I know there is a lot of talk between the two, but if anyone can help me to answer any of these specifics on the cards I would be closer to making a decision.
My current set-up : Im using digital cinema desktop to output my video to a Dell 24" 1080p monitor with a HDMI input. I have a 30" for editing, so the 24" is mainly used for displaying video in FCP (tho it does come in handy for an extra monitor to run applications across too). I've heard reports it isn't that accurate but I have to say I cannot see a difference in quality using DCD in FCP than I can playing a quicktime file back from the finder, full screen on the 24".
The advantage I have with the current system is : Anything on my FCP timeline will play back, Red proxies, DV, whatever, regardless of the codec I'm editing it comes out on my 24" at full screen or 1:1 pixel mapping. Also I can use this to play any video outside of FCP onto the monitor at full 1080p via quicktime or VLC. also it doubles as extra desktop to run apps on.
The disadvantage is that I assume it's taking up more system resources and I dont get preview out of color/photoshop/compositing apps etc.
So my question is, are there any cards that give me all the advantages I've listed without of the disadvantages I currently have.
As a temp solution I bought myself a blackmagic intensity, but the downside to this was few fold :
a) you obviously had to be editing in the blackmagic codec to see anything piped out to the display. Not so good if I'm using Red proxies or working on any other codec. No output for those.
b) it's 1080i not p. so the image is worse than using DCD. If I convert to the blackmagic codec I'd be losing quality and finishing at 720P
c) It only works from specific apps, so I cannot click on a file in the finder and just have it export to the monitor. (unless Im mising an app?)
If I move up to any of the decklink cards, do they offer me more flexibility?
I considered AJA too, though the drawback is they seem to make cards for Mac or PC, not dual. I have a mac running bootcamp so to have a dual Mac/PC card in there is a huge advantage. That may rule out AJA all together...
So is there any card out there that will pipe anything to the monitor regardless of the codec you're working in? One that works in FCP, color, compositing apps, but also does the same outside of FCP from quicktime or VLC at 1080p over HMDI?
If not maybe I'm best sticking to my current workflow. I think I'll ditch the intensity anyway.
My current set-up : Im using digital cinema desktop to output my video to a Dell 24" 1080p monitor with a HDMI input. I have a 30" for editing, so the 24" is mainly used for displaying video in FCP (tho it does come in handy for an extra monitor to run applications across too). I've heard reports it isn't that accurate but I have to say I cannot see a difference in quality using DCD in FCP than I can playing a quicktime file back from the finder, full screen on the 24".
The advantage I have with the current system is : Anything on my FCP timeline will play back, Red proxies, DV, whatever, regardless of the codec I'm editing it comes out on my 24" at full screen or 1:1 pixel mapping. Also I can use this to play any video outside of FCP onto the monitor at full 1080p via quicktime or VLC. also it doubles as extra desktop to run apps on.
The disadvantage is that I assume it's taking up more system resources and I dont get preview out of color/photoshop/compositing apps etc.
So my question is, are there any cards that give me all the advantages I've listed without of the disadvantages I currently have.
As a temp solution I bought myself a blackmagic intensity, but the downside to this was few fold :
a) you obviously had to be editing in the blackmagic codec to see anything piped out to the display. Not so good if I'm using Red proxies or working on any other codec. No output for those.
b) it's 1080i not p. so the image is worse than using DCD. If I convert to the blackmagic codec I'd be losing quality and finishing at 720P
c) It only works from specific apps, so I cannot click on a file in the finder and just have it export to the monitor. (unless Im mising an app?)
If I move up to any of the decklink cards, do they offer me more flexibility?
I considered AJA too, though the drawback is they seem to make cards for Mac or PC, not dual. I have a mac running bootcamp so to have a dual Mac/PC card in there is a huge advantage. That may rule out AJA all together...
So is there any card out there that will pipe anything to the monitor regardless of the codec you're working in? One that works in FCP, color, compositing apps, but also does the same outside of FCP from quicktime or VLC at 1080p over HMDI?
If not maybe I'm best sticking to my current workflow. I think I'll ditch the intensity anyway.
