Logic 6, Mac G5 and video

[CaryWest]

I am using Logic 6 on the Mac G5 in the capacity of sound design for picture. I understand that there is a way to output the imported quicktime movie via firewire to a dv camera then to a tv monitor to view the movie full size. It is also posible to use a firewire to video converter box. Can anyone suggest any converters that are reasonably priced.(remember all I need to do is view a full screen image - not best quality.)
Or better yet. Since I haven't even got the Mac in the mail yet maybe someone can tell me this: Is there a way to (in the Mac ((I used to be a PC guy)) just select an output that outputs only quicktime video instead of mirroring or gettting 2 monitor display? Thanks in advance.

[VectorWarrior]

Formac make a nice, cheap converter, i think it's about $270, here's a link

http://www.formac.com/p_bin/?cid=solutions_converters&PHPSESSID=a11af7e9700df87ef16ecc5b3b359184


in the next few months i am going to buy a G5 for sound design work in a similar way you are. I'm currently using a G4 and Digital Performer which i love for sound design but the version for OSX is supposed to be very dodgy so i'm looking into other software. I'd rather stay away from Pro Tools, i used it for years but it isn't open ended enough for me. Nuendo looks nice but is really buggy on Mac (and i want to stay with Mac). I am very interested in Logic but it is marketed as a music system and i can find no information on how it performs in a sound design function. How have you found it? Sorry to hijack your post ;)

[jayrose]

Check apple.com for converters that are qualified to use with Final Cut. At some point you might have that software (or its lite version), and in the meantime you can use it with the free iMovie.

A lot of older Firewire<>video boxes were dropped with OS 10.2.6.

[CaryWest]

Thanks for your answer Jay & VectorWarrior, I will be sure to check formac out. VectorWarrior, as far as your question to me about how I like Logic.....well....right now I'm finding it extremely irritating that Logic 6 for OS X will not import an OMF from Final Cut Pro. It is a wonder to me why there is such a problem since Apple has bought Emagic and has put out Logic 6 under the Apple umbrella. Tech Support has told me to try and include more files in the export process. Adding some blank tracks should be a workaround as they promised. I have not had a chance to see if that works yet. Of course they also told me it would be better to download Logic 6 for OS9 and import the OMF, save it, and then re-open it in Logic 6 for OS X. Heres the problem with that: I have a G5 and OS 9 will not run native on the G5. Logic 6 for OS9 wont run in classic mode either. I sure hope this issue is cleared up in OS 10.3 (panther edition). On the whole, I think Logic is too convoluted and is not user friendly. Basically I would stick to Protools for audio and editing. Logic is really for music production. The only reason I went to Logic is because I had a slight interest in doing some music as well as sound design and hoped that I could kill two birds with one stone. But at the moment I am going to be a sales man for Digidesign's Protools for a second if i might. After 4-5 years working on protools, I can say that there is no other editing/recording/mixing system or software that has the same ease of use, intelligent archtechture, and price. Sure there are cheaper software packages like Steinberg's stuff, but as you say it is unstable for Mac. There is Cubase/digital performer/and others but not geared for our purposes...and they won't record 192khz. Then there is Fairlight and Audicy. I think Jay uses Audicy (am I right, Jay?) But these systems are very expensive...or at least for me right now. But none the less the best ones out there. Even over ProTools. And not the LE version. It can't handle timecode unless you get the dv toolkit. But the price factor is what matters to me and what matters to me is Protools HD. But Logic is very nice and can run on a TDM system too. I dontknow if you can run Logic with the HD system though. I'm sure you can, all that matters for Logic is if you have an AD/DA. Anyway I've ranted long enough. Hope this helps. Thanks again for your help Jay and VectorWarrior...Cary

[scott]

A lot of older Firewire<>video boxes were dropped with OS 10.2.6.

That is not quite correct I believe. The Firewire> video boves are independent of the OS. Now there maybe software that won't support an external converter, I think there were issues with iMovie not liking devices that didn't pretend to be camcorders, but that's not an OS issue.

There is an issue however with sync. External boxes require some amount of time to proscess the signal (usually 1~2 frames). So if your program doesn't have a way to compensate for this offsett you will have problems doing audio post.

[jayrose]

About the dropped FireWire boxes: when I migrated to 10.2.6, my Sony (DMC1?) suddenly wouldn't work with FCP and iMovie... I couldn't even see it as a DV sound source....and it worked fine with that software previously.

And yes I use AudicyVX. I haven't seen anything near as fast (my clients agree), or with as tight a control over a pro video deck like a BSP or a Doremi V1. It's getting a little long in the tooth - I'm waiting for AudicyII - but on the other hand it runs flawlessly (not a single crash in 4 years). Price was about the same as an equivalent PT rig, considering the Audicy has an integrated hardware mixer/controller.

It doesn't have the kind of awesome plug-in support of the desktop DAWs... but since I'm not constantly buying plug-ins or paying $$$ for updates (Orban's updates are traditionally free or close-to), I was able to buy an Orville for its external effects loop. And Orville can do -anything-, particularly if you're willing to learn its programming language.

I also have DP occasionally running in sync with Audicy, for times when I want infinite tracks or to use plugins. But all the edits and sfx placement are in Audicy... and it's a dream for music cutting.

OTOH, if I had it all to do over again, I'd look seriously at the Fairlights.