Anyone into shooting & editing HD video???

[Antoine]

So up until now...I've been putting together small videos using my Canon digital camera in video mode...Not the most sophisticated setup but it works great "on the cheap".

Now I'd like to set my video "game" up a few notches and go "HD"...I was wondering if anyone on the forums has experience with making, taking and editing HD video...If so..I'd really appreciate your input!

I'm thinking of getting the following setup...

Camcorder (UPDATED): Now the proud owner of a Canon Vixia HF10!

Software: Final Cut Express 4 or Final Cut Pro 6

Computer: Buy my first mac and go with a macbook or macbook pro...(I just checked them out at the store and it's an impressive machine but the screens didn't seem that bright compared to "pc" notebook screens). Can a new macbook handle "HD" editing?


Of course I want to make super sweet home vids but another reason for this setup would be to make high quality Mazda/Car related vids for net consumption...maybe even a videocast??? Plus I'd love to watch my home vids at full rez on a plasma!

Well...let me know what you think...Thanks! :D

[ResilientMike]

I've edited in HD (not much different from other formats just HQ) and will be shooting commercials/infomercials with some expensive HD cameras for my job.

I've actually been in the car video editing realm for a while starting with old POS cameras to my now GL2 I use for broadcast here in AZ and commercials/web content. When I have more time I'll post more about stuff I've done and future stuffs for the Mazda scene as well!

Some recent stuff I've done for promotional
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoas-l03RhU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7d7L_z2XOA

I'll upload my old stuff onto my YouTube account as well soon :)

[Antoine]

Thanks for chimin in! :D

Cool vids...What sort of equipment do you use at home?

What do you use to edit your vids? Pc or Mac? Software?

[ResilientMike]

I've been using my built PC (3.2ghz proc, 2gig ram etc).

I also like using Vegas Video 7.0 until I can afford a Mac for FCP.

[mountjonas]

not sure about final cut express, but for final cut pro, you need at least a macbook pro to run it. final cut isn't compatible with integrated video cards.

my home setup is an old g4 powermac running fcp5 and a powerbook running the same. no HD for me yet since I'm shooting on an old GL1. I can't bring myself to buy the HDV format, either. I'm just not a fan of the way it looks.

my work setup is an avid symphony nitris on windows XP. our shows shoot on dvcpro HD and hdv for high def and dvcpro50 and dvcam for standard def.

[Antoine]

UPDATE...Just had my bday and my lady friend surprised me with a Canon Vixia HF10!


I've been using my built PC (3.2ghz proc, 2gig ram etc).

I also like using Vegas Video 7.0 until I can afford a Mac for FCP.

Yeah...I've got a custom built pc (now almost 2 years old) with 2 gigs of ram and a 10K rpm hd that I've used to edit basic video from my point & shoot cam in video mode but I'm wondering how well my machine can hack AVCHD editing...?

Seems like everyone recommends going Mac & Final Cut for HD video editing these days...Now that I've got an HD cam...I'm looking into getting a Mac sooner than I thought...but damn they can be pricey! :(



not sure about final cut express, but for final cut pro, you need at least a macbook pro to run it. final cut isn't compatible with integrated video cards.

my home setup is an old g4 powermac running fcp5 and a powerbook running the same. no HD for me yet since I'm shooting on an old GL1. I can't bring myself to buy the HDV format, either. I'm just not a fan of the way it looks.

my work setup is an avid symphony nitris on windows XP. our shows shoot on dvcpro HD and hdv for high def and dvcpro50 and dvcam for standard def.

I appreciate your input...I didn't realize that Final Cut Pro requires an actual video/graphics card equipped notebook...What are the main differences between Pro & Express?

Also...You mentioned that you work on shows...Do you have any examples of your work on the net?

[mountjonas]

I'm sure there's a bunch of segments on youtube, but I work on Dirty Jobs, The Ultimate Fighter, American Chopper, and the latest season of Ghost Hunters. I color correct the shows and prep them for air.

[Antoine]

Cool...I'm a big fan of some of those shows...Nice work (2thumbs)

[ResilientMike]

I'm sure there's a bunch of segments on youtube, but I work on Dirty Jobs, The Ultimate Fighter, American Chopper, and the latest season of Ghost Hunters. I color correct the shows and prep them for air.

That's wicked. I just started in the business on the production aspect, but also learning the post-production editing part of it with my company on their Mac's.