Can U Downconvert Camera to Harddrive?
 

Is there some way to set the settings on the camera (using it like a deck) so that I can downconvert my HDV footage to DV footage going straight from the camera to the laptop (or external harddrive) using final cut?

Or do I have to downconvert my tapes from the camera to the deck? Then use those downconverted tapes to capture from?

Or is there a way to directly downconvert from deck (BR-HD50) to laptop?

Thanks,
Sharon

Hi Sharon

None of the ProHD hardware - cameras or decks - will down-convert HDV1 to DV via firewire. This is possible with Sony's HDV2 gear but not with the JVC hardware. You can down-convert to SD with the cameras or the decks via composite, SD YUV or SDI (if you have a HD250/1). If you need TC and deck control, you will need the BRHD50 and you will need to use RS422 for deck control and TC instead of firewire - just as you would with, say, a Beta SP deck. There are obvious issues of D to A to D conversion artefacts here. On a laptop, you will then need a I/O that allows you to capture analogue signals for audio and video. In addition, the BRHD50 only has unbalanced analogue audio outputs, so you have degradation here as well, which may or may not be an issue. This is a major draw-back of the JVC hardware for many people here. I suggest you run a search on this board because this topic has been discussed at great length many times - that's probably why you haven't had much response to your questions.

Antony, thank you. I ran a search, I guess I am just sloppy these days in my franticness (sp?) of the situation.

Cheers,
Sharon