What OS and Software For a Mobile Documentary Crew? 229
jag7720 writes "I am part of a new project that will be filming a documentary. The project HQ will be in the US but it will take us around the world and will last approx 18 months. I am the IT guy and will be responsible for most if not all aspects of hardware and software (not to include editing). We are probably going to use Google mail/calendar/docs and unlocked BlackBerrys for communications. Computers use will mainly be for communications and writing. I am a huge advocate of Linux and Open Source and I want to use it if possible. What would you recommend for an OS platform for a project like this and why? Linux? Mac? Win?"
Okay, someone has to stand up for the PC here (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Final Cut Pro (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Final Cut Pro (Score:2, Informative)
Blanket statments like "OS X is the only OS that really works well for pro multimedia" really show your ignorance and are not helpful in the slightest.
I have been producing pro quality multimedia with Windows for 10 years using the Adobe Production suite (premiere, after effects, etc). It's more than capable of producing broadcast and cinematic quality content. I have edited a feature film, numerous shorts, several weddings and "aired" 70+ video podcast episodes using these tools. Never once did I touch a Mac and I found the tool chain to 'really work well".
I too would love Linux to do more in this regard, but the tools just aren't there.
I actually make documentaries (Score:2, Informative)
I actually make travel documentaries - when I was on the road, the most important thing for me was a computer that worked, not the OS.
The OS really shouldn't matter, but I would advise using a Windows machine with the crew. The advantages of the Mac platform are in the editing phase, so the Final Cut Studio advantages aren't a big deal.
The thing is, most of your equipment will work with Windows out of the box - we're talking things like field recorders and video capture. But the biggest aspect of Windows-based PCs that you're going to appreciate on the road is that when it breaks (and I've had a Mac break on me in LAX, and spent 2 weeks in New Zealand without a computer,) you can get a new Windows-based PC quickly and easily, so you don't have to change your workflow up. Since you're cloud computing for most stuff, just make sure that you have Google Gears and you should be fine.
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That should answer the original poster's post. That said, I think anyone editing on a Mac these days is missing out on a lot. Yes, Macs are still the standard for AfterEffects and Motion, but Final Cut Pro can't take advantage of multicore processing until you go through Compressor, and they can't take advantage of CUDA applications. That makes editing -slow-.
My personal workflow is Sony Vegas for a render to an uncompressed format, then Badaboom for render to MP4.
Though I'm thinking about getting Adobe Premiere Pro CS4.
Be Prepared (Score:3, Informative)
SSpade (above) is correct.
http://ask.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1238131&cid=28012601 [slashdot.org]
(AND)
You have to be prepared for anything and that usually means the Production Coordinator's computer being hijacked by the DP (Director of Photography) and the Director for an informal "slice and dice" to see how something fades / cuts into another (QuickTime Pro) saving 45 minutes of stuff such as this.
As a former Motion Picture Tech (KeyGrip, DollyGrip) for over 25 years, I'm telling you, you better be prepared - anticipate their next need (hot spares) and make it look easy.
Dont Advocate! (Score:3, Informative)
Honestly. I also love Open Source/linux. The biggest service i could do to convince people that this is good was to not advocate - actually i am quite good in scaring people off linux whom i thin kwould not get happy with it- but just make it work at exactly the places where it world best (yes, even my boss, and hard-core windows lover saw a certain advantage after our servers running w/o trouble on cheap HW for several years, whil;e the Novell/NT solution we used before was a pain in the ass).
I guess the task you describe is your job. Your job is not to advocate, but your job is to provide the team with computers. From what you say it is the best to settle on some hw which you can buy (to replace lost/broken ones) around the world - with OS preinstalled to keep you from doing importanty work. So yes, that would be windows. In a bigger city it takes you 15 minutes to get a new, working, installed machine.(DONT come with "yes, i can install Debian in 15 Minutes". ME too, but i wont get the wifi running in 15 minutes if the manufacturer decided the old chipset to be to expensive by 5 cents).
i suggest to carry one wireless AP with you, and maybe a small linux server (laptop), if internal communication involves sharing documents, depending on the requirements. i also suggest you think about backups.
Definitely Mac if you want to get any work done (Score:2, Informative)
Let me get this straight - you'll be traveling all over the world, exposed to who knows what networking and virus-prone environments, and don't already know that the Mac is your best starting point?
A Macbook Pro for anyone doing real work (viewing dailies, making storyboard or layout suggestions, doing any ancillary work actually associated with the film); smaller Macbooks for carrying around the set to do story work, check e-mail, etc., and a few minis should give you everything you need in the field. ANyone who needs to run another OS can do it via Parallels or VMWare, etc. (even VirtualBox for free if you want to). Film and Macs go together and this will produce the most comfortable, secure and performant working environment. (Plus, people will actually LIKE their machines and using them!)
f you want to spend your time debugging viruses picked up from hotel networks and doing IT support for obscure Windows problems while you should be working, that of course is your business...
Re:Mac to Edit/Process, Linux to Capture/Store (Score:3, Informative)
Blender also has editing capabilities.
They're obtuse as hell and I have no idea why anyone would use them, but they exist.
Re:Battery Life - Windows (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I actually make documentaries (Score:1, Informative)
Whoever wrote this is a moron. "That should answer the original poster's post. That said, I think anyone editing on a Mac these days is missing out on a lot. Yes, Macs are still the standard for AfterEffects and Motion, but Final Cut Pro can't take advantage of multicore processing until you go through Compressor, and they can't take advantage of CUDA applications. That makes editing -slow-." - This is horseshit. Editing on a mac with Final Cut is FAST. Mod this nonsense down.
Re:Battery Life - Windows (Score:3, Informative)
I will politely disagree with that.
The nature of OS design is usually tradeoffs, therefore what one's strength is another's weakness and vice-versa... in short, use what works for you.
That said; I'm running a 17" widescreen 2Ghz Core2 Duo laptop with dedicated video and I get much better battery life with Linux out of the box than Vista.
Vista would get roughly 2 hrs (aero turned off and in battery savings mode).
Fedora 10 with KDE4 I consistently get about 2:45 without tweaking the default settings.
I've also had the same experience between linux and XP on a previous "desktop replacement" laptop.
Can't speak for Win7 though...
(I know those times are low, but my wife refers to my laptop as "an affront to god"... it's a big fella)
I've found that the main difference is mostly in how much it will scale back. Vista seams to only scale back partially, because it never wants to give the impression of poor performance. Whereas most linux distro's have no problem taking my laptop down to 800mhz if i'm just reading a document.
As with most things OS related; it's a trade-off.
Personally, I don't mind that it scales so far down, but some people can't wait that extra micro-second for the cpu to jump the clockspeed back up when they change gears. To me the battery life difference is worth it.
Just figured I'd share my experience. More facts are always good. Your mileage may vary.
Re:I actually make documentaries (Score:2, Informative)
"you can get a new Windows-based PC quickly and easily"
- And why would it be hard to get a Mac replacement? You know they deliver, don't you?
"Final Cut Pro can't take advantage of multicore processing . . . . That makes editing -slow-."
-What a load of BS. I use FCP all the time and it NEVER blinks. It never acts slow, and that is on a laptop.
And the award for the most FUD filled post belongs to . . . . . boyko.at.netqos!!!
Need to consider value of Time versus Money (Score:3, Informative)
If you want the highest quality equipment, and time is far more precious than money, I'd say Mac. If you are looking for most economical and you have a small staff that is open minded to learning, I'd say look at the features available among Linux A/V Software and see if it will meet your needs, and check the documentation to ensure that you don't need to be a Linux guru to understand it. Next, Check the Linux HCL (Hardware Compatibility List) for the best reviews, then find what equipment is the cheapest that meets all your needs. Word of warning, always look at the pros and cons and see which ones meet your bottom line. Some well reviewed stuff may be missing an "minor" feature you need, and sometimes poorly reviewed devices are rated as such because they are missing some non-critical "major" feature, like only have one supported output. If that output type meets your needs, who cares which inferior transfer method isn't supported. I am sure other people will have good arguments for Windows and Mac, so I will leave that to them, but if you are seriously considering Linux, I would highly recommend checking out and having this same discussion at the Ubuntu Multimedia & Video forum [ubuntuforums.org] and the Multimedia Production forum [ubuntuforums.org].