Mac vs. PC configurations - the video quality question

[pbrelin]

I'm helping a friend set up a new channel on Mogulus.

He currently has a 6 year old PC laptop and a Sony TRV 50 mini dv camcorder. The video quality is not great and I worry if the laptop can keep up.

Based on some research I recommended a new laptop, a new HD camera and the use firewire cable (not USB) as well as using the macromedia video encoder. I'm assuming that firewire transfers both sound and video, correct? My friend mentioned that when using a firewire connection on his TRV 50, no sound was transmitted to Mogulus through the camera microphone, he ended up having to use a PC microphone.

We were looking at Sony VAIOs but some people I know recommend going Mac. So I've been pricing Mac Book Pros.

Mac users, what camera/laptop configurations are working for you?

PC users, how do you weigh in?

Thanks for your input.

[ijoeltv]

I currently use a MacBook, which I use to broadcast from the road. I am a truck driver and have spent the last 5 years conducting live broadcast from behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler.

With a Mac, you basically have 2 computers in 1. You can run native Mac OS X and Windows XP or Vista. Mac comes with a program called bootcamp.

My current MacBook cost $850 new from BestBuy and added the extra 4 gig's of ram to it for less than $100 bucks.

As far as broadcasting goes, Mac has by far, the best quality, load handling, etc. The only that Mac lacks, is a MEDIA ENCODER! Thats right, FME or ON2 will not work on OS X, but thats what I was saying earlier, you can run windows for that. If Adobe would build a FME version for Mac, I could then remove Windows XP.

Back to your question, I use multiple PIP cams, etc to broadcast daily from this little Mac. I use the built in iSight for just about everything, great quality!

I use Quickcam Pro for Notebooks for in-cab shots and use Logitech Pro 9000 for Dashcam to show motion capturing. Both work great!

Basically, there is so many options you can do with a Mac vs. PC.

I like simplicity, Mac is so easy to power up and go, portable, sleek, well designed, powerful, and low cost. Quality is phenomenal!

[davidaron]

One really cool advantage the Macbook Pros have are built in firewire (both 400 and 800) ports, which makes it much easier to connect external cameras and DV compatible equipment.

What OS you run on them is a matter of choice. I prefer Linux. On the Mac, it's up to you!

[faithfamilycalendar]

Yes, Firewire can carry audio signals. Firewire is much more reliable than USB 2 in my experience, and makes for better video quality. An HD Camera is a good idea. The built in camera on the mac does function well if all you're doing is sitting at a desk and you never want to go out and take BRoll footage or do any type of videography.

Our cameraman failed to show up on Sunday Morning for the broadcast, so we used the camera on the mac and broadcast a static wide angle.

It'll be playing on our channel till wednesday if you want to take a look.

The other plus with a mac is the reliable video editing software that you can get bundled with it. Editing on a PC is like pulling teeth for me since I bought my Macbook Pro and Final Cut Suite 2.

If your friend plans on doing anything with video I'd tell them to go mac. Once you go mac, you'll never go back. I love leopard, I never have problems, and I'm much faster than all my PC friends. Dual booted, windows on my mac is still faster than windows on their laptops. But Leopard is my fav. operating system of all time.

So yeah... Get a mac. Get a good HD Camera. Get a wireless microphone kit for it, go for the gold.

[davidaron]

Originally Posted by davidaron

One really cool advantage the Macbook Pros have are built in firewire (both 400 and 800) ports, which makes it much easier to connect external cameras and DV compatible equipment.

What OS you run on them is a matter of choice. I prefer Linux. On the Mac, it's up to you!

I would like to add, however, that if you plan on using en external Flash encoder other than the studio's built in one, You will need windows, being that Adobe and On2 live only work in that OS.

[cseeman]

Telestream Wirecast. Both a Mac and Windows version. It supports high quality H.264 Flash streaming to Mogulus (Yes, the Mac version). Finally great high quality live encoding to Flash on the Mac.

[artesianmedia]

unfortunately, I find that despite paying out the wazoo for VMWare Fusion and WinXP, when I hook up a panasonic GS250, livestream says that there is an error initializing the camera and then crashes.

[cseeman]

Out the wazoo?
Win XP Home Edition OEM is $99 give or take.
Both Fusion and Parallels can be had for near free if you're buying a new Mac or maybe up to $70 but you don't even need that.
Boot Camp is FREE so that plus Win XP Home OEM for a total of $99

Of course if you're "paying out the Wazoo" why not just get Wirecast for $449 (runs on Mac or Windows) and has full switcher FX up to 3 simultaneous cameras, etc. You might have checked that out if you saw my post on this thread in late March.

Originally Posted by artesianmedia

unfortunately, I find that despite paying out the wazoo for VMWare Fusion and WinXP, when I hook up a panasonic GS250, livestream says that there is an error initializing the camera and then crashes.