Scarlet Workflow with a temp stand-in camera

[meekish]

The church I work for is moving into a new building this month and wants to put together a HD video production system to start recording and producing the sermons. We'll make the HD videos available on our web site (probably through torrents) and down-sample to SD for distribution on DVD.

I wish it was "early 2009", but, alas, it is not. And we need the system now.

Our idea is to purchase a system to facilitate a Scarlet workflow, use a cheaper HD camera temporarily, and then add the Scarlet once it's available.

I'm a graphic designer and web developer, so please humor my ignorance ;)

Here's what I think we'll need (affirming or offering alternatives to these choices would be much appreciated):

Mac Pro (probably an 8-core refurb)
Some big hard drives (internal SATA 3GB/s)
Final Cut Studio 2 (already own it)
A tripod (LS-38M? Will this do smooth pans/tilts?)
A ~$2K HD camera (I have no idea which one. Recommendations?)

Am I forgetting anything?

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

Maybe an used FX1 and a Juicedlink box?
Or if you can go to the $3k realm get a Canon XH-A1.
The latter being the better solution.

And a 8 Core Mac Pro should handle 3k just fine.

[fde101]

Why not just use a prosumer SD camera initially, considering that you've got less than a year before Scarlet is released?

Particularly if you're outputting to an SD DVD anyway, the SD rez makes even more sense for the Internet (not sure why you'd do these "backwards" considering the file sizes you'll be dealing with...)


EDIT: Agreed if you can put $3300 or so into the cam initially, the XH A1 is a VERY nice camera, but again, I don't know if you really want to put that much into it right away. Might be better to go SD until Scarlet comes out and use the difference in cost to beef up your editing system with more RAM or something...

[Erik Bien]

How about a Canon HV20? They're around $600, shoot very nice 1080 HD and can down-convert to SD in camera.

[meekish]

I found some HV20 footage. It looks pretty good. That might be the way to go for now.

Regarding the rest of the system, I Forgot something important. We need to deliver live video to multiple LCD TVs throughout the church. I'm assuming that all of the cameras recommended have video outputs, so we're probably cool there. But does anyone have recommendations for a closed-circuit video system? Will there be an issue with differing video output connectors between an HV20 and the Scarlet?

[Peter Majtan]

Both Scarlet & HV20 have HDMI as an output. If You can figure out Your solution based on the HDMI - You should be able to easily switch over to Scarlet once it is out...

[Learvis]

Regarding the rest of the system, I Forgot something important. We need to deliver live video to multiple LCD TVs throughout the church. I'm assuming that all of the cameras recommended have video outputs, so we're probably cool there. But does anyone have recommendations for a closed-circuit video system? Will there be an issue with differing video output connectors between an HV20 and the Scarlet?

Are you installing the entire system yourself with members of your church or hiring a contractor? Plus what is the distance of the LCDs from your switcher? This could make the different between just ordering items from B&H or your local AV Shop or coming up with a custom solution from a contractor who will spec out the system for you.

Sounds like you have you solution for post but broadcasting the signal throughout the church is going to take a little more equipment like a switcher and signal boosters depending on the run of your cables to the LCD plus are you using additonal sources like DVDs, Powerpoint etc... You get the picture. If this is the case get with a contractor for they charge more if they have to come in and correct other's mistakes!

[meekish]

Are you installing the entire system yourself with members of your church or hiring a contractor?

We'll be installing it ourselves.


Plus what is the distance of the LCDs from your switcher?


I just found out that we'll only need to deliver video to four TVs in the foyer, which is just outside the auditorium, so the max length will probably be about 150 feet.

[Learvis]

We'll be installing it ourselves.



I just found out that we'll only need to deliver video to four TVs in the foyer, which is just outside the auditorium, so the max length will probably be about 150 feet.

If it's over 100 feet and your split the signal 4 ways (really 5 sending it to the monitor) you'll need some type of booster to get a good signal to each monitor.

[Learvis]

I'll PM you a list of items we used on a church install tomorrow you can see if the equipment works for you. The church we did 4 month ago was a 2000 seater.:thumbsup:

[meekish]

Maybe an used FX1 and a Juicedlink box?
...snip...

I think I'm going to go with the HV-30. Would you recommend a Juicedlink for use with that camera?

[Erik Bien]

Yes, if you want to run XLR-equipped, phantom-powered mics or take an XLR feed from the PA system.

[meekish]

...or take an XLR feed from the PA system.

We do. Juicedlink looks like a cool product. Thanks!

[meekish]

Here's the proposal that I put together this afternoon: http://lighthousecf.org/system/video-system-breakdown.xls

The base system is a Mac Pro Dual Quad-Core 2.8 with a RAID card. I'm thinking that I'll run the four 1TB drives in RAID-5. And the memory is an 8GB kit.

Watcha think?