New to Video Editing...Need help with equipment

[Carl Spackler]

I would consider just going with Final Cut Express and iDVD. It sounds like Final Cut Studio may be overkill. FCS does offer muticamera editing which might be beneficial, though, it's nothing you can get over with a slate before or after each take.

http://www.apple.com/finalcut/

If these videos are going to be narration heavy, you may not need to spend too much on a field mic.

I agree with most of what "killer b" has to say, the iMacs seem to get pretty good reviews on running Final Cut Studio. Those Panny tapes are great. I, however, have never had a problem with Canon

 

[killr_b]

With this budget you need to go with a PC and Premiere Pro or Sony Vegas software. If you spend 2 grand on the computer, and 3 grand on the camera you will still be within budget and be able to get quality results at much less cost than going with a Mac.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Oh, thanks. I needed that.

 

[edcrosay]

I'd buy a Canon GL2 or a used XL1 or 2.
A refurb or used G5 and Final Cut Express.
I havent had any problems with Canon cameras and Final Cut.. with the exception of their HDV cameras, which apple fixed recently anyways.

A great forum to read is DVXuser.com or dvinfo.net. They have tons and tons of information, and a lot of helpful people.

Edit: Actually you dont even need to go that high on the computer. I use a G5 at work for editing, but I work at home on my 12" G4 and it works great. If you are editing DV you should be fine, its when you want to edit uncompressed 10-Bit or HDV that you need a bigger machine.

 

[aloofman]

If you are editing DV you should be fine, its when you want to edit uncompressed 10-Bit or HDV that you need a bigger machine.

Would you need a faster machine to do HDV? HDV's bit rate is no higher than DV's is, AFAIK.