Any recommended external HD's to direct record to
 

Apologize upfront for not doing first a more thorough forum search .

Am volunteering to help a non profit with the A/V needs and they are ready to begin investing in some equipment.

Currently am using my Sony PD170, hardwire Lav. mic and a few lights.

The majority of projects at this stage consist of interviews.

To help make the Editors life a wee bit easier could someone recommend the gear needed that will allow me to record to it and Mini DV tapes at the same time. This way I can hand off the device to the Editor instead of a pile a Mini-DV tapes.

Indulge me one little twist. Since a number of the Subjects are Musicians there might include a recording of their performances.

Along with a tripod mounted camera I also record live music using Glidecam handheld. Are any of these devices (External HD ?) battery powered ?

The budget is around $1500.

appreciate any recommendations.

Ken

www.azmusichalloffame.org

One possibility is nNovia drives.
 

I'm considering one of these myself, though I can't get off the fence about it. They're a bit pricey, and I think it might cost more than your $ 1,500 budget. (So, ultimately, it doesn't fit your situation).

BUT, I've been told they recently...and without fanfare...came out with one that can handle MXF file format. (I have an HVX-200) Learning more about that may just get me "off the fence."

The biggest drawback for me is that the signal goes out via firewire, hence no date/time stamp is available other than looking through the viewfinder. I need date/time for legal, so it wouldn't exactly meet my needs.

nnovia
 

A2D solutions work well.

~scott

2GB limit
 

Because the nnovia boxes format as NTFS, file sizes are limited to 2GB which = 8mins.

I haven't experienced dropped frames on mine.

~scott

OOps
 

I meant FAT32!!