NX Express + Mac Pro 8 Core

[Geoff]

Hi StormDave,

You have exactly the same physical layout as I tried, including the Intensity Pro. I know that we discussed my issue some while ago when I was having to wait about half an hour and you kindly carried the re-boot test for me. When you did this, did you boot immediately after the power down had completed or did you leave it for a very short period, like a minute? Another thing, and I think that you originally reported this as to be the case, there are three lines referring to the Intel 500 chipset with exclamation marks in the Device Manager - I'm not at the Mac at the moment, so I can't remember their exact description. Is this still the case with the latest Boot Camp configuration?

One other thing, do you find that the Intensity Pro crops the HD image by about 10%; this may be a PAL thing?

Regards,

Geoff

[STORMDAVE]

Hey Geoff, booting is instant for me. I just hold down the Option key before the Apple sound comes up so I can pick Windows as the OS. Once I'm in Windows, everything works fine, the NX, etc.

If I restart from Windows, it will not let me go back to Windows...this is a Bootcamp limitation. If you want to go back from Windows to windows, shut down from Windows then boot up fresh and hold the Option key again.

About the exclamation marks, yes, the 3 PCIexpress ports have an exclamation mark, but ignore that. All 3 slots work perfectly. I've read forums where people said under Vista the exclamation marks go away, so the NX will soon have Vista drivers and we'll all eventually be moving to Vista 64/32bit.

As far as Intensity Pro I don't know about HD, I have only used it for SD projects previewing from FCP & After Effects via component out (I do alot of graphics work under OSX...editing side is done on the Windows side). It works really nicely for such a low priced card. Have not tried the HDMI ports at all.

[SRsupport]

Dave I have no problems with restarting?
If I restart I go straight to windows but I have made windows the default.

Did you do that?
Since my main is windows , xp is first.
When I want to go in to osx I press the option key. :)

I see no exclamation marks. (I am using a second generation mac pro)

[nazmul_i]

I am planning to upgrade my system.

I am to considering a mac pro.

1) I am also planning to buy the new sony ex3, so plan to shoot a lot full HD in 24p, will i be able to use edius on windows mac pro?

2) How many layers of real time tracks would be able to do with at one time in edius on a 3.0ghz 4gb ram mac pro?

3) why would i need an NX card on a mac pro?

4) i have read on the mac forums that the mac RAID card does not work with boot camp, is this correct? Is anyone using the mac RAID 5?

Thanks

[STORMDAVE]

Dave I have no problems with restarting?
If I restart I go straight to windows but I have made windows the default.

Did you do that?
Since my main is windows , xp is first.
When I want to go in to osx I press the option key. :)

I see no exclamation marks. (I am using a second generation mac pro)

Steve I know if you set Windows as the default OS you won't have a problem, but mine is OSX as default as I use it alot. 50% OSX 50% Windows.

Since the newer gen Mac Pro's have a newer motherboard, maybe Intel fixed the exclamation issue...I will see for myself once I get the new one next week.

I am planning to upgrade my system.

I am to considering a mac pro.

1) I am also planning to buy the new sony ex3, so plan to shoot a lot full HD in 24p, will i be able to use edius on windows mac pro?

2) How many layers of real time tracks would be able to do with at one time in edius on a 3.0ghz 4gb ram mac pro?

3) why would i need an NX card on a mac pro?

4) i have read on the mac forums that the mac RAID card does not work with boot camp, is this correct? Is anyone using the mac RAID 5?

Thanks

Hi,

1) Yes, Edius works fine for me and many others (SRsupport too). You will need Edius Broadcast ($~1,000) if you want to load in XDCAM footage.

2) Mac Pro's are 8 core machines, and it's upto the software to take advantage of it...as of EDIUS 4.61 not all cores are used except when you export to MPEG2 and some other formats....

3) You will need the NX Express so you can preview your HD footage on a large LCD (40"+) with perfect sync out of EDIUS. If you have no card, you cannot preview your HD footage unless you use a few workarounds which are not really recommended if you want to see a good quality preview. NX Express is totally worth it.

4) I have no idea about the Apple RAID card, but the Mac Pro has 3 internal Sata bays...you can easily put in 2x1TB drives and setup a software RAID under Windows...however this way you have no data security, but it is the cheapest way. Another way would be for you to put in an eSATA controller (CalDigit has good ones) and use an external RAID5 box enclosure so you have data integrity and speed at the same time.

[nazmul_i]

StormDave,

Have you done any HDV or HD work on the mac pros, if yes how many layers of videos can be edited simultaneously in real time before any frame drops?

[STORMDAVE]

Yes I've done HD projects. Let's just say it's more than capable of doing alot of layers, but how many do you really need? The XDCAM HD format uses MPEG2 so you should be able to do more than 4 layers at the same time. A good RAID setup will also help.

The Mac Pro is just like a PC, except it has no BIOS and it's a beautiful noiseless machine :)

[nazmul_i]

Thanks StormDave,

I want to be able to edit at least four layers with using multi cam, this should be fine for me.

I have started using the macs, i must admit that i know understand why hardcore mac users are snobby when it comes to a Mac.

If only Edius 5.0 would be native on Mac OSX 10.5!!!!!


Nazmul

[STORMDAVE]

You should be able to do 4 layers with no problems.

If you have any XDCAM HD 35mbps clips for me to test, let me know so I can test it on this side next week.

[nazmul_i]

StormDave,

I have purchased the EX3 yet so have no footage to provide. The Camera is due for release in July 08 here in the UK, So there is still some time.

What is the stability of Edius on Boot camp?
Have you had any issues?
What format do you Shoot and edit on edius?

[STORMDAVE]

I know the EX3 is not out, but EX1 footage is the same type of format the EX3 will use. I just haven't personally tested files from the EX1....

There is not much stability to talk about, Bootcamp is just a utility under OSX which lets you create a partition for Windows, and that's it. Once you create the partition, the assistant asks you to put in the Windows cd so you can boot to it and then install Windows. Then you install the drivers provided on the Leopard disc. Once you're done, it is fairly straight forward. Start your machine, and hold down the Option key...then you pick either OSX or Windows.

Stability is the same as any other Windows machine. It is not emulating, it is purely a fresh Windows boot. I have not had any major problems except for the Apple bluetooth keyboard, but even Apple recommends the wired keyboard...also my Wacom tablet driver "goes away" after some use and I partly blame my machine which seemed to be faulty since day 1 (Apple is replacing mine as we speak). Also you will only be able to use 2GB of RAM under Windows 32bit...once Vista 64 drivers come for the NX, you should be set.

We still shoot in DV, but we have a DVCPROHD camcorder on the way (HPX500) and we're going to start shooting with that very soon. I've already tested P2 footage under EDIUS, it's smooth.

[Geoff]

EX1 files works perfectly within Edius on MacPro here.

Geoff