Do you use a stand alone hard drive?
 

Hello all.

Do any of you use a free standing hard drive for your video stuff? If so do you have any thoughts on this?



thanks
Lowell

Hi Lowell.........
 

Doesn't everyone? (I jest).

They're big, cheap, fast - ish, easy to re - configure, add, remove, did I say big?, - what more could you want for shuffling finished/ pending video stuff back and forth from?

The more you look at them the more they seem too good to be true, but in reality, they're just ........good.

Wouldn't necessarily want to edit a blockbuster off one if it was the only game in town, but as "off machine" storage for shed loads of data, magic.

Did I miss anything, anyone?


CS

yes, i use basic USB 500gig (for 120$) to store files.
and some multimedia disk (the one you connect directly to a tv).
they are cheap and big too. it is nice to include in price of project for customers. they can keep all data (rushes, pics, sounds, projects for editing and DVD mastering) and have the final movie (even in HD) ready to play.
Il later they need re-editing, they send you back the box.
if they loose/erase it, it is not your fault....

Yes, I use a Lacie 250 GB hard disc.
Love it, one of the best buys I ever did. I should get another one though, with more disc space...

I use external hard drives to store all my projects that have been finished - that way I can always go back and do modifications if the client returns. I store all the project files, media, etc as well as a final lossless render of the project. I can usually fit several projects onto one hard drive (depending on the size of the project) and, when the drive is full, I just include the price of a new drive in my next project's estimate and invoice.

If you mean external hard drives connected to a computer, I have three hanging off my system right now.

The versatility and ease of use can't be beat.

Hook one up to a laptop, go out in the field and record direct to disk, come home, unplug it and plug it into the main system. The files are all ready...

If you mean truly standalone drives (e.g., FireStore) that don't connect to a PC, I don't have any. To me, they are too expensive.

Some now come with e-sate hookup. Really fast.

Is this OK to buy?
http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10844

Stelios

it looks ok, but since it is also networked, you pay for a feature you could not use.
the western digital elements (500gig) is currently the cheapest usb2 box you can find.(around 130$)

E-sata is great....just got a Calvary 500 gig for $118...

Check out this test report on e-sata drives....it was an eye opener as the name brands did not do well...

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2173840,00.asp

Bob T.

Beware of closed boxes!
 

Make sure you take into consideration heat dissipation - it can be significant. I have just recently received video projects to work on, on two different USB hard drives. One of them looks very sexy, it's thin and tall, nice design... but it gets so hot I'm afraid it'll die on me; and it will for sure if it's used long enough. I guess I'll eventually turn it into a stricly storage drive (just to keep finished projects on it, no editing).

The other one is a big fat (I guess I can call it ugly) box, but it has a built in fan, so it runs nice and cool - it's this one from Microcenter: http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0236797

A good middle ground would be larger boxes with ventilation holes - I have two Western Digital MyBook 500GB USB hard drives, they run cool enough all day long because they have good natural ventilation. Eventually I will put them in an enclosure and have a fan blow on them.

Hi
A stupid question, but can you use these for editing and capture?

Stelios

Yes, absolutely, I use them all the time for both capturing and editing on PC with Adobe Premiere Pro.

Ervin when you use them to capture, do you use firewire (ilink)? In other words do they have a DV IN connection? like this one:
http://www.westerndigital.com/en/pro...sp?DriveID=224

Stelios

Yes and no
 

I use firewire to connect the camera to the PC, and USB to connect the external hard drive to the PC. I have never used one with firewire as both of mine are USB only, but you can connect the hard drive also via firewire if you have multiple firewire ports on the computer.

If your question refers to capturing directly to the hard drive via firewire from the camcorder (without using a computer), I don't believe it can be done. The firewire port on these hard drives can only be used for connecting them to a computer, just like you would connect them via USB.

Some companies make direct-to-harddrive recorders, see Firestore and Sony for example.