Transferring files between G200 & RT2000...

[e_z out]

I would be very grateful if anyone can help me...

I have some Matrox Marvel G200 .avi files on a machine with the G200 still installed - about 12 GB in total.
Ultimately, what I want to do is output them through another machine, with an RT 2000 installed, through the IEEE-1394 to make Mini DV Masters.
I have installed the RT 2000 Video for Windows codec on the G200 machine and am first opening my files in Soundforge and saving the .wav
without resampling from 44,100 to 48,000 ( resampling changes the duration of the file ).
I am then re-rendering the files with the VFW codec and intend to swap the drive into the RT2000 machine when I have finished.
I need to re-render these files anyway to make a few changes.

My problem is that the G200 is Lower field dominant and the RT 2000 is Upper field dominant ( I believe )
What field render option should I choose when doing my re-rendering bearing in mind that when I have finished, I will be opening the file on the RT 2000 machine ?
Also, anybody got a better method ?

Thanks,

e_z out.


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e_z out

[Elie]

Hi e_z out,

I have an idea, but it requires another PC.
What you can do is transfer the hard disk with all the MJPEG files and the Marvel G200 into that other PC, hookup the audio and video from the Marvel g200 and to the video and audio in on the RT2000 machine.

Hit playback on the Marvel PC and record on the RT2000, DONE

I know it's a lot of work, but even if you can borrow a pc it'll workout for you.

Regards,
Elie

[Pertti]

e_z out,

Set your project template to match the MarvelG200 files (lower field order), and when you export to RT2000 format, choose "Upper Field first" from the export options.

The RT2000 files use "Upper Field First" for PAL and "Lower Field First" for NTSC.

Pertti

What Elie suggested, is probably a better method.

[This message has been edited by Pertti (edited 15 April 2000).]

[DrMordrid]

I installed the RT-2000 softcodecs on the Marvel G400 system then rendered the video and audio portions of the necessary MJPeg clips separately (but with the same names) using MSPro6. The field order was adjusted during the render, which went faster than I expected.

They were saved to the RT-2000's RAID array by way of our network.

They imported into Premiere and worked just fine except that if copied off the timeline the audio didn't follow the video and had to be copied separately.

I love networks ;-))

Mine:

Linksys 8 port EtherFast 10/100 hub; all PC NIC's are Linksys EtherFast 10/100's.

Dr. Mordrid

[e_z out]

Thanks for the advice...upper field first it is. As regards Elie's suggestion, I did an earlier experiment connecting the SVHS out from one G200 to the SVHS in of another...this worked but I lost a lot of brightness and contrast in the process. Thanks again for the help.

[wkulecz]

Doc,

You're right on about networks. One upgrade you might find useful soon is to replace your hub with a switch.

I've been running a D-Link DSS8 8-port N-way 10/100 switch for over a year. This gives full duplex connections. I can play DV or MJPEG files on one machine with Media Player on another while other network transfers are going on without a bobble. This is sustained low latency 4MB/sec across the wire un-interrupted by other mundane activity going on amoung other machines on the network.

I paid $225 for it, I've seen it for about $175 recently.

Networks are good, full duplex rules!

To get back on topic, to claim analog out the Marvel to DV via analog in on the RT2000 is "better" than MJPEG to DV transcode, well I'd have to see it to believe it. It'll be alot faster, for sure!

--wally.

[DrMordrid]

I've been seriously thinking about a switch since we recently got cable modem service.

With all 6 of our PC systems (the other 2 are Amiga's) sharing the connection and also editing capable it seems it would be quite handy.

Dr. Mordrid

[e_z out]

I am very interested in starting a network for easy file sharing. I was advised to use 3Com PCI cards - anyone got any feelings about this ?
With PCI NICs, one concern of mine is that with the RT2K being such an alleged hog on the PCI bus, would I have to create a seperate 'network' profile for such a machine so as to maintain card performance.
Maybe I'm better off with the cold swap drivebays ?

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e_z out

[DrMordrid]

I have two NIC's on my RT-2000 system; one for the network and one for the cable modem internet connection (MediaOne RoadRunner).

Both NIC's are Linksys EtherFast 10/100's and they work VERY nicely. I've had very good luck with Linksys products over the years and these have been no different.

When I'm editing I use an editing-only profile to disable any devices unnecessary to editing. I have two such profiles, one with the network active and one without.

Dr. Mordrid

[wkulecz]

I'll second Doc's endorsement of Linksys PCI 10/100 network cards.

I'm running a mix of Linksys, Dlink, and BayNetworks 10/100 ethernet cards. I believe these are all derivitives of the DEC "tulip" ethernet controller which really broke the PCI price/performance barrier for 100BaseTX networking. You should be able to find these cards for <$20 in the US.

I don't have an RT2000, but with a Linux box doing the DSL firewall/routing I don't need a alternative profile without networking when editing. When troubleshooting I've disabled networking and its never made a difference on my problems. I love the convience of being able to grab a clip from other machines on the network while editing.

There is nothing wrong with 3com other than the price which is way too high. I still use an old ISA 3c509 card in my Linux firewall as the interface to the DSL "modem".
Back then, 3com was "better" enough to justifiy the slightly higher price, now they are about 3X the cost of the aforementioned cards with no performance benefits! hence I no longer recommend them. Like Adaptec for SCSI controllers, I think 3com are living off their past reputation. But if for some reason you need an ISA ethernet card (10BaseT only as the ISA bus can't do 100) it is worth trying to find one of these 3c509 series ISA cards. About the best performance possible for an ISA card without being a resource hog.

When pulling cable, use only the best quality Cat5 and run all four pairs. Although 100BaseTX only uses two pairs (thus some sleazy installers only run two pairs!) you'll need all four pairs for 1000BaseTX which will be affordable in a year or so. The labor of pulling wire so dominates the cost that its stupid to use anything but the best quality cable and connectors. In the long run it pays to anticipate the next generation when doing the install and to wire for it.

--wally.

[DrMordrid]

There are a couple of "grades" of the Linksys 10/100's on the market.

I use the full EtherFast which ran $29 at CompUSA. The plain Linksys 10/100 runs $14.95, but is short a couple of features.

What I'm REALLY looking at hard at the moment is the new Linksys BEFSR41 Cable/DSL EtherFast Router-Switch. Check it out at:

http://www.linksys.com/scripts/featu...p?part=BEFSR41

The BEFSR41 can be configured as a DHCP server, which would really take the load off my main system as far as managing the shared internet connection, and has a built-in firewall. It can also, by way of nested hubs, handle up to 253 users. A bit more than I need but....

Currently my sytem has to be on & running for the other machines to access the net. With this device I could actually edit (custom profile: NIC's off), reboot or shut it down without everyone else in the house going bonkers (G).

$151.99 at eCOST.com, which is a very decent price for such a product.

Dr. Mordrid



[This message has been edited by DrMordrid (edited 21 April 2000).]

[wkulecz]

This looks like a good product, assuming it provides good tools & docs for setting up the firewall and IP forwarding (NAT). The only "fine print" you might need to look into is if you can configure it to support the apps where your local PC has to act like a server for a "reverse" connection. "Normal" ftp is the most obvious and almost certainly supported. Beware if they require you to set your ftp clients to "passive" mode. This would mean they don't support the reverse mappings, which can be difficult, and unsafe in terms of firewalling, but are essential if anyone at home wants to use chat's DDC feature, CU-See-Me, Netmeeting, etc.

I'd have bought one of these if they were available and reasonable years ago. It was cheaper and easier for me back then to put together a Linux box from spare parts rather than spend $2K+ for an Ascend Pipeline. (I'm really dating myself in network years :-)

Internally I think these products are a single switch to buffer the 10BaseT and 100BaseTX sides, each of which is a passive hub. This is fine if you can live without full duplex.

The differnet "grades" of Linksys cards is why I've been getting BayNetworks cards lately -- less confusion. If I recall correctly model FA310, $19.95 at best buy last time I needed one.

I think the plain Linksys card is an NE2000 clone, and is only for people for which price is the only factor. The feature it lacks is "busmastering" which means much more load on your CPU when network transfers take place, very poor economy if perfomance matters at all. Sorta like buying a PIO4 EIDE controller instead of UDMA to save $5.

--wally.

[e_z out]

Spent some productive time at the Linksys site...the 'beginners guide to networking'was really helpful. We are now looking at getting a switch - I can hardly believe the pricepoint !

Thanks Dr.Mordred and Wkulecz...

[DrMordrid]

wkulecz,

According to the Linksys spec sheet the BEFSR41 Cable/DSL EtherFast Router-Switch IS full duplex and it includes a full setup Wizard.

That thing is looking better and better.

Dr. Mordrid

[Mark F]

I have one of the Linksys Routers. Never used the set-up wizard. Just hooked it all up, set the TCP/IP in each PC to auto obtain IP address. Used the Router's IP address to enter setup. Input the WAN info (have MediaOne RR, and couldn't get it to obtain an IP from them, had to hook 'modem' back to PC and get IP info, then entered it in to the router). All's been working well since. If you want to do Netmeeting or FTP, you have to use the PC in DMZ setting, with no firewall from router (so I'd use software, but haven't tried it).

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OH NO, my retractable cup holder swallowed a DVD...
and burped out a movie