Thanks guys.

I'll be using VV for commercials, weddings, music videos,
documentaries... Later on I plan to use my computer for multitrack
recording. But right now I am just interested in getting video and
stereo audio into the computer. I'll be getting video from a Canon GL
1, and also a Sony Hi8mm camcorder. So I will need a video card with
IEEE 1394, S-Video, and analog I/O. For audio I need a stereo sound
card with digital(optical), analog(RCA), and midi I/O. What are some
of the good video and sound cards that work well with VV?

I've been thinking about a 800Mhz processor(dual later), Windows
2000, 256MB RAM. What size hard drives would be good? Is the amount
of video you can edit limited with Windows 98? If so, is it also
limited with Windows 2000? What are the limits?

My price range ends at around $3000. I'm not that experienced with
computers so I will have to have someone build the main parts.


Thanks for all the help.
Brad


Brian Franz wrote:
>>Brad, all the advice that Karl gave you is very good advice. But I
>>would assume that you want this new PC to be able to do other
things
>>besides running Vegas, I personally use mine for graphics designs
too.
>> So going the route of dual processors might not be your best
route.
>>You might want to check with all your other software if it also
>>supports dual processors. The system that Karl described to you
would
>>cost approx. $2500 if you are able to build your own system. Well
>>over $3000, if you have someone else build it and that's not
including
>>a monitor and Pro Audio Card. So that's the other thing we need to
>>know, what's your budget? One other thing we need to know is if you
>>want to import video, so we can tell you what kind of Video card
you
>>need, that can be a big price difference factor. Vegas's minimum
>>system requirements are 400Mhz processor,Windows98 SE, 128MB RAM,
>>7200rpm hard drive. I could recommend a system that will run Vegas,
>>and cost you under $1000, if you have the knowledge to build it
>>yourself, and this system would out perform any system you could
buy
>>from, let's say best buy at over $2,500.
>>
>>Karl Caillouet wrote:
>>>>What are you going to be using VV for?
>>>>
>>>>Without an answer to that question, here are some general
>>>>observations ... I personally prefer to build one myself, or have
>>one
>>>>built locally at one of the ubiquitous "clone" shops in a strip
>>>>center in almost every burg in the country. In my experience, go
>>with
>>>>a "clone" and stay away from the name brand, proprietary systems
so
>>>>that you have a better upgrade path and interchangeability of
parts.
>>>>
>>>>How you anticipate getting audio and video into and out of the
>>>>computer needs to be addressed early in your shopping because the
>>>>type of hardware you require here may influence what operating
>>system
>>>>and other components will make up the computer. IOW, what sound
>>>>card/Analog I/O, and Video I/O are you considering?
>>>>
>>>>Another major consideration is that Vegas is written to take
>>>>advantage of a dual processor system and if you can afford to go
>>that
>>>>route it can play a big factor in the stability and performance
of
>>>>your system. A dual processor system will give you a huge
advantage
>>>>in "stability", along with a noticeable increase in "performance"
>>>>with Vegas. After experiencing the difference, and assuming I
have
>>>>the software to take advantage of multiple processors, I will
never
>>>>again use a single processor machine in a commercial environment
if
>>I
>>>>can help it. If you decide to go that route, insure that drivers
for
>>>>your hardware are available for the operating system (WinNT/2000).
>>>>
>>>>The other two areas that are crital for AV work are RAM and disk
>>>>throughput. 256MB of RAM is pretty standard. Go with the absolute
>>>>fastest disk subsytem you can afford for your "recording drive"
...
>>>>at a minimum, no less than a 7200 RPM IDE drive ... and much
better,
>>>>if you can handle the cost, a fast SCSI controller and drive like
an
>>>>Ultra160 combination. As always, dedicate one drive strictly for
>>>>recording and one for your OS, the latter can be a cheaper IDE
>>drive.
>>>>
>>>>A good video card for you GUI is also critical. While you have a
>>>>bigger choice here, the Matrox G400's work well with Vegas and
would
>>>>be money well spent. You may want to ask some others which video
>>card
>>>>works well for them.
>>>>
>>>>There are many other factors involved, but that will hopefully
get
>>>>you started in the right direction.
>>>>
>>>>KAC ...
>>>>
>>>>Brad Holbrooks wrote:
>>>>>>I need a computer to run Vegas Video 2.0. Any suggestions
>>>>>>or advice would be appreciated. New, used, it doesn't
>>>>>>matter. I'm looking for very good performance and
>>>>>>reliability.
>>>>