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Newbie Advice
Hello People
Please bear with me <G>
The frequenters of the hardware conference gave me some good advice late last year about upgrading my old computer system. I unfortunately sold the computer system to my Mum at Christmas, so she could play this year's Tomb Raider & Indiana Jones games, her existing P133 wasn't up to the task, she is nuts about this type of 3D action game.
I didn't think this would be a problem as I planned to build a computer system in the new year to have a go at video editing. Since when the market in the UK has been totally screwed, the major suppliers which I use, have never had all the parts I wanted for a computer system in stock at the same time. Or I keep missing the 1/2 hour window when they do, I was hoping to single source. Pentium's for example have been as rare as rocking horse droppings, as have reliable sub-systems to run the only pentiums I can get, re 820 / rambus fiasco.
Anyway, what I'm after is opinions on a home computer system that will allow me to broaden my skills base. IMHO I'm fairly skilled in editing / manipulating digital images with regards to compositing, matting, masking and the like, I have been using the CorelDRAW suite of programs for nearly 10 years.
In the early stages I will be working with analogue source from Terrestrial TV and a rather clunky but servicable 8mm Video camera, intially output will be to VHS and hopefully VCD. My DVD player can handle VCD if burned on to a CD-RW.
I just recently saw the results from a Digital Video camcorder and was knocked out by the quality, on a standard television at normal viewing distance, the visual results to me were indestinguishable from a terrestrial analogue broadcast. If I can produce results I find satisfactory using analogue video source, I would like to progress to this kind of quality.
After investigating the market, I'm torn between going for something like a Matrox Marvel or the RT2000, coming from having no hardware / software at all there is little to choose between them in terms of cost regarding the video side of things. In the UK the the RT2000 costs 800 UKP + VAT and comes with everything. The Marvel costs 220 UKP + VAT but to this I have to add the cost of a decent editing suite, with no upgrade paths this is likely to cost around 400 to 500 UKP + VAT. The rest of the sub-system will vary depending on which of the above I choose, the RT2000 sub-system coming in slightly more expensive than the Marvel sub-system.
Although I think I will be able to to basic compositing / alpha transparency work with something like Premier or Media Studio, ie avi footage produced by a 3D modelling program layered on top of real life footage (please confirm). I would also like to do special effects. I have a feeling that this last one is going to cost me a small fortune in software.
I did see the RT2000 at this year's computer graphics expo at Wembley and thought it was very good, however I also know from reading the official and unofficial conferences on the web that I might be attempting to run before I can walk, it is a complex product.
I don't think overall speed is going to be a problem, i.e. I think I can wait for rendering, although you old hands will probably tell me that you soon get sick of it.
So I guess what I'm after is a system to cut my teeth on, I am more interested in learning the methods of video production and special effects, as long as the final output is equivalent to good quality VHS I think I will be happy, at least for now.
Peter
Please bear with me <G>
The frequenters of the hardware conference gave me some good advice late last year about upgrading my old computer system. I unfortunately sold the computer system to my Mum at Christmas, so she could play this year's Tomb Raider & Indiana Jones games, her existing P133 wasn't up to the task, she is nuts about this type of 3D action game.
I didn't think this would be a problem as I planned to build a computer system in the new year to have a go at video editing. Since when the market in the UK has been totally screwed, the major suppliers which I use, have never had all the parts I wanted for a computer system in stock at the same time. Or I keep missing the 1/2 hour window when they do, I was hoping to single source. Pentium's for example have been as rare as rocking horse droppings, as have reliable sub-systems to run the only pentiums I can get, re 820 / rambus fiasco.
Anyway, what I'm after is opinions on a home computer system that will allow me to broaden my skills base. IMHO I'm fairly skilled in editing / manipulating digital images with regards to compositing, matting, masking and the like, I have been using the CorelDRAW suite of programs for nearly 10 years.
In the early stages I will be working with analogue source from Terrestrial TV and a rather clunky but servicable 8mm Video camera, intially output will be to VHS and hopefully VCD. My DVD player can handle VCD if burned on to a CD-RW.
I just recently saw the results from a Digital Video camcorder and was knocked out by the quality, on a standard television at normal viewing distance, the visual results to me were indestinguishable from a terrestrial analogue broadcast. If I can produce results I find satisfactory using analogue video source, I would like to progress to this kind of quality.
After investigating the market, I'm torn between going for something like a Matrox Marvel or the RT2000, coming from having no hardware / software at all there is little to choose between them in terms of cost regarding the video side of things. In the UK the the RT2000 costs 800 UKP + VAT and comes with everything. The Marvel costs 220 UKP + VAT but to this I have to add the cost of a decent editing suite, with no upgrade paths this is likely to cost around 400 to 500 UKP + VAT. The rest of the sub-system will vary depending on which of the above I choose, the RT2000 sub-system coming in slightly more expensive than the Marvel sub-system.
Although I think I will be able to to basic compositing / alpha transparency work with something like Premier or Media Studio, ie avi footage produced by a 3D modelling program layered on top of real life footage (please confirm). I would also like to do special effects. I have a feeling that this last one is going to cost me a small fortune in software.
I did see the RT2000 at this year's computer graphics expo at Wembley and thought it was very good, however I also know from reading the official and unofficial conferences on the web that I might be attempting to run before I can walk, it is a complex product.
I don't think overall speed is going to be a problem, i.e. I think I can wait for rendering, although you old hands will probably tell me that you soon get sick of it.
So I guess what I'm after is a system to cut my teeth on, I am more interested in learning the methods of video production and special effects, as long as the final output is equivalent to good quality VHS I think I will be happy, at least for now.
Peter
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