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What OS and Software For a Mobile Documentary Crew?
jag7720 writes "I am part of a new project that will be filming a documentary. The project HQ will be in the US but it will take us around the world and will last approx 18 months. I am the IT guy and will be responsible for most if not all aspects of hardware and software (not to include editing). We are probably going to use Google mail/calendar/docs and unlocked BlackBerrys for communications. Computers use will mainly be for communications and writing. I am a huge advocate of Linux and Open Source and I want to use it if possible. What would you recommend for an OS platform for a project like this and why? Linux? Mac? Win?"
I think you should set up a very very nice Mac desktop at your headquarters with a few TBs of storage on it and plenty of DDR3 memory. This machine, you should use for editing and processing your video. I am by no means an artist but it's no secret that is a strength of Macs. For storage and capturing, just bring some notebooks with Linux and TB external drives.
... start with some base footage and try some stuff out on a Mac and then Ubuntu studio before you make your final decision.
... you may be able to entice them for a little free support if they can use you as a shining example of open source in the documentary community. It also might be a frustrating pain the ass if you're used to Mac editing tools like every graduate in the arts seems to be.
You can try Ubuntu Studio if you're interested in giving Linux a shot in the former departments
Really, you should shoot an e-mail to the blender folks if you want to keep this documentary purely open source
I think there's other things like GordianKnot (not sure where this project is at right now) and Avidemux that are worth investigating if they aren't already on Ubuntu Studio.
Good luck! I love documentaries, especially independent ones!
My work here is dung.
You'll want Final Cut Pro, running on OS X. I love Linux too (typing this in iceweasel, running Debian on my Mac), but OS X is the only OS that really works well for pro multimedia. It's the only reason I dual boot anymore.
Caveat Utilitor
I have to agree. This is critical. Video editing is an art. Artists HATE changing their tools. It used to be with film cameras that if a pro quality camera got discontinued the second hand value skyrocketed, frequently to above the original new retail price. An artist has to get used to the behavior of a media to the point that you don't have to think about it before you can really really start to get work done. Your editors and pixel pushers will know only about the software suite they have trained to use whether they think so or not. Getting them to become efficient on a different software suite can take months, and you start risking horrible footage destroying "oops" mistakes while they train up. If you don't know what they trained on you are going to have to go MAC. It's the only thing that runs everything.