system would reliably cope as
it begins to get over 60% full,” he says. “Therefore an external storage system would be necessary.” Root 6’s Bailey suggests it’s not just the amount, but also the level of security that should be a concern. For a standalone system, he recommends the G-SPEED es Pro XL. “This is an excellent professional solution for those working in multi-stream uncompressed HD and 2K workflows,” he suggests. “Those with less demanding environments have plenty of choice with alternatives from G-TECH. We’ve supplied kit from this manufacturer for years and it’s proved highly reliable. When you’re purchasing storage, it’s just as important to understand about RAID and the level of protection you will have as well as the performance the solution can offer,” adds Bailey. “Lose valuable content and you’ll lose clients. It really is as simple as that.”
Cost of Apple Final Cut Pro X is £179.99 (inc. VAT)
Apple Aperture
Refine images and manage massive photo libraries seamlessly
Re-touch photos with brushes and adjustment presets, organise images with Faces and Places
Media Express 3.0
Media Express is used by thousands of Blackmagic Design customers worldwide for managing a wide range of media types and for capture and playback of files to and from broadcast decks
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