Integrators and VARs

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A Promax system is one platform option for Xpress DV 3.5.Integrators such as ProMax create complete systems for theircustomers.

In June, Avid announced that Avid Xpress DV version 3.5 wasavailable for both Mac OS X and Windows XP Professional OSplatforms.

Avid sells the Xpress DV nonlinear editor as a software-only package(with manuals, dongle, and CD-ROMs). The company has pre-qualifiedseveral platforms, both laptop and desktop computers, that arecompatible with the software. However, Avid requires you to use one ofits specified platforms if you want technical support.

Internet newsgroups that deal with DV issues and Avid supportindicate that installing Xpress DV on your own can be tricky. Fordo-it-yourselfers, Avid's Getting Started Guide features morethan 50 pages of installation help. But there are alternatives toinstalling this software yourself. Several excellent Avid resellerswill install the software on an Avid-certified platform for you. Manyresellers also offer technical support should you need it.

For example, Moviola (www.moviola.com) is a full-line Avid dealer thatoffers East and West Coast tech support. Moviola sells turnkey AvidXpress DV on certified Macintosh and Windows platforms, and itsemployees are extremely knowledgeable about Avid products. (Moviolaalso markets Apple Final Cut Pro.)

“Currently, support is offered in different flavors, including24-7 services, as long as you have a pre-existing service agreement.The support is delivered by the same group of technicians who supportthe full range of Avid products,” says Ron Margolis, DV guy andMoviola's desktop sales director.

Because Xpress DV appeals to a greater market than traditional Avidsales and products, Avid is expanding its sales distribution network toinclude a new breed of sales partner. Avid is working with this newgroup of resellers, integrators, and value-added resellers (VARs) tomake sure their integrated platforms meet Avid's guidelines forperformance and reliability.

One integrator is ProMax. In fact, ProMax President Charles F.McConathy has been a longtime information source for me on DV and videostorage issues — especially for Mac issues. I have tested andreceived impressive technical support from this company.

For those considering the purchase of an Xpress DV —especially a Mac-based system — ProMax would be an excellentchoice. It could put together a full suite package with extendedstorage, source deck, monitors, and supplementary software. The companyalso sells Windows-based Xpress DV turnkeys. Because ProMax also sellsFinal Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere, it offers expert advice on the prosand cons of the options available.

On the other hand, you don't necessarily have to use a“qualified” platform for Xpress DV. In fact, the press sawXpress DV product designer Doug Hansel toting a slow HP (non-certified)laptop to demonstrate the excellent performance with slower processors.If you choose this route, be warned that Avid technical support is onlyprovided for the software on certified platforms, so buyer beware.

Obviously you would not normally use a slower, non-standardplatform, but you might want to select a more powerful platform thanthe ones certified by Avid. You might notice better performance withmore powerful processors, and you may find other optimized componentsas well. Another advantage might be a significant cost savings.

There are combination editor/computer enthusiasts who have donethis, and yet most still recommend finding an integrator and lettingthe integrator endure the potential installation hassles. You canchoose the components and have your system prepared for you for arelatively small additional expense. You might still need to spend sometime with the integrator in deciding system specifications, and if theplatform causes incompatibility hassles you must deal with those.

There is another option to consider — Avid-approved VARs.These companies work with Avid and offer alternative workstationsguaranteed to be fully compatible with Xpress DV software (Avidprovides the certification documentation to aid in compatibilitytesting). The VARs also provide support for hardware and software. Avidforms special relationships with these VARs that include technicalsupport and software dealer discounts.

This can be a win for all concerned. Avid gets greater salespenetration with limited technical support liability. (Buyers mustobtain technical support from the VAR.) The VAR makes a small profit onthe software and an additional profit on the sale of the platform. Thebuyer benefits because VARs are normally smaller companies that keep upwith the latest computer advances, and they can offer more powerful,cost-effective platform solutions.

For example, 1 Beyond (www.1beyond.com) was the first to offer a Pentium 42GB Xpress DV platform, and is the first to offer a Pentium 4 laptopwith a 2.5GB processor (its Model 2500, which also features 266MHz DDRSDRAM). The company claims this lap-top is 65% faster than anyAvid-certified laptop presently available. 1 Beyond has Boston and LosAngeles locations. I have tested its tech support and wasimpressed.

On the DV-L newsgroup, there have been rave statements aboutColorado-based DVLine, another recently certified VAR that offersturnkey solutions, training, and support. DVLine features specials onpopular configurations and has an excellent website (www.dvline.com). Both1 Beyond and DV-L offer several DV editing solutions.

Ocean Systems has had a long special relationship with Avid. Thecompany has shown rugged portable Avid solutions in the Avid booth atNAB for several years.

Not only does Ocean Systems sell Xpress DV in laptop and workstationconfigurations, but it has also expanded the capabilities of Xpress andXpress DV by co-developing the Dtective video forensics application forboth systems. (See www.oceansystems.com/dtective/index.html.) It sellsthe Xpress DV turnkeys with the Tower, the Rackmount, the Flyaway, andthe Luggable platforms.

One of the most well-known Avid VARs may be Laird Telemedia. LairdTelemedia's web page (www.lairdtelemedia.com) declares that Laird's DVoraplatform is the “world's first integrated PC designedspecifically for digital video editing.”

Laird's professional system adds analog NTSC or PAL component,S-Video, composite video, and balanced stereo audio input/output toIEEE 1394 Fire-Wire record and playback. It also includes dual audiolevel controls and VU metering, horizontally stable RS170A SCH, lockedDV signal output compliant to SMPTE/EBU standards, Avid-styleprofessional keyboard, Laird LTM-DVCBX 1RU steel breakout box, andRS422 machine control.

The Laird deluxe system adds analog NTSC or PAL, S-Video, compositevideo, and unbalanced stereo audio input/output to IEEE 1394 DV recordand playback. Both of these Laird systems are available as desktop orrackmount platforms.

Laird offers a broad range of other options for Avid users as well,from a new three-source editing router to a Pioneer DVD-R, plus achoice of monitors and storage options. It also sells laptop systems,including one with an LTM-FFP Portable Field Fire DV media converter.Laird's technical support hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

Some other Avid integrators and VARs are listed in the graphicabove. You have a wide range of choices to make after you decide on asoftware package. Some of these options can save you money; othersoffer more powerful compositing capabilities; and some decisions canhinder access to technical support.

AVID LISTS THE SPECIFIED PLATFORMS THAT QUALIFY FOR AVID TECHNICALsupport at www.avid.com/products/xpressdv/specs.shtml. Thefollowing workstations are qualified for use with Avid Xpress DV3.5:

iMac G4 (flat panel): 700MHz and 800MHz models

eMac G4: 700MHz

Power Macintosh G4 (Quicksilver 2002): 800MHz, 933MHz, anddual 1GHz models

Power Macintosh G4 (Quicksilver): 733MHz, 867MHz, and dual800MHz models

Power Macintosh G4 (Gigabit Ethernet): 400MHz, dual 450MHz,and dual 500MHz models

Power Macintosh G4 (Digital Audio): 466MHz, 533MHz, 667MHz,733MHz, and dual 533MHz models

PowerBook G4 (DVI): 667MHz and 800MHz models

PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet): 550MHz and 667MHz models

PowerBook G4 (Titanium): 400MHz and 500MHz models

Note: The new Apple OS X Server is not a qualifiedsystem.

HP Workstation x1100: Use ATI Radeon 7000 or Matrox G450graphics card.

IBM IntelliStation M Pro Model 6849: Use Matrox G450 graphicscard.

IBM IntelliStation M Pro Model 6229: Use Matrox G450 graphicscard.

Dell Precision 340 Workstation: Use ATI Radeon VE graphicscard.

Compaq Evo W4000 Workstation: Use Matrox G450 graphicscard.

Compaq Evo W8000 Workstation: Use Matrox G450 or G550graphics card.

(Note: Compaq Evo W8000 is the only system qualified for futureupgrade to Avid Xpress on Meridien hardware.)

Compaq Evo Notebook N600c

Dell Latitude C610 Notebook

Dell Latitude C810 Notebook (includes a qualified DVin/out port. No additional card is required.)

Dell Latitude C840 Notebook (includes a qualified DVin/out port. No additional card is required.)

Dell Precision M40 Mobile Workstation (includes aqualified DV in/out port. No additional card is required.)

IBM ThinkPad T23 (Must be configured with a 48GB or largerinternal drive. Lower capacity drives supplied with this system do nothave adequate performance.)

Pentium III or Pentium 4 at 750MHz or faster, 256MBsystem memory, a qualified DV in/out card (see below), 20GB orlarger internal IDE drive, CD-ROM drive, and Microsoft Windows 2000with Service Pack 2. Additional media storage is recommended, such asan optional IDE or Ultra2/Ultra3 SCSI drive or FireWire drive. If SCSIdrives are selected for workstations, use an Adaptec 29160 SCSIcontroller. If additional storage is desired for notebooks, an externalFireWire drive is recommended. Optional internal drives offered by thesystem vendor are not recommended. Unless otherwise noted above, a DVin/out card is required. See below for a list of qualified cards.

ADS PYRO 1394DV, part #API-300 (includes card, cable, andinstallation manual)

ADS PYRO DV 1394, part #API-1394-PCI (same as the API-300,but includes consumer-grade editing software)

SIIG 1394 3-Port PCI, part #NN-400012

SIIG 1394 3-Port PCI i/e, part #NN-440012

ADS PYRO 1394DV for notebooks, part #API-601 or #API-602

SIIG CardBus PC Card, part #NN-PCM012

SIIG 1394 CardBus Dual, part #NN-PCM212

IBM 1394 CardBus PC Card, part #19K5678

THE FOLLOWING AVID RESELLERS have configured additional Avid XpressDV systems. Contact these resellers for details about specific systemsqualified for use with Avid Xpress DV 3.5:

Computech International
www.cti-intl.com,(888) 284-4685

Ocean Systems
www.oceansystems.com, (800) 253-7516

ProMax Systems
www.promax.com,(800) 977-6629

Laird Telemedia
www.lairdtelemedia.com, (800) 898-0759

DVLine
www.dvline.com,(800) 826-0556

B&H Photo
www.bhphotovideo.com, (800) 606-6969, Quick Dial#731

TM Television
www.tmtel.com, (972)243-4772

CIS Group
www.cisgroup.tv,(305) 513-4462

1 Beyond
www.1beyond.com,(877) 663-2396

To comment on this article, email the Video Systems editorialstaff at vsfeedback@primediabusiness.com.