Suggested Workflow

[beatblend]

Hi there -

I'd like some input as to whether or not a MXO2 LE would be useful to my workflow.

I'll be soon upgrading to a Mac Pro 12-Core w/ 12GB RAM. I'll most likely be using Premiere 5.5. The footage I'll be working with will probably be in AVCHD format from Sony's HDV series cameras. On average, I'll be editing in multicam mode with 4 camera angles. The footage will end up being output for DVD, not Blu-Ray.

1) Would the MXO2 LE be a good fit for this workflow?
2) If so, would it suit me better using Windows over Apple?

Thank you in advance.
Stephen Daniels

[autumn]

Hi Stephen,

Unless you specifically need HD-SDI video and/or XLR audio, you may be happy with an MXO2 Mini for most capture and monitoring needs. There is no performance difference between the various models, just the connections. Each of the different MXO2 offerings can also be had with the MAX option for hardware-accelerated H.264 exports.

I'd be hesitant to purchase a new Mac Pro right now - it last had a refresh maybe 18 months ago or more, so it is old technology. If you do go Mac Pro, you'll want the Nvidia Quadro 4000 card to get the GPU acceleration of the Adobe Mercury Playback Engine.

iMac and MacBooks don't offer any Nvidia choices, so they are handicapped for Premiere usage.

About the cameras, HDV uses miniDV tapes to record 1440x1080 video using Long-GOP MPEG-2 at 25Mbps. AVHCD records to memory cards at full 1080 or 720p resolutions, depending on the camera, using the H.264 codec. Totally different formats, terms not interchangeable. AVCHD is more demanding to edit.

The best bang-for-your-buck can currently be had with a Core i7 PC workstation with Nvidia GPU when using Premiere CS5.5.

Thank you

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers
www.sharbor.com