Best option for live capture at DVinfo.net

Fellipe de Paula · May 27th, 2008, 12:15 AM

Hi all.
For wedding same day edit:

My plan is: Put my laptop into a backpack and connect it to my camera. Now, what's the best way to do it? How can I do that?

Thanks a lot.

Harm Millaard · May 27th, 2008, 11:14 AM

OnLocation.

John Miller · May 27th, 2008, 11:23 AM

Since you plan to put the laptop in a backpack, there's little point in getting any software that provides visual cues as to what is being recorded. You simply need a program that can start and stop when your camcorder starts and stops.

Most camcorders do not send a signal via FireWire to indicate that the Record/Standby button has been pressed. Most software that detects start/stop requires a tape be in the camcorder and use changes in timecode or transport state as a trigger.

Personally, I would use tape - even if only for backup. Without any visual cues, you won't have a clue what's going on inside your backpack. You won't have any way to tell if the recording is proceeding or not.

One option to consider: have two camcorders on hand. Record to tape with one and, when you change tapes, use the other camcorder for capturing to disk the full tape. Put the second camcorder and laptop in a central/suitable location and just walk about with the first camcorder. At the end of the event, all but one tapes will have been captured.

Annie Haycock · July 6th, 2008, 03:36 AM

Four-pin firewire connections have a reputation for not staying connected, so if you can't see what your laptop is recording because it is in your backpack, you can't be sure that you are actually still connected and recording.

Giroud Francois · July 6th, 2008, 05:32 PM

if your problem is to avoid recapturing video from tape to computer, there are many portable devices able to record transparently to disk. Sony, firestore etc...
they are not cheap, but they do what they claim. anything funny like a laptop in a backpack smells like a planned disaster. (over heating, disconnected cables, shaken hardisk, computer crash, battery exhausted )

May 27th, 2008, 12:15 AM	#1
Fellipe de Paula Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Brazil Posts: 57	Best option for live capture Hi all. For wedding same day edit: My plan is: Put my laptop into a backpack and connect it to my camera. Now, what's the best way to do it? How can I do that? Thanks a lot. __________________ wedding videography

July 6th, 2008, 03:36 AM	#4
Annie Haycock Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales Posts: 734	Four-pin firewire connections have a reputation for not staying connected, so if you can't see what your laptop is recording because it is in your backpack, you can't be sure that you are actually still connected and recording. __________________ Canon XH A1; Canon XF100; Nikon D800

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

May 27th, 2008, 11:14 AM	#2
Harm Millaard Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 1,832	OnLocation.

May 27th, 2008, 11:23 AM	#3
John Miller Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hillsborough, NC, USA Posts: 968	Since you plan to put the laptop in a backpack, there's little point in getting any software that provides visual cues as to what is being recorded. You simply need a program that can start and stop when your camcorder starts and stops. Most camcorders do not send a signal via FireWire to indicate that the Record/Standby button has been pressed. Most software that detects start/stop requires a tape be in the camcorder and use changes in timecode or transport state as a trigger. Personally, I would use tape - even if only for backup. Without any visual cues, you won't have a clue what's going on inside your backpack. You won't have any way to tell if the recording is proceeding or not. One option to consider: have two camcorders on hand. Record to tape with one and, when you change tapes, use the other camcorder for capturing to disk the full tape. Put the second camcorder and laptop in a central/suitable location and just walk about with the first camcorder. At the end of the event, all but one tapes will have been captured.

July 6th, 2008, 05:32 PM	#5
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	if your problem is to avoid recapturing video from tape to computer, there are many portable devices able to record transparently to disk. Sony, firestore etc... they are not cheap, but they do what they claim. anything funny like a laptop in a backpack smells like a planned disaster. (over heating, disconnected cables, shaken hardisk, computer crash, battery exhausted )