View Full Version : Say hello to my little friend
Von Thomas
12-01-2011, 06:59 AM
This is my solution to the on set onslaught of serious 5K or Alexa files.
This is a work in progress, but with elements from Big Foot Carts, Eizo, Maxx Digital, Matrox, Black Magic, and RED making it a ideal workstation, an it's convertible, from one Mac Pro to two when needed. It's a definite head turner, and the with the custom pistachio green color, it's a one of a kind.
This does it all, and with style.
Von
Paul Russell
12-01-2011, 07:35 AM
you get extra points if it can navigate you to the Dagobah system.
Justin Marx
12-01-2011, 08:01 AM
Nice! What monitor are u using?
Steve Das
12-01-2011, 10:42 AM
Is that an Eizo color edge cg 232w monitor..?
http://www.eizo.com/global/products/coloredge/cg232w/index.html
Von Thomas
12-01-2011, 11:19 AM
Nice! What monitor are u using?
The monitor is an Eizo Color Edge 232W (http://www.eizo.com/global/products/coloredge/cg232w/index.html), and I love it, so do DP's
Von Thomas
12-01-2011, 01:10 PM
you get extra points if it can navigate you to the Dagobah system.
It does look a bit like R2D2.
Andrew clemson
12-01-2011, 08:20 PM
damn, i think that monitor is worth more than my car!
Luuk de Kok
12-02-2011, 05:31 AM
Damn, did i just wet myself when i saw this setup?
Tony Lorentzen
12-02-2011, 07:13 PM
Damn - I wish my clients would pay me enough to afford a monitor like that. And I do pretty high profile gigs on my end of the world...
Von Thomas
12-02-2011, 08:04 PM
Damn - I wish my clients would pay me enough to afford a monitor like that. And I do pretty high profile gigs on my end of the world...
If I can own one, so can you, and trust me on this, it's well worth it. The response you get from those that view it, is amazing. I love the ability to make it so neutral, so when grading, it's absolutely perfect. I just blogged about it, http://reddigitalmotionandstill.blogspot.com/.
Von
Von Thomas
12-06-2011, 09:52 PM
Cart-Spresso
Having a fully loaded cart adds production value.
PatrickFaith
12-07-2011, 08:25 PM
Totally sweet setup.
Andrew clemson
12-07-2011, 08:29 PM
What setup are you using here Von, If you dont mind me asking?
Ie; what exactly is in that glorious little cart. Im trying to put together a bigfoot at the moment and could use some ideas....
Chris Puerstl
12-08-2011, 05:16 AM
A mobile DIT cart with a coffee machine. That is awesome.
Jon Thomasberg
12-08-2011, 02:24 PM
So is that Tassimo modded to run off PoE and have a SNMP controller that you can send the 'BREW' button from within OS X too :)
Maybe if you were running a water block for cooling your CPU and video cards, you could use the Tassimo as the water reservoir. Want hotter coffee? Just render a 5k sequence to get the CPU and video cards hotter :)
On a more serious note, Nice setup.
Nick Pasquariello
12-09-2011, 06:47 AM
Von, that thing looks bitchin'. Would love any sort of listing of what equipment you've got running in that thing, and any advice on problems that arose while you were building it out and how you overcame them.
We're trying to get together a similar style thing at my work, and people tend to think "Computer, Cart, Storage, plug it all in annnnnnnnd done." which is usually an over simplification of how all this rigs together.
Von Thomas
12-09-2011, 12:59 PM
Von, that thing looks bitchin'. Would love any sort of listing of what equipment you've got running in that thing, and any advice on problems that arose while you were building it out and how you overcame them.
We're trying to get together a similar style thing at my work, and people tend to think "Computer, Cart, Storage, plug it all in annnnnnnnd done." which is usually an over simplification of how all this rigs together.
This heart of the cart begins with you, and how you work. Myself, I want a comfortable cart, one that I can sit at for hours, days, weeks, and not become fatigued. Together with Doug Solis at Big Foot Carts, I asked for a cart that I could convert from one tower to two. The two tower solution (stacked) is too tall me me, and I never feel comfortable sitting at it. Even in a tall directors chair, it's just not good for my body. Doug had this cool way to use a shorter cart, and sidecar a second tower if needed.
The guts of the cart houses the usual suspects, latest model MacPro's, 20GB RAM, two boot drives, two storage drives, Maxx Digital Evo Mini Rack Mount SAS RAID, Eizo 232W (killa monitor), eSata cards, Red Rocket Cards, Matrox Compress HD card, FCP, Avid MC, Davinci Resolve, Adobe Creative Suite, Clipfinder, R3D DM, R3D Alexa Manager, Shotput Pro, Rocket Cine Pro (Beta 7), Tassimo Espresso machine Altec Lansing Speaker (for da music during breaks, lunch and wrap), and the standard fare of utility software. I've been doing this type of work for over 14 years, so it's been an evolution, and the cart will continue to evolve. While you may base your cart on these specs, not everything will fit your particular workflow.
In this configuration, both towers are networked, I also have a Clear WiFi hotspot that serves as my gateway to the net. On this particular gig, I upload graded H.264 circle takes to the cloud, where the producers, DP and director can view the days work on their computer, laptop or iPad. It's all very seamless, and the producers have had a problem free experience viewing dailies this way.
I must say that producers love the cart, and how productive it's been for their show. If you're looking to get a Big Foot Cart, dial the guys at Maxx Digital, they not only sell the Big Foot, they also sell the Eizo 232W monitor, and great storage solutions as well.
Lately I've added a Teradek Cube to the line up. Working with Epic, it has been a way to view footage immediately after the take. I set it up, and the DP or director walks over to the laptop, selects the clip they want to view, and voila, playback. I have to say, while the Cube is great, setting it up can be challenging.
The cart is just a tool, what you do with that tool is the key. I have fun with my work, and enjoy every second.
Von