I7 Core with Vista 64 - $999

jcvmp5 wrote on 1/12/2009, 6:25 AM
I am moving to HD and needs feedback on this rig for editing AVCHD in Vegas Pro8. How do you set this rig in order to maximize CPU capability in 64 bit; aside from removing bloatwares. Will there be an issue with Prodad plug ins; ie, Vitascene and Mercalli.

What is the best workflow for AVCHd in Vegas Pro? Reading previous post, Vegas Pro does not have any problems editing AVCHD nor the spec of this rig. Should I keep timeline property in1980/1020 template or just DVD NTSC Widescreen? What is the best render template keeping HD quality if final deliery will be in DVD. Should I invest in a Blu-ray burner? Appreciate any help.

Microcenter.com

Dell - Studio XPS-121M
Intel® Core i7 Quad Processor 920
6GB Tri Channel DDR3-1067 SDRAM
750GB Hard Drive
DVDRW Drive
19-in-1 Media Card Reader
ATI® Radeon HD 4850
10/100/1000 Network
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit)
Display Not Included
$999.99
Product Specifications
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit)
Processor Intel® Core(tm) i7 Quad Processor 920
Processor Speed 2.66GHz
Level 2 Cache 8MB Level 2 Cache
RAM Installed / Max RAM Supported 6GB Tri Channel DDR3-1067 SDRAM
Memory Configuration (6) 1GB DIMM Memory Modules
Hard Drive 750GB Hard Drive
Multimedia Drive DVDRW Drive
Monitor Type Display Not Included
Video Card ATI Radeon HD4850
Video Card Memory 512MB Video Memory
Sound Card High Definition Audio Chipset
Sound Output Mode 7.1 Channel Surround Sound
Network Features 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Network
Memory Card Reader 19-in-1 Media Card Reader
Input Device USB Multimedia Keyboard, Premium Optical Mouse
Included Software Microsoft® Works 9.0, McAfee Security Center (15-Month Trial), Roxio Creator 10 Dell Edition
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year Limited Warranty


Comments

InterceptPoint wrote on 1/12/2009, 7:49 AM
I can comment on your machine configuration since I just built up a Core i7 system running 64 bit Vista and Vegas 8.1.

You will love your Core i7 920. It will certainly handle AVCHD. You might look to see if Dell will let you upgrade to a Blu-ray writer. Probably an extra $150-$200. Faster (1333 MHz) SDRAM might also help but I'm no expert. 6 GB is certainly OK.

You will probably get a lot of advice about using intermediaries. I don't. I just edit the AVCHD on the timeline and have not had any problems. If you are going to build HD disks on standard DVD media then you have some learning to do but the how-to's are on this forum - just do a search on AVCHD and put your glasses on.

HD to standard DVD via DVDA is pretty straightforward and my results from an inexpensive Sony CX-7 HD-AVCHD camera have shown excellent quality, not HD but still very good.

Authoring HD resolution AVCHD disks on standard DVD media that will play in Blu-ray players will take a third party program like Nero if you want menus - DVDA is not currently up to that task. If you don't need menus you can burn right from the timeline in Vegas.

Good luck. I hope you get some good advice on this thread.
Tom Pauncz wrote on 1/12/2009, 8:22 AM
Good luck with your new system.
My only comment, based on previous discussions, is that perhaps you should evaluate using some other video card than ATI.
Tom
jcvmp5 wrote on 1/12/2009, 11:33 AM
Thanks, Tom. I'll pay closer attention to the ATI video card. I will look into upgrading to a Bluray writer.

Thanks InterceptPoint as well. I have follow up questions.
When you edit AVCHD in Pro8 timeline, what template under Properties settings do you use? I am not in front of my PC but remember seeing different choices including a 1920 x 1080 template. I lucked out this week end and got a nice Panasonic AVCHD HDD cam at Best Buy for cheap. The camera records FullHD. What happens when you edit 1920X1080 clips in a 720X480 timeline. Appreciate much if you can post your workflow.
ingvarai wrote on 1/12/2009, 11:48 AM
I agree with InterceptPoint, I only use intermediates in special cases, and then I render to m2t, on some occasions to AVI.
AVCHD on an i7 should work just fine.

I have an Intel Quad and use the
HD 1080-50i (1920x1080; 25,000 fps) template (I am in PAL land)
HD 1080-60i (1920x1080; 29,970 fps) template for NTSC land

What happens when you edit 1920X1080 clips in a 720X480 timeline
This is an interesting question. I assume a much faster render, and also less quality. Anyone who knows better than me, I would like to know.

Tom Pauncz wrote on 1/12/2009, 11:49 AM
Here's the http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=633885&Replies=6ATI card reference.[/link]
Tom
InterceptPoint wrote on 1/12/2009, 12:53 PM
I use the 1080-60i template for video.

As to workflow I'm just learning my way around. My Sony HRD-CX7 records AVCHD in 1080-60i format with a 1.3333 pixel aspect ratio so the selected template matches my camera. I've never used a 720p template.

I typically render to the MainConcept MPEG-2 codec with the DVDA NTSC Widescreen template set to variable bit rate (9.5 Mbps max-CBR) and two pass. This will pass through DVDA without a re-render and, for me, the quality is quite good - better than what I was getting from my older and more expensive SD camera.

For HD I'm just getting started. What looks good is the Sony AVC codec with the AVCHD NTSC template with a separate render for the audio (AC-3 Pro). For the video I select the MPEG-2 Transport Stream and that generates an m2ts video only file. I then use Nero 8 to generate AVCHD Blu-ray playable disks using standard (and cheap) DVD media. About 30 minutes for 4.7 and an hour for 9 GB seems to be what people are getting.
JohnnyRoy wrote on 1/12/2009, 1:16 PM
> Will there be an issue with Prodad plug ins; ie, Vitascene and Mercalli.

None of these will work with Vegas Pro 8.1 so no benefit from using a 64-bit application. Vegas Pro 8.1 is incompatible with every 3rd party video plug-in for Vegas. I would plan on using Vegas Pro 8.0c even though you are using Vista 64.

> Should I keep timeline property in1980/1020 template or just DVD NTSC Widescreen?

If your AVCHD camera is full HD I would recommend editing at 1920x1080 and then just making your final render to DVD Widescreen. This way you can easily re-render the project in HD in the future (cuz' you know you're going to want to).

~jr
Steve Mann wrote on 1/12/2009, 2:04 PM
"Vegas Pro 8.1 is incompatible with every 3rd party video plug-in for Vegas."

Don't you mean that every 3rd party plug-in for Vegas is incompatible with Vista?

Porpoise1954 wrote on 1/12/2009, 2:23 PM
"Don't you mean that every 3rd party plug-in for Vegas is incompatible with Vista?"

Not really. They all work just fine on Vista - with vegas 8.0x
JohnnyRoy wrote on 1/12/2009, 3:40 PM
> Not really. They all work just fine on Vista - with vegas 8.0x

Exactly. Vegas Pro 8.1 will only work with 64-bit video plug-ins and right now there are none. So stick with Vegas Pro 8.0 and you'll be OK.

> Don't you mean that every 3rd party plug-in for Vegas is incompatible with Vista?

No. Don't confuse a 64-bit operating system (Vista 64) with 64-bit applications (Vegas Pro 8.1). Vista 64 runs 32-bit software just fine (as well as 64-bit software). All of my Vegas plug-ins from XP work fine with Vegas Pro 8.0 on Vista 64. They just don't work with Vegas Pro 8.1.

~jr
Grazie wrote on 1/12/2009, 9:30 PM
All of my Vegas plug-ins from XP work fine with Vegas Pro 8.0 on Vista 64. They just don't work with Vegas Pro 8.1.So, for those that are captured within this process, I'm guessing there has to be some form of workflow management that stipulates:"I need to do this in ProjectA in VP8.0 and carry out "other" procedures on ProjectA in VP8.1".

I'm guessing here also that, everyone caught in this particular local, civil issue, must be praying/hoping this interregnum is as short-lived as possible? Yes?

Grazie
jcvmp5 wrote on 1/14/2009, 5:07 AM
Sure enough system crashed last night rendering to DVD Architect 24p Widescreen. No problems rendering the same project using HD 1980 x 1020 timeline but rendered to DVD Architect Widescreen. I'll pick up a Nvidia video card later and hopefully this will solve the problem. I do not know whether this matter that some clips in the timeline are 60i and some are shot in 24p. I'll report back on the video card.