Firestore, VCR mode, playback deck (was: Firestore)
 

So Firestore is the only way to get footage to the NLE or are there decks as well?

There are no decks that will play Canon's 24F. Sony decks will play Canon 60i fine, and the new Sony HDV decks will play Canon's 30F, just not 24F, which is of course what everybody wants to shoot.

Yeah, it seems the Focus FS-4 Pro HD will work, but has anyone used it on the XL-H1? I am very curious.

Also, is there a quality advantage to recording direct to hard drive via firewire instead of recording to tape and then exporting via firewire to NLE?

I don't think there would be any quality difference--the files are the same.
If the Firestore will record the Canon 24F mode, then that would be handy because you wouldn't have to use your camera as a deck, assuming you could record to tape at the same time as recording to the drive, so you'd still have your original tapes to archive. Hmmm...I wonder if the time code would be the same.

The Firestore FS-4 Works fabulously with the H1. You used to have to go through a ton of steps to get the 24F to work in Final Cut, but they just released an update for the firestore that will record 24F HDV in .mov files instead of .m2t files like it used to. You used to have to run it all through mpeg streamclip to get it to work right, but with the update it just drag and drop...

Eric Hansen

So that would mean it should work the same with the XH-A1. I like the idea of the 24F .mov files. I assume you just then download the .mov files and edit as normal? Very cool.

How has workflow been with the .mov files? I use Premier Pro 2.0 and when I bring in .mov files, they always seem to take a long time to conform. Anyone know why?

No, it isn't the only way. The camera has a VCR program mode. When it's turned on in the VCR program mode, it works just like a deck. The tape transport controls are built into the top handle of the camera under a flip-out panel. Playing back video from the camera in VCR program mode is the most readily available way of getting footage into the NLE.

Yes there is a deck. The model number is the Canon HV10 and it costs $1300. It supports 24F and 30F Frame Mode playback as well as 4-channel audio output. It's so incredibly advanced that it includes a lens and a microphone (I suppose you could even use it as a camcorder if you really wanted to). We have an entire forum dedicated to it here at DV Info Net. See http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=139

More info about the HV10 as a playback deck:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=72806
and
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=72816
and
http://www.hdvinfo.net/articles/canon/hv10overview.php

I think the .mov files are meant for FCP users. I think PPro users are better off editing natively in .m2t or any of the various intermediary codecs.

Thanks for the reply. I figured as much for the .mov files. I have ordered Cineform Aspect HD to use as the intermediate codec.

Still curious as to why the .mov files take so darn long to conform in PPro 2.0