Vegas to Beta SP for broadcast: DAC-10?

scottpetersen wrote on 3/30/2004, 11:44 AM
Hi, I'm not a Vegas user yet, but I am trying to gather a comparable Vegas option to the following Avid Express rig:
Dell Precision workstation (~$4000)
Avid Express Pro ($1600)
Avid Mojo ($1600) (with optional BNC component cable to our Beta SP deck)

So far, I am looking at Vegas 4 and the DAC-10 (around $650) to convert from DV to our Beta SP deck via Firewire
http://www.datavideo-tek.com/navigation_frames/dac-10/entire.htm

Any ideas from those of you who work in Beta SP or other broadcast formats if the DAC-10 is what I should be looking at? I did notice that a Canopus solution would be more like $1600. What my company is producing are 30-60 minute shows (and some 30 second commercials) for airing on major networks, so quality is essential. Thanks.

Comments

Jsnkc wrote on 3/30/2004, 11:45 AM
That looks like it will work. What we normally do is just run out of Vegas into a MiniDV or DVCAM deck and then component out into a Beta deck.
scottpetersen wrote on 3/30/2004, 11:58 AM
Thanks, Jsnkc. I'm a complete newB here, so I apologize up front... what is a decent MiniDV or DVCAM deck (so I can search other forums)?

We shoot most footage with a Beta Camera, and then digitize it into Avid today. We also have a pro level JVC GY-DV500 DV Camera, but I don't know if we can use the camera as a "go between" between PC and the Beta SP deck.
Jsnkc wrote on 3/30/2004, 12:40 PM
Well, the ones we use are a LOT more expensive than the DAC-10 you were going to use. Normally we run through a Sony DSR-2000 DVCAM deck, I think they are around $15,000. We also have a few of the Panasonic AG DV-2000 MiniDV decks (i think that's the right model) But those don't have the component out on them, just composite and s-video. And finally we have a Sony DSR-45 DVCAM deck and that one does have the component out on it, I think they are around $3500.
scottpetersen wrote on 3/30/2004, 1:29 PM
Awesome, thanks for the info! I have found on other forums the JVC BR-DV3000 the Sony DSR-11
(http://www.sonyfastrac.ca/webapp/commerce/servlet/ProductDisplay?merchant_rn=2&prrfnbr=37503&cgrfnbr=16464)
...which I am looking into both. I prefer to go with Sony, because they have a good reputation for uptime. I will look at the DSR-11 up to the DSR-45. $3500 is at the high end of our affordability, but it is within reach.

Thank you again.
filmy wrote on 3/30/2004, 4:52 PM
Just another option sort - maybe - check out Black Magic. They are starting to port over their cards to windows. Their least priced card is under $300. It is still a bit up in the air if it will fully work with Vegas. http://www.blackmagic-design.com/.
GlennChan wrote on 4/1/2004, 4:26 PM
(kinda OT, buying Dells)
Dell computers at the high end are quite overpriced. You might as well go with a turnkey vendor like Promax, DVLine, etc. You can roll your own and save several hundred (I guestimate ~$600 - labour - research), but I wouldn't recommend it for Avid unless you find a working recipe. Vegas seems pretty stable on nearly everyone's systems so it's pretty safe to build your own computer for Vegas. Alternately you can find a working recipe (list of parts) for Vegas and pay ~$50 for a computer store to throw the parts together. I don't know any reputable ones.
scottpetersen wrote on 4/1/2004, 7:37 PM
Regarding Vegas vs. Avid hardware- we're an all Dell shop at work, so I'm hoping that Vegas performs acceptable on a Dell GX270, because that would save us a lot of money over the 2-3 times more expensive Dell Precision workstations, which Avid requires.

p.s. I am with you on saving money by building- that's what I do for my own machines.