Just had a great demo of CatDV 8 which is a media management tool and much much more. After seeing Final Cut Server in action a few months ago, I can already tell this thing seems much much easier for the end user to use. The fact that it can be used in the field and tie directly back to the main server is incredible in and of itself.
Clients can view their proxy files over the internet directly off our server? Cool! No more window burn DVDs!!! Yay!
Due to our frantic production schedule I don't really have time to play with it right now, but over the holiday break, I intend to download that 14 day trial and really get in to testing all the details. But wow, I thought CatDV was just a simple, low end tool. It's anything but. Can't wait to really try this out, especially as we plan out our new facility and improving our data management.
I have been using CAT DV since I found it at IBC. It steps all over Final Cut Server for tape and digital file management. It allows you to change field on multiple clips at once for example. It has scene detection that is 99.9% accurate without the need for stop/start metadata present. I can go on and on. You can set markers with the scene detection and this info is retained in FCP. It will also re-wrap Avid files so they play in RT in FCP.
If you are having difficulties with CAT DV crashing, here is what I found (and passed on to the developer). First, repair permissions after install. This is running on Java, and I found Java screwed up. After that, it seemed ok. But, I found that it would still crash after a period. This was happening on 2 installs with identical software and OS (MacPro and MacBook Pro) The problem turned out to be GridIron Flow. I turned it off and everything was stable and solid. Zero crashes when Flow is turned off. THAT is a big issue for me, but both companies are working towards a resolution.
What CatDV does not do that Final Cut Server does is manage projects in a workgroup scenario, nor does it script workflows through Compressor, etc. No check in and check out. It is strictly a powerful database for your digital assets; but the best I have found without going to enterprise systems. This can be a stand alone app or there is a server version for larger facilities.
I hope to see how this can integrate with Final Cut Server, but I am afraid that all the goodies that it retains whem moving a clip into Final Cut Pro will be gone in Final Cut Server. The key may be in XML and I am not up on XML enough to know (yet).
Walter, maybe you can get Ron's attention for me. I emailed him about starting a COW community for CAT DV, but received no reply. I am really keen to host it because this program has changed my whole view of Final Cut Pro. For me, it is the biggest missing link.
They also have a great capture program fo for very little money that works with DV (maybe others, but that is what I am working with) tapes. It guarantees sync (something I cannot say about FCO capture) and has a lot of options for automatic clip creation on the fly.
Let's get this thing on the COW. I've had nothing to do here since I lost interest in Avid.
This looks like a problem in the Apple MPEG2 component, or with the particular files you're playing. Try downloading the latest version of the MPEG component from your Purchases page on the Apple store.
Ur post inspired me to sort this mess out here. We recently went through an exercise and got our photo library sorted, now I want the boys to get the video and audio sorted. But the demo for CatDV Pro 8.0.4 seems to be having a problem here on all our machines, which seems to be related to the Snow Leopard / Quicktime .m2v problem...but dunno...
Date/Time: 2009-11-08 09:27:50.363 +0545
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.6.1 (10B504)
Report Version: 6
Interval Since Last Report: 142082 sec
Per-App Interval Since Last Report: 2858 sec
Per-App Crashes Since Last Report: 3
Anonymous UUID: 1025A44E-16AD-4A82-9D3E-B85B436C2086
So true about economy and expansion...dumb joke from someone who lives in a country that has none:) We don't even take note really of the world economy, except when the value of the dollar drops, making the worthless rupee even more so.
I'm taking advantage of the current economic climate to purchase a building that's probably twice anything I could afford a few years ago. In fact we're upgrading and expanding everything at this time.
I don't use the economy as any sort of an issue when planning and growing my business. While everyone else is cutting back on spending, we're moving ahead with very ambitious plans so when the economy starts to come back, we'll already be ahead of most of our competitors.
And I'll be posting a full report when we install CatDV over the holidays. Very powerful stuff and I think it's pretty much a no brainer we'll be investing in that software after we play with it some.
We have been using iDive for media management of video for sometime now, and that's really bad. I looked at CatDV7 once but opted for iDive - u get what u pay for! Final Cut Server has been on the list...but u know...the economy. Post more details once you install.
Professional Video Editor, Producer, Director since 1990.
Credits include multiple Emmys, Tellys, Aurora and CableAce Awards.
Owner / Operator of Biscardi Creative Media, a full service video and film production company with about 65% of our work in HDTV. The show you know us best for is "Good Eats" on the Food Network. I developed the HD Post workflow and we also create all the animations for the series.
Favorite pastime is cooking with pizza on the grill one of my specialties. Each Christmas Eve we serve the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional Italian seafood meal with approx. 30 items on the menu.
If I wasn't in video production I would either own a restaurant or a movie theater.
