I am editing footage from the Canon H1 and am using an HP computer 3.0Ghz processor, 1.5gigs of ram and still the footage stutters and won't play smoothly. if an unedited clip is long enough, it will catch up and play in real time, but the moment you start cutting, the short clips bog the system down. I am using Sony's Vegas as my NLE

What gives?

Where can I get minumum specs for smoothly editing HD content?

I did find an article that may answer someof your questions. I'm certainly by no means an expert..

Expert View: Are You Ready For HD Video?

I'd recommend reading the article and see if it answers any of your questions! I'll dig around for any other ideas I can find.

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Discounted HDMI & DVI cables, HDTV accessories

I haven't used vegas in a while (I'm more of an adobe user; now trying to switch over to Avid), but i would advise you to get a a dual-core cpu (something like an intel core 2 duo), as much ram as your system can take, and a good graphics card.

You might also want to set the video monitor preview to draft mode or half-res/low-res while editing and just render your whole project as a qt mov for full res previews.

I use a lot of HD stuff such as Sony and Canon HD cameras capable of uncompressed HD video (requires 200MB a sec writes) with the Blackmagic Decklink 4:4:4.. You really need a powerful system to edit HD with ease.. Unforunately your P4 is very weak and the best for HD editing at all. My home system is a 4600+ with 2GB RAM and editing is easy.. I also have a Tyan 2895 with 2 Dual Core 2.8 GHZ Opterons.

If you are really getting into HD video, I suggest building a power system using the new Intel Conroe or use AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+ or Dual Core Opteron.

BTW: for editing apps I use Premiere 2.0 and sometime Vegas..

Later..

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Editor - www.hidef.com

"True adaptability involves changing ones self to meet ones environment, not changing ones environment to meet ones needs" - Species8472

Try Premiere or Avid, they have been around alot longer and in use by alot more editors. I have used them both but havent cut in HD, so I couldnt tell you. But they are both great editors.

I think I might be able to help you with that. Im a student from Los Angeles Film School and we edit HD as well as Standard Def, 35mm, and 16mm...no flatbeds, or macs, just pc's.

We edit on Avid. But hardware wise...especially dealing with HD. Hardware is most important.

You're definitely going to need atleast 2 processors to do the job. Currently, before I left, we were using 2 xeon's running at 3.2ghz. with 2gb's of ram. Your current processor won't be able to handle such a load. Dual cores are the thing especially for rendering. And my athlon 4200 does the job. But probably not for hd.

So let me tell you what Im getting for my rig. (Hopefully one day). I alrerady have half the parts...

2 Opteron 285's.
Tyan two processor, dual core motherboard
4gb's of ram corsair xms pc3200
2 74gb western digital raptors raid 1
1tb of system storage
1tb g-tech external hard drive
(soundcard your preference)

Avid Xpress Studio Bundle w/ mojo
and to keep the camera from wearing out...

An hdv recorder...
Sony HVR-M10U


hopefully that helps out a little bit. =)

Does anyone here use Premiere for editing HD? I already have that so when I get my camera, soon, that will be one less thing to get.

Yes, Avid has always been great for solid state editing, unfortunately the OMF format and backing up project data, used to be a pain. I definately find Premiere easier, and more intuitive to work with. However, several versions ago, Premiere couldnt keep up with solid playback like Avid DV Xpress. That has changed now with SD DV, and now Premiere rocks, but I dont know how well it works with HD.

Just bought a Matrox Axio system yesterday...

It was expensive ($25K) but when it gets here I will report on how it is to use.

Supposedly it will do HD in real time for all sorts of formats on the timelines.

I will be using Premiere with it...

Expect some exclusive HIGH DEFINITION content posted up here soon!

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-NewsHound
...the dogged reporter...

Too funny.. Matrox is sending me an AXIO for qualification at work. Once we are done I plan to play with it a lot. ...

Later..

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Editor - www.hidef.com

"True adaptability involves changing ones self to meet ones environment, not changing ones environment to meet ones needs" - Species8472

What I am really excited about is th Apple 30" display I got with it!

__________________
-NewsHound
...the dogged reporter...