Hi,

I was looking at purchasing a HD Alchemist  but as money is tight , and I want the Easter Bunny ( Santa is too far away ) to buy me another FCP and a new version 4.0 , I was having second thoughts.

I have been playing out 23.98 material as 24fps ( using our HDCSAM SR ) then using the SD output for digital betacams etc and have done that for various other similar jobs. So the only time I would need one would be to go from 25psf to 29.97psf ( and 50i to 59.94i obviously ) and vice versa.

I was wondering what everyone else was doing.

Are you talking about the Snell and Wilcox Alchemist?

I don't think they are in the same price rang..... galaxy.

Hi Dom,

Second hand around 50k. I'm just trying to get a feel for workflows outside of the UK. Going through the various forums some people seem to use a converter for everything others don't.

If only there was a limitless pot of money.

We just installed the SD version and will likely upgrade to the HD version if things go well.

Right now, the SD version is being used for Digibeta NTSC to PAL coversion.

Most of our HD conversion needs right now are handled by the VTRs themselves (SRW-5500 or DVC Pro HD 1200/1400).