Re: Broadcasters technical specs.

well Marc, you have made a modest investment into broadcast video gear. Can you work in HD - sure. As long as it's HDV, DVCProHD or ProRes422 (and HQ). With this gear, you certainly can hookup the assorted capture and output boxes from AJA, MOTU and Matrox, but you can't run a power house drive array (like a Cal Digit HDPro or Apple Xserve RAID for example) with this equipment. Do you need this if you have only ProRes422 footage. Probably not.

As time goes on, and you continue to make money, you will have to decide weather to keep reinvesting in equipment, or get yourself a shiny new BMW. This is what all of us face. Do I really need that AJA I/O HD, or a new washing machine ? Do I need to buy a MAC Book Pro tower with a Cal Digit HD One drive array, or should I buy a new bedroom set, or fly to the Caribbean for a much needed vacation ?

Only you can make that decision. As you stay in this business (or any business - be it auto mechanic, house painter, or lawn service), you will continue to purchase equipment for your business, to get you more work, and make your life easier. This is called INVESTMENT in your business.

You do it at your own pace. When you decide that you want the new car, new bedroom set, and vacation in the Bahamas, and then post back on Creative Cow that you are having trouble getting the networks to accept your tapes because of illegal levels, or because of noise in your video image, we will just "break your balls". But I don't deny, it's nice having a nice new car !

Bob Zelin