Tag: MacBook

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Panasonic HDC-SD9 and Final Cut Pro: Perian to The Rescue

UPDATE 2008.06.11:

QuickTime 7.5 adds support for Panasonic HDC-SD9 and other newer AVCHD camcorders.

Hans Eklundh left a comment and confirmed that the 25p PAL version (Europe) also works with QuickTime 7.5

“Good news, everyone! We finally can use Panasonic HDC-SD9 and Final Cut Pro.”

AVCHD Final Cut Pro Icon

UPDATE:
So far, I have not been able to import 1080p/24p clip from HDC-SD9 into iMovie correctly. I’m still looking into it. I don’t have Final Cut Express 4 to test the import.

Good news, indeed. After 6 weeks, I finally get to import 1080p/24p clip from Panasonic HDC-SD9 correctly. The audio and video are in complete sync. The remedy is none other than Perian 1.1. Previously, Perian QuickTime Component was conflicting with Final Cut Pro.

Numbers of people raised the concern regarding Panasonic HDC-SD9 compatibility with Mac OS X applications (iMovie ’08, Final Cut Pro 6, and Final Cut Express 4). I was exploring this issue because I want to use my Panasonic HDC-SD9 in 1080p/24 mode.

Panasonic HDC-SD9 AVCHD Camcorder

I asked some Apple employees regarding this problem, and the non-answer I got is that Apple is working on camera compatibility issues. I’m hoping that Apple would update their applications to support Panasonic HDC-SD9 in particular and newer 1080p/24p camcorders in general.

On Thursday (2008.04.10), Apple released Pro Applications Update 2008-001 and brought Final Cut Pro to version 6.0.3. I was hoping that Apple would have resolved the issues with HDC-SD9 camcorder. Unfortunately, the issue persisted.

I decided to spend some times for trial-and-error in making Final Cut Pro playing nice with HDC-SD9. It was 03:00 hour, and I had an epiphany. Previously, some people were recommending ShedWorx’s VoltaicHD Converter to import AVCHD clip in Mac OS X. I went to ShedWorx’s site and read the System Requirements for the VoltaicHD Converter:

System Requirements for the VoltaicHD Converter:

  1. OSX 10.4 or 10.5 (Intel and PowerPC)
  2. QuickTime 7.3
  3. Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC)
  4. iMovie (HD or 08) or Final Cut Express/Pro
  5. Perian if you are using Final Cut

VoltaicHD requires Perian QuickTime Component!

I checked Perian site, and compared the version I previously had installed on my MacBook Pro. The current version 1.1 and I had version 1.0 installed on my MacBook Pro. I downloaded the latest version and installed it. This time Final Cut Pro converts the 1080p/24p clip from HDC-SD9 correctly.

I will test if I could import HDC-SD9 1080p/24p video using iMovie ’08 and Final Cut express with Perian 1.1 installed.

NEXT:
Video sample from Panasonic HDC-SD9, 1080p/24p, audio and video in complete sync.

Note:

  • 15-inch MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.0GHz 2GB RAM
  • Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.2
  • Final Cut Pro 6.0.3 (with Pro Applications Update 2008-001)
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Panasonic HDC-SD9: Video Sample

UPDATE:
Panasonic HDC-SD9: The Trouble with Mac OS X

Another video, with audio intact. Imported using Final Cut Pro 6.0.2.
Panasonic HDC-SD9 Screen Capture

Panasonic HDC-SD9 video sample:

  • Recording Mode: HA1920
  • 24p Digital Cinema mode
  • Imported using Final Cut Pro 6.0.2
  • H.264 @ 1920 x 1080
  • 10.80 mbits/s
  • 27 seconds
  • 35.4 MB
  • Done on 15-inch MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.0GHz, Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.2

Final Cut Pro is having trouble playing/importing when the video is recorded with “24p Digital Cinema” mode turned off.

UPDATE:
For some reasons, Final Cut Pro imported the video and speed it up a little bit. The original video runs about 40 seconds, while the imported video runs about 28 seconds. It is clear that Final Cut Pro does not fully understand the recording mode from this camera.

WARNING! THIS MOVIE FILE MIGHT NOT PLAY IN YOUR BROWSER DUE TO ITS RESOLUTIONS.
Right-click, then save as. Because it is going to take a long time to buffer.

Meatloaf T. Cat in 1080/24p

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“One New MacBook Pro Please.”

I am going to the Apple Store this coming Tuesday with Carrie to get her a new MacBook Pro. We still haven’t discussed which model she wants, it would be either the 2.4 GHz w/ 3MB L2 Cache or the 2.5GHz w/ 6MB L2 Cache 15-inch MacBook Pro.

I will update this post after we get the MacBook Pro.

I know I will get this new MacBook Pro too, but I will get it customized with 7200 RPM hard drive, and maybe a 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo Processor.

to be continued…….

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Time Capsule: The Arrival

I picked up Time Capsule on Friday at the Apple Store while my friend is still waiting for his pre-order to arrive. Take that Vondiggity!

I bought the 500GB version because:

  • I didn’t see the 1 TeraByte version in the particular Apple Store.
  • I don’t want to spend $500 + sales tax for it.

Time Capsule comes with AirPort Utility 5.3 for Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista. Mac OS X 10.5.2 Leopard AirPort utility has version 5.2.2 included.

Airport Utility 5.3

The Time Capsule I have is using Seagate Barracuda® ES SATA 3.0Gb/s 500-GB Hard Drive, model number ST3500630NS.

From Seagate:

The Seagate® Barracuda® ES enterprise hard drive is the industry’s most reliable, highest capacity 7200-RPM hard drive for 24 x 7, multidrive, business-critical applications. The Barracuda ES hard drive is built with perpendicular recording technology for maximum capacity, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog reported that one user’s 1 TeraByte Time Capsule is equipped with HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000 HDS721010KLA330 (full tech specs here in pdf format).

From Hitachi:

Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000

Applications

  • Internal and external storage for consumer
  • computers
  • Networked storage servers
  • Extreme gaming machines
  • Video editing arrays

Is it possible that the 500GB model has a better hard drive, or there are a lot more variations on the installed hard drive models?

UPDATE:
The highest capacity for Seagate Barracuda ES is 750GB. Meanwhile, Seagate Barracuda ES.2 is available in capacity up to 1 TeraByte.

Time Capsule Installer Disc

Time Capsule 1 Time Capsule 2 Time Capsule 3

Time Capsule 4 Time Capsule 5  Time Capsule 6

Time Capsule 7

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“One New MacBook Please.”

One thing that I always love doing is spending someone else’s money buying computers. I picked up a new white MacBook with SuperDrive yesterday. It looks exactly the same with the previous Santa-Rosa MacBook. It comes with a screen-cleaning cloth inside the box.

I only had 2 hours to install applications and transferring the data from the last generation of iBook G4. I’d update this post after I use the MacBook more.

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Early 2008 MacBook and MacBook Pro

After a seemingly waiting forever for new MacBook Pro, Apple finally releases the updates to both MacBook and MacBook Pro lines. The MacBook Pro update was expected but not for the MacBook.

As predicted, the new MacBook and MacBook Pro sport Intel’s latest Penryn-based Core 2 Duo with 3MB and 6MB L2 Cache. Based on the conversations I had, Apple is finally making a significant distinction between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. The MacBook line sports 45nm Penryn-based Core 2 Duo processors with 3MB L2 Cache as opposed to previous generation Intel Core 2 Duo processors with 4MB L2 Cache. We’ll get to that later. The MacBook Pro line also sports 45nm Penryn-based Core 2 Duo processors with 3MB and 6MB L2 Cache. The “lower-end” 15-inch MacBook Pro comes with 3MB L2 Cache on the Processor, while the “top-end” 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro come with 6MB L2 Cache on the processor.

The Penryn-based Intel Core 2 Duo comes with 6MB L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed. I’d find out if my memory served me correctly that previous generations of Intel Core 2 Duo L2 cache ran at half speed with the processor. UPDATE: According to some people, Merom CPU does have L2 cache that runs at 1:1 speed with the cores.

The new MacBook and MacBook Pro no longer comes with Apple Remote

I will update this.

I am looking forward to test the new MacBook and MacBook Pro.

to be continued here

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Aperture Compatibility Checker

Along with Aperture 2, Apple also releases Aperture Compatibility Checker. The apps will check if your system and graphic cards meet the minimum requirements for Aperture 2. Download it here.

Aperture Compatibility Checker

Aperture Checker

Minimum System Requirements

One of the following Mac computers:

  • Mac Pro
  • MacBook Pro
  • MacBook Air
  • MacBook
  • Mac mini with an Intel Core Solo or Duo processor
  • iMac with a 1.8GHz or faster PowerPC G5 or Intel Core Duo processor
  • Power Mac G5 with a 1.6GHz or faster PowerPC G5 processor
  • 15- or 17-inch PowerBook G4 with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4 processor

Memory requirements

  • 1GB of RAM
  • 2GB of RAM for Mac Pro

One of the following graphics cards:

  • ATI Radeon X600 Pro, X600 XT, X800 XT Mac Edition, X850 XT, X1600, X1900 XT, 9800 XT, 9800 Pro, 9700 Pro, 9600, 9600 XT, 9600 Pro, 9650, HD 2400 XT, HD 2600 PRO, or HD 2600 XT
  • ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 or 9600
  • ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
  • NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra, 6600, 6600 LE, 6800 Ultra DDL, 6800 GT DDL, 7300 GT, 7800 GT, 8600M GT, or 8800 GT
  • NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 or FX 5600
  • Intel GMA 950 or GMA X3100

Minimum operating system requirements

  • Mac OS X v10.4.11 Tiger
  • Mac OS X v10.5.2 Leopard

DVD drive for installation

5GB of hard drive space for the application and sample projects