Exciting times for us tape users. Hopefully the units will be available here in NZ in the next few months. Will have to chase up the local supplier.
Ratu

It was already 'On'.. Other suggestions ?

I've got a MRC1K. Here's some unboxing photos via picasa:

Picasa Web Albums - Evan - Sony HVR-MRC1...

I don't know other than I set my MRC1K to "Synchro" instead of follow and now I'm able to use the A1's record button to control the unit no problem.

How do you keep recording to CF card while you're changing tapes?

I like the idea of this unit but doesn't it seem a bit bulky and awkward mounted on the shoe like that? It just seems as thought it would completely take away any ergonics that your camera has.

I have an XLh1 and would like to mount it on the rear accesorry plate myself but am not sure exactly how to pull that off until I have one in hand. Regardless.....let us know how it goes. I just know that I personally would not want to mount that on my H1 at the accessory shoe as the weight distribution is already whack.

Peace.

What's the workflow with Final Cut? Will the Sony plugin work for drag-n-drop, no-rendering-required m2t editing?

Yeah you just fire up fcp's log and transfer once you've installed sony's plugin and it's a very quick rewrap process to bring it in. I'm almost positive it's just rewrapping and not transcoding which is why it's so quick.

Agreed. I just put in top of the camera to show everyone what it comes with but for now I'm just using a longer cable and chucking it in a pocket. I'm working on making a clip of some sort that I can hang it off the handgrip.

For your bracket the unit has a 1/4 20(I think) screw hole on the bottom so you just need some kind of "U" shaped bracket for the back of your XL and the other end can go underneath the mrc1k with the non-opening side touching the XLH1. Essentially what I'm picturing is the recording unit on it's side with the battery facing your right ear and the recorder's interface facing towards your outside right side since the mrc1 opens on the left side to put in CF cards in.

So if I were you I'd make the bracket with the the right side of recorder facing the back of the XLH1 so you can both put in cards and change batteries easily.

For anyone wanting to know the exact process of making it work with the A1 here it is:

So record to card only this is my process:
- In the A1's menu so "System Setup ---> DVControl ON"
- Connect the firewire cable between the A1 and the MRC1K
- Turn on the MRC1K throw in your CF card (it won't let you get to the MRC1K's menu without a card in it) and go press the MENU button
- Now go "SETTING ----> CAMLINK SEL"
- Choose "SYNCHRO"
- Now on the A1 you should see a green box next to "DVCONTROL"
- Your now able to control the recording with the A1's record buttons and don't need to shoot tape at the same time

That's all there is to it. Once it's set once you don't need to do it again. Just connect the two and turn the MRC1K and you're ready to go.
I may to a little youtube vid about it or something.

Can you still record to CF while changing tapes? If so, how?

Thanks for all the info Evan, much appreciated.

Heeee !
This works for me. Don't know what I did wrong.. Thanksss !

Rgds,
Daan

BUT !!!!

Is my camera goes to sleep, I have the same problem :
The recorder is trying to connect the CF card (?)

I , again you have to choose for DV-PAL and the everything fires up again....

Maybe I have an other setting wrong ? Can anybody tell me the other settings in the menu ?

Rgds, Daan

He Evan,
Where can I find the YouTube vid ?

Thks, Daan

Where did you get your unit from? I can only find a couple of dealers listing the item in the US and both of them are backordered or preorder. The best price I found so far is US $753.08