DPI:

Do you like to use hardware or software? PC/Mac vs. DVD/Mixer?

Hal Eagar:

I prefere Software over hardware all the way. I'm a programmer so that's pretty obvious for me. But to go into the details the fact that I can get the software to do a lot of various things that that would each take a different piece of hardware and the fact that I can re use the computer just about every day not just when i'm running a video effect is a big plus. And because it's a general purpose machine it's easy to find a computer when you need one too.

Also as i've mentioned I like realtime generated animation and the type of uber flexability that you can get with a software system. I guess that a dvd player is as easy to find as a computer, but the computer is more flexable.

Not everything is possible with just a general purpose pc of course. I have my bag of add ons and extra little devices. Scan converters, video capture devices, DA's, switches etc... But they are all pretty cheap mass market stuff just like the computer itself. Besides being cheap, mass market stuff is easy to replace. So although it's less dependable than really high end video gear it's pretty solid (After all it's meant for the masses) and easily replaced or backed up.

I know a lot of people are afraid of using computers because they fear failure. And some people say they don't trust hard drives.
 read full post »

We are in the process of assembling points of view from as many digital performance practitioners as we can. We thought it only fair that DPI's Director, Hal Eagar, be the first answer the questions he drafted.

The questions:
 read full post »