gear

[cerasus]

hi all

i've somehow scrabbled together about ?1500 to get tooled up and started out with vjing. i've looked round this site and learned a lot but i'm still confused as to what i should go for..

i'm thinking of buying a secondhand G4 powerbook and using after effects, flash and VDMX. i'll be concentrating on creating content for a while so i don't need to worry too much about mixing or output right now. i want to capture and manipulate tv and video - i've seen a few products advertised, eye-tv etc - whats the best one to go for? i do web design for a living and a G3 has been enough for that but video seems to need as much juice as i can squirt at it. whats the minimum spec i should be looking at? G4 500Mhz? 800Mhz? 512Mb RAM? what video card?? or should i go PC? they seem to offer so much more for the money (but i truly love macs).

i'd be eternally grateful for any help you can give me on this, i can't wait to get started but don't wanna waste my money..

thanxx

[vjrei]

I have 2 powerbooks G3 500, both with 250MB of ram and 9GB and 30GB discs.

Both cost me $1000 each, now you can get them for $800 I think.

Personally VDMX is way too overrated, I do not use it and I do not miss it. I use Motion Dive 3 asa primary software and Arkaos VJ as a secundary. I use too videodelic connected to a firewire video camera and latelly Rythmic Circle Fuse.

My computer have 8MB of video ram, I was able to run VDMX but it is not what I was looking for even it comes with very nice features.

If you are gonna use VDMX get a Ti with at list 16MB of video ram, if you are gonna get a Ti with 8MB of VRam get the G3 instead and save some $$$.

For capturing you have a few choices:
1. Capture thru a video camera with firewire if you have one.
2. Get a box like Hollywood Bridge or similar, those are firewire devices.
3. Get a PCI capture card, Aurora is the best, do not get Miro Motion.

Now, I would take a firewire capture device over PCI, period. Just because you can experiment with it on stage connceted to your powerbook.

Use system 9, OSX is good but I haven't tested in the powerbooks.

The G3 500 is the best buy better than a Ti, let me tell you.

About PC I just now nothing about it.

Good luck.

[vjTranceKoder]

Here is a clip from the VDMX3 Manual

[holly]

Go slowly. VJing is one of those things where little expenses never end. First a Powerbook, then a special cable, then software, then a scanconverter, then another special adapter and more cable, then another fiewire drive, then a special cable for the camera.... Then you start taking your show on the road and the little cables and adapters never end!

Invest slowly and take your time to build fresh content. Honestly, I keep seeing laptop VJs who will spend big bucks on powerbook and software, but spend almost no time on content (judging by what they are showing). I'm not trying to dis anybody, or claim that you can't do a quality show from a single laptop.... But, the most important part of VJing is you and the content you create.

read Spark's The Powerbook VJ (http://www.vjcentral.com/article/show/2662) article, and search the forums for "VDMX". Obviously, you will want the fastest, best-est, RAM-est, PBook you can afford (so it will last a few years), and from what I've seen of VDMX in use it's the best option on a Mac if you have crafted your own footage in AfterEffects. It doesn't try to "liven-up" ordinary or average footage with tons of fx, but simply gives you access to your clips with a quality, mixer-like feel.

Good Luck!