FCP for HD

Need a little help for an upcoming project in HD. My system is working well for mini DV , and although I will soon upgrade to the latest FCP (I believe 5.1.1) I know I am going to have to spend some green to get it up to speed to do an HD project. Can anyone guide me to a good web site to explain in plain language what I am going to need. Recommended Memory, drive space, breakout box, output methods....
I don't have any specific questions yet because nothing has been shot. So I just want to know where I can read all I will need to know to prepare for production as well as post production. Eight weeks before shoot!!

Thanks Guys...... and Ladies.

Need to tell us what kind of HD. HD Cam, HDV, DVCPRO HD?

www.hdforindies.com. Read the FAQ.

Speaking of HDforINDIES...how did Mike do on STUMP THE GURUS?

Mike was great. He did a brilliant summary of the meeting over at HD 4 Indies dot com. Just like you were there

[www.hdforindies.com]

Off-topic...are you Ken Ferris?

Huh?

He wants to know if K. Ferris is Ken Ferris, Mike.

- Loren
Today's FCP 5 keytip:
Preview effects sections with Option-P or Option-Backslash!

The FCP 5 KeyGuide?: a professional placemat.
Now available at KeyGuide Central:
www.neotrondesign.com

Didn't think that would be confusing, but hell, that's the internet...I had a classmate at Columbia University named Ken Ferris who did titles design for Paul Schrader, so I just wanted to see if it was the same guy.

Bueller?

Bueller?

Bueller?

The footage wiil be shot on Sony HDV Z1U. And no, I am not Ken Ferris, sorry.

Thanks all.

Oh, well, then we can't answer you. JUST KIDDING.

That's a fine camera. You can capture that directly through FireWire, and even downconvert live to DVCAM or DV, through the same pipe. The sae features are available on this A1U I just picked up, it's wild.

Assuming you get a new tower with FC Studio installed, pay attention to storage for your HD. You want SATA drives and probably Raided to support multistream.

- Loren
Today's FCP 5 keytip:
Preview effects sections with Option-P or Option-Backslash!

The FCP 5 KeyGuide?: a professional placemat.
Now available at KeyGuide Central:
www.neotrondesign.com

Loren,
I'm trying to put a few quick clips together in iMovie. How do you get the A1U to downconvert?
I've followed what seems to be the specs on page 81 in sony handbook. and setup imovie for dv format. I've never used imovie. nor the a1u before this project. i'm a long way from my studio on west coast (we're in paris on way back from south africa). What's the secret to down converting to dvcam????? tnx Sanjay