Using the Scarlet on PC?

[Ryan Lalonde]

Ok, this is gonna sound very over simplified, but I am completely baffled by most things after lurking on this forum for awhile. I am a pc user, I have been looking at upgrading to the canon xh a1, but then lately have been hearing alot about the scarlet. I cannot afford to switch to an apple computer, I have purchased two very expensive computers (desktop and a laptop) and cannot afford to get a mac. Simply put, is it possilbe to use a Scarlet on a pc? And, in the most simplest terms, what will I all need? compared to this....

my dv camera ----> computer -----> edit in windows movie maker/sony vegas/adobe premier-----> publish to dvd or web

scarlet---->computer--------? ----------> publish....

[Andrew]

Yes, it will be absolutely possible to use Scarlet on a PC. Especially an expensive PC! (assuming it wasn't a diamond-encrusted case with a 486 inside or something...)

at the moment, the simplest method would be:
scarlet --> computer --> REDCINE (http://www.red.com/support/release_history/6) --> (your favourite editing program) --> web/tape/disc

REDCINE will transcode your footage into something called an 'intermediate' in a format which your editing program can read.
Pretty soon, though, Adobe Premiere will have inbuilt native support for the files which Scarlet will produce so you can skip the REDCINE part. I think also that Vegas should also eventually have it. I wouldn't hold my breath for Movie Maker :wink5:

-Andrew

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

I'd recommend Adobe suite, since their softwares are awesome (After Effects!) and the RED plugin will be out in a few.

[Ryan Lalonde]

thanks for the replies guys... defintly gonna wait it out for this amazing camera.

[Fost]

Am hoping that a windows version of the Red quicktime codec might make it out into the wild. Wouldn't this solve all issues on PC since all editing apps support quicktime?

[David Rasberry]

My old technical laptop died last week, so I went shopping Tuesday. Had to be PC for the software I run. I found a great Toshiba 17" HD display with 2ghz Intel dual core with 4 gigs ram, ATI Radeon graphics, and TWO 200 gig hard drives for $999.00. It plays 1080P WMV HD files without a hitch.
I keep my work machines very stripped down and optimized, so that second drive will make a perfect scratch drive for ingest and editing video.
It will be interesting to see if it can handle Scarlet work flow reasonably well. I don't expect it to replace a dedicated editing workstation, but hopefully it can handle field transfers for dailies and freeing up the CF cards for reuse.

[Andrew]

I'd recommend Adobe suite, since their softwares are awesome (After Effects!)

I have Creative Suite 3 and I like most of it

After Effects : Fantastic
Premiere : Very Good
Encore : Needs some improvement
Flash, Illustrator, SoundBooth : Fantastic

Encore gets very sluggish if you're dynamically linking comps into it from After Effects. I've also had some problems with random, inexplicable errors with bizarre work-arounds. I love After Effects and Premiere is also good, it gets a little sluggish with hour long HDV clips but that's probably just due to my ageing system. I was very impressed with how it could play clips from a Sony EX3 today straight from the memory card on the camera without problems. All in all, it's a great package if you're careful to keep Encore under control!

[Max Link]

Swirlskate, if you're already using Premiere for DV editing, stick to Adobe.
As soon as their R3D Plug-In is out, you'll have full dynamic-link functionality for Redcode RAW - If your system is fast enough, you'll hardly notice a difference in the workflow, except for the CC possibilities you'll have in REDs proprietary software. If you haven't yet, be sure to check out this thread (http://scarletuser.com/showthread.php?t=769)and the Adobe video it links to.

[Tim Hole]

A mac pro alternative maybe...

Dell Precision T7400
Two Quad core Intel Xeon X5450 (3.00GHz)
4GB Ram
nVidia Quadro FX 1700 512MB
250GB HDD
19" monitor
= £2593 ($4,551)

the nearest equivalent I could configure a mac to this is - £3058 ($5,371)

Two 3.0Ghz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
4GB RAM
320GB HDD
nVidia Geforce 8800GT 512MB
20" Display

Quadro FX 1700 retails for £350 ($650)
Geforce 8800GT retails £110 ($190)

The Quadro in the PC is a far better card. I included a 30" Apple Display which is probably superior in quality to the Dell and Its probably the case that the Harpertown chips are better, but how much better? is it worth the extra £465 ($820) that could be used to buy more RAM partly pay towards a top notch monitor...

Thoughts people...

[daveswan]

If you're editing on Avid, then Nvidia graphics are a rock-hard compulsary requirement. I did have a look at Dell a couple of days ago, but wasn't sure if the T7400 had a RAID card built in.
Why do we always get shafted by electronics prices over here?
Dave

[Jason Ramsey]

If you are looking at a Dell, I've never heard very good things about using their monitors for editing. Never used one personally though.

PC will work fine with Scarlet.

Later,
Jason

[fde101]

For "typical" computer use the Dell monitors are probably the only "good" product they make, but I doubt they're intended for pro color grading or anything like that...

[Tim Hole]

If you're editing on Avid, then Nvidia graphics are a rock-hard compulsary requirement. I did have a look at Dell a couple of days ago, but wasn't sure if the T7400 had a RAID card built in.
Dave

I think they include a raid card free if you add multiple HDD to your buyers specs.

Why do we always get shafted by electronics prices over here?
Dave

We get shafted for everything price wise over here!

[daveswan]

True, so very true!
I'll have another look, but I probably won't be buying anything non-esential, or expensive untill the new year.
I don't know about the LHC, but there is a large Black Hole in my bank balance at the moment!
Dave

[Tim Hole]

I've always used the AG Neovo monitors and found them to be excellent for the money.

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/AG-Neovo-E-W22-widescreen-monitor

We use them at the office with the Avid for offline work, in dual display, with a HD reference monitors. Then the Online work is done in the online suites with a 50"+ Display, can't remember what the monitors are in these suites though...I don't have anything to do with the online work in there! Tim is not experienced enought I fear!!!