What type of Computers do they use?

[DontFeedPhil]

Hey,
I am wondering what type of computers do they use when editing the film for shows like Atlantis...BSG ...SG-1? And what program do they generally use. Im interested in the main film editing program and some of the programs they would use for FX. Are they running Macs, PC or what? And is there anywhere I can see a behind the scenes type del where they show them doing fx or assembling the clips for a show?

 

[nx1701g]

I'm not sure about BSG and SG, but I know that Smallville uses Dell Computers because you can see them in some of the behind the scenes features on the DVDs for their FX.

 

[DontFeedPhil]

Is that why their FX are so plain and not very interesting or detailed?

 

[CommodoreKong]

Is that why their FX are so plain and not very interesting or detailed?

Maybe it's because they don't have a very big FX budget? They are on the CW after all.

Plus human based FX is much more difficult to do then spaceships.

 

[Small White Car]

The majority of TV and movies these days are edited on some form of an Avid (on a Mac or a PC) or on Final Cut Pro (Mac).

There are a lot of other things like Sony Vegas and Adobe Premiere, but Avid and Final Cut are your "Coke" and "Pepsi" in that world.

Is that why their FX are so plain and not very interesting or detailed?

But this is a different question. Editing and Special Effects are 2 very different things. FX generally use many different types of programs. Things like Maya for 3D work, then another program to make things like smoke, fire, and water. And yet another to combine these elements and add in actors and remove green screens. (Shake or After Effects being common for that.) And then all of that is sent to the editor to use in the editing program.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Is that why their FX are so plain and not very interesting or detailed?

The FX of course would be stylish and clean but overpriced if they were done on a Mac.

 

[Small White Car]

Is that why their FX are so plain and not very interesting or detailed?

The FX of course would be stylish and clean but overpriced if they were done on a Mac.

Actually, Final Cut has become hugely popular because it's often cheaper than running an Avid system.

But maybe your comment could make some sort of sense in an alternate universe.

 

[Non Sync]

Final Cut is cheaper because Apple wants to sell hardware.

A lot of FX are done on Softimage software (XSI), a part of Avid.

 

[Hermiod]

A lot of VFX companies are using Linux boxes for the grunt work. Once the effects are prepared the hard work of rendering them is done on rendering farms powered by inexpensive Linux boxes.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Is that why their FX are so plain and not very interesting or detailed?

The FX of course would be stylish and clean but overpriced if they were done on a Mac.

Actually, Final Cut has become hugely popular because it's often cheaper than running an Avid system.

But maybe your comment could make some sort of sense in an alternate universe.

I was taking a jab at Smallville's FX being plain because they were done on Dell's. For *most* things it is more expensive to buy a Mac than a PC. It was just a dumb joke don't read too much into it.