I am looking to upgrade to a new computer and need some help. I am using premire right now on a compaq that has had millions of problems so i need a new one soon.

I am looking for the best computer and where i can get it. If you could leave suggestions and maybe some reasonings why you feel they are the best. I would like to keep the cost under $3000 if it is possible, so please keep this in mind.

Thank you for the help,
Jeff

3 grand u.s I take it?

It all really depends on how advance you want to get.
Since your familar with Premiere your probally not with avid (correct me if I am wrong).
And we could get on a continum of why avid is better then premiere etc or why avid is better then final cut or vice versa.
What I would reccomend you do , is purchase a dual G4 editing system and download Final Cut Pro 4.
www.apple.com u can customize your g4 system.
If you want to stay PC and advance from the horrid grips of Premiere , then I would suggest going to www.supermicro.com and building a dream editing system out of server parts. These motherboards can hold up to 12 gigs of ram, extremely fast harddrives and up to 8 dual processors. Go check it out.
I am learning Avid right now, and its a ***** I won't lie.. especially with my ****ty ass computer, but I am learning it none the less.

Those are my opinions.. In a matter of hours this post will have many more for u to choose from.
Like I said its all a matter of what you want to do!

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

Yeah, I'm stoked for FCP 4.

Keep in mind, Academic version of FCP 4 now cost $400 (due in July I think). Academic for Avid Xpress is 300-400. You'll also need more RAM ($100+), possibly another HD, monitor, etc. My point is don't blow your wad on a computer and skimp or forget the hardware/software that lets you edit video.

I'm a mac person. I always will be. But you can get a windows-based system for a *little* less. Is it as good? Not for me (or most pros), but they'll get the job done.

joren

His price range of 3 grand should prove sufficient if he wants something from www.apple.com.
With www.supermicro.com its all parts so you need to know a thing or two to build your own computer.

The new Avid Xpress DV that Chris posted earlier was pretty impressive and I am sure hefty competition for FCP4!

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

Thank you all for replying. First of all, I'm not sure if i'm goin to stick w/ premire or not, so i would like to know why you like avid better, or why final cut is better. Also, for the editing computer, I don't know if i should stick with a pc or go mac. I was planning on going mac until i read an article saying that pc's were getting better. Thank you guyes again for leavin the messages.

You gotta figure out what you want to do... Final Cut Pro (4 especially)has many features over premiere.. once u master final cut u can edit much faster then in premiere.. real time effects rendering, better color correction and its effects are a bit more After Effects oriented then Premieres!
Avid is what a lot of big names in the industry use to edit so its good to know the interface.. way better color correction then Premiere and a lot more professional over all.

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

quote:

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Originally posted by jeffmkaylor:
I am looking to upgrade to a new computer and need some help. I am using premire right now on a compaq that has had millions of problems so i need a new one soon.

I am looking for the best computer and where i can get it. If you could leave suggestions and maybe some reasonings why you feel they are the best. I would like to keep the cost under $3000 if it is possible, so please keep this in mind.

Thank you for the help,
Jeff

---

Have a look at my page regarding computer systems for video:

http://www.jonesgroup.net/videocomputers.htm

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

Went to your page, but it didn't tell me anything useful for video editing. You promote Ulead pretty hard, but most will agree, if you want to get serious your going to have to look at FCP, PREMIERE or AVID.

I wouldn't recommend taking the advice from your homepage. If you want to buy a pre-built editing system, check out Sony Vaio's... much better then the IBM stuff on that page. But I would still recommend Apple over all.

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

yah! Go APPLE for sure! I've done heavy video and 3d stuff on both and there is no comparison. none at all. fcp3 is great and i bet fcp4 is even better. get a G5 or real cheap closeout G4 and FCP and you're in buisness.

cheers and good luck

perry

"...where wings take dream..."
- G. W. Bush

When do u think the best time is to get a real cheap G4 ?

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

quote:

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Originally posted by Irony is a Dead
When do u think the best time is to get a real cheap G4 ?

---

The next time there's a riot near an apple store.

If the past is any indicator, the price never really drops too much, but you won't see any price drop until g5s have been shipping for a few months. If you're comfortable buying used, you'll start seeing relatively new g4s for sale used pretty soon.

joren

check out the apple website: apple.com

and buy a new G5--it'll be the best investment you ever make.

it is an incredible machine. get the computer ASAP, worry about software later.

yeah, he's right.

only don't get it custom made!! i got my 867 g4 about two years ago, i got it built custom and it has had loads of weird hardware problems. first the pro speakers started acting funny. they gave me a new pair, then it happened again, they took the computer for a week and then said there was "a peculiar form of dust" in the speaker jack which they supposedly removed. i still have to fiddle with the plug everytime i change a sound setting. and for a while my hard drive would screech when ever it went to sleep. the apple people of course couldn't get it to do it in the store and now it stopped after a 1 hour car ride a few months ago. and the other day my dvd drive started chattering really loud and clunking while i burned a cd-rw. most people do not have problems like this with their new macs so i assume it is because it was custom made.

oh well, get a powermac, it will serve you well for YEARS even if it's like mine.

"...where wings take dream..."
- G. W. Bush

I would only get it custom made if it was PC parts you were looking for.

Mac's have such wicked pre-built towers that you shouldn't have to custom build.

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

quote:

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but most will agree, if you want to get serious your going to have to look at FCP, PREMIERE or AVID.

---

Do you really know anything about Ulead?

I wonder if you've ever really used this software.

I've used them all.

I also happen to have more than a decade of professional television news experience.

My brother is Final Cut Pro user.

I've had a close look at Final Cut Pro.

There's no rotoscoping module in Final Cut Pro as there is in Ulead MediaStudio Pro;

There's no integrated DVD authoring in Final Cut Pro as there is in Ulead MediaStudio Pro;

Apple finally got their act together to include a decent titler in Final Cut Pro version 4 - something Ulead MediaStudio Pro has had since version 5.0.

Please.

Spare me the Apple/Adobe/Avid bromides.

They use Avids locally - at KTVB - which is my old TV station.

But they really aren't any more powerful than a new version of Ulead MediaStudio Pro... or even Premiere 6.5 for that matter.

Here's a comparison matrix:

http://www.ulead.com/msp/compare.htm

Have an open mind - open enough to try the free demo download for Ulead MediaStudio Pro:

http://www.ulead.com/msp/trial.htm

The IBM workstation class computers are better for video editing than the highly proprietary Sony boxes that you mentioned - in my personal opinion.

The main reason being the IBM IntelliStations are 'workstation class' computers.

More powerful power supplies, more ram, more deluxe components - and more standardized construction.

http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/intellistation/zprocto.html

By the way, I've assembled three PC video workstations.

I prefer to build my own.

But I recommend the IBMs for those who don't have the knowledge to build their own video workstations.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[This message was edited by Jerry Jones on July 04, 2003 at 01:40 PM.]

Easy feller...settle down a bit.

I have used Ulead stuff in the past, and I apologized its not the latest and greatest version, but it never cut it for me.

And if you Ulead was so great, then I believe it would leave Premiere, Avid or FCP in the dust...which it doesn't.

I really could care less if you keep promoting the stuff or not, I am just trying to help the guy out with his question.

YOu need to relax a bit and use some better software!

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

hi Jerry, sounds like Ulead is a jack of all trades, master of none. Why was the comparison link only showing Premiere and none of the others apps you compared Ulead to? Xpress and FCP do have most of those features listed and more (where's OMF audio support, EDL generators, and 24 FPS editing to name a few). Plus I'm not sure I want or need these consumer-level features listed. I'm not saying Ulead is a bad editing app, and there's something cool to me about using the lesser known--path less taken--type app, but as a cuts and simple effects program, I doubt it compares to FCP or Xpress. As a compositor and rotoscoper, I doubt it compares to After Effects, Combustion or Commotion. As a DVD authoring app I doubt it compares to DVD studio pro, as a 3d title app ... you get my point. That all said, I'm glad it works well for you and am glad you weighed in with your opinion *cough* sales pitch.

joren

Edit: Whoops, Irony posted before I could.

Actually, the posts I'm reading in this thread reveal who has really bought into the same tired, sales pitches that bombard us continually from the HUGE McDonald's like marketing machines of Apple and Adobe.

They ought to call it "McMarketing."

Anyway...

Both of you have obviously never even used Ulead MediaStudio Pro 7.0.

So you don't know what you're missing.

The FREE trial download is here:

http://www.ulead.com/msp/trial.htm

If you give it a thorough study, you'll realize just how extensive the feature set of Ulead MediaStudio Pro really is.

Just the capture options alone in MediaStudio Pro are far more useful for documentary production than those found in either Premiere or Final Cut Pro.

As I mentioned earlier, I have more than a decade of experience actually working professionally in television news.

I was a TV news anchor/reporter.

My old publicity photos are here:

http://www.jonesgroup.net/publicity.htm

I have to wonder what - if any - professional experience you bring to the table.

Anyway...

I have some experience with the other applications mentioned.

My first exposure to NLE was with Avid.

Next I tried Premiere.

Next I tried MediaStudio Pro.

Next I played with Final Cut Pro.

In many ways Ulead MediaStudio Pro is superior.

You mentioned EDL.

Did you know EDL is going the way of the dinosaur?

Have you even kept up with what's happening in the industry?

I'll clue you in:

AAF.

That stands for "advanced authoring format."

Still don't know what I'm talking about?

Check out this Web site:

http://www.aafassociation.org/

Take note - Adobe has joined the board.

My prediction:

AAF support will be a heavily touted feature in Adobe Premiere 7.0.

Read up on it.

That point aside, I could go on and on and waste my time listing all of the reasons why Ulead MediaStudio Pro not only competes with - but OUTPERFORMS the more widely publicized non-linear video editors.

But here's my main point:

It's the skill of the person who uses whatever application that makes the real difference in the end.

Show me somebody who doesn't know how to write, doesn't know how to shoot, doesn't know how to edit - and I'll show you somebody who will fail with any of the applications mentioned.

But show me somebody who is a good writer, a good shooter, a good editor - and I'll show you somebody who can use Ulead MediaStudio Pro and knock the socks off many a BRAGGART who lays claim to SUPER EDITOR status just because he or she went out and bought a package with a well-hyped LABEL.

Peace.

:-)

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgruop.net

[This message was edited by Jerry Jones on July 04, 2003 at 09:15 PM.]

this is a student forum, so chances are, no one else here has publicity photos from 1987 posted on the web. I was in 4th grade in 1987. Yes, among other things I've worked at two television stations, in the commercial production departments (our DMA is 133). I have never been a reporter or a news anchor before, however, no. So now that I'VE qualified MYSELF, let me use your argument to make a point. These apps are all tools, right? And it's not the tool, but the operator that makes the difference, right? Then why is your main argument against these apps the fact that they are popular and backed by a stronger ad campaign? Nope, never used it. Scorning me for using a popular app isn't going to make me change, either.

...and about the AAF thing, here's a link talking about how apple committed to the technology in september 2002. Only they also have EDL export also because it is not extinct yet, now is it?
http://www.aafassociation.org/html/pr/ibc_daily-091402.htm
and here's a link showing avid as a principal member of AAF and apple as a general member (where's Ulead?):
http://www.aafassociation.org/html/Memberlist.html
I also know that FCP additionally supports XML, API and the new enhanced EDL formats (that store speed changes and still frame info). PLUS, you can get the automatic duck plugin that lets you move your FCP timeline to after effects and back--no more precomping. I'll stop before I sound like an advertisement.

wait, is there a free trial of Ulead availible to download? I'm not sure with this McMarketing.

So you have done some work in the "broadcast" industry, and you're much older then the rest of us students...mainly because your not a student right? Just so you know, this is a student film site... not a burnt out broadcaster/reporter site to market your Ulead software. And no matter what you say Sony Vaio and Supermicro kill your IBM campaign.

That's all fine and dandy, its nice to have a change of face around here BUT...
You keep talking about the superior features of Ulead out weighting FCP , Premiere and Avid. If you're so correct then why isn't anyone using it in the film industry? I may not be of the high and mighty professional status you hold, but I have done my share of work and met with people who have also done their share...and no one has ever recommened Ulead. I am proud that you think its better, but my point is it's NOT and the numbers show for it. Meaning anyone who has ever thrown down something great in the film industry (in my eyes) has not used this product.

Then again I am just a student filmmaker... I should be more worried about making films then worrying about some guy in the broadcast industry spamming IBM and Ulead.

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_