CitiDisk HDV - Now on sale - but nobody is talking about it?
 

How come nobody is talking about the CitiDisk HDV DTE recorder. its small and sleek and very lightweight. It records DVCPRO50 and more importanlty in this day and time - HDV.

The ONEHUNDREDEDGIGABYTE model is only $850 bucks and you can buy it from their website @ http://www.shining.com/products/tota.../citidisk_hdv/

100GB equates to 9 HDV hours. Thats 9 Mini DV tapes!

Looks very interesting and promising. How come nobody is talking about this unit here? Did I miss someting in my absence?

- ShannonRawls.com

Shannon,

It really looks good in the ad. But for the past year I have been tracking the CitiDisk and it dosen't appear to have a very good track record with users. I hope I am wrong because I am really hoping to move up as cheaply as possible to the DVCPro50 format.

Regards,

Mark

I reviewed the site more closely and couldn't find anything on the terms and length of warranty. They say check the owner's manual with the product. That is not so good.

Ahhhhh warranty smarranty.... it's only money!

Buy one and test if for me....so I can see if I should spend "my" money on one. *smile*

- ShannonRawls.com

DV Expo booth
 

Well, they have a booth atthe DV Expo West, Ill go check them out.

Long time no see, I remember seeing this on HD for indies a while ago.

Sounds good, but too bad there is no HD-SDI input - for use with the XL H1.

HD-SDI would be a feather in the cap. If it can do reliable HDV recording and reliable DVCPRO50 recording...that would be monumental in and of itself. Especially for SDX900 users and all HDV users.

and quite frankly...the price is nice! I mean 850 bucks for a 100gigabyte DTE solution for HDV is worth trying...'Cause 19 quality HDV minidv tapes/hours of HDV footage (which is what it will fit) is $200 bucks no matter how you slice it, so even if it only works for two or three feature films and then takes a dump on you, it was worth the try.

I'm just waiting on a report.

- ShannonRawls.com

I recently bought an regular CitiDISK DV 100Gb and I can only say nice things about it. It´s simple and easy to use - just the way I want it. I don´t now anything about the HDV version - but it should be the same as DV.

I almost bought one until I was told that you CANNOT playback anything you just recorded, so if you are in the field and spent a whole day shooting you won't see anything until you get back and load it onto the computer. Tell me if I am wrong, but I spoke to the guys at the DV expo. They didn't seem to know a whole lot, but it sure looks like a mUCH better option than the DR-100U for the JVC HD100U.

You're wrong. *smile*

Quick Play Last Captured Scene and Play All Captured Scences(NEW)

• "QPLAY" last captured HDV/DV/DV50 streams on viewfinder when setting camera to VCR mode.

• Navigating history clips is also possible by "Press-n-Hold" "QPLAY" button for over three seconds.

How do you like them apples? *smile*

That's why I don't understand why people aren't rushing this thing. If it works for 24f HDV with accurate timecode (because i like to use free-run timecode on all my projects), then i'm all over it.

- ShannonRawls.com

I've asking about it too. If you get one please keep me updated.

-Nate

Actually I am not wrong. I spoke to the company at DV Expo and they told me that feature is only available on the DV version, NOT the new HDV version and won'tbe available for a while, so unless you are shooting DV only you CANNOT playback the footage etc until you load on a computer. So much for a potential great harddisc recorder.But time will fix it.

wow, now that would be BLATENT false advertisment and reason to return 100% of their sold units. They advertise that on the HDV version of their product, says HDV in the specs, and even on the forthcoming DVCPROHD version, it says the HDV version can NOW do it...and it says "NEW".

Mybe the people you spoke with didn't know about the software update....but that would be like COMPAQ claiming they have DVD player on the laptops...and when you get it, it only plays CD-R's.

I have a feeling it will do Q-Play for HDV.

- ShannonRawls.com

Well - Just purchased the Citidisk 100 HDV and an external battery. I don't have an HDV camera yet, but I know for me its not too far off.

I should have it tomorrow or wednesday and I am going to run some tests on it to see how it holds up - the biggest of which will be an all day shoot (wedding) in a few weeks. Of course I will be shooting tape as well - but the main reason for me buying this was to eliminate capturing when possible and also have a back up. I use brand new tapes for every shoot - but I think with this I will reuse the thousands of tapes I have that have only been used once (any one think this should be ok? I understand drop outs are more suseptable on reused tapes, but I also understand technically you can reuse mindv tapes 6 or so times before problems should occur...?)

My other goal with this is to create a bottom bracket so I can mount it under my GL2 and then mount a quick release on the bracket...when I get the bad boy and do some thorough testing I will let you know what I think!

-Matt

I don't know anything about the CitiDisk, but personally I wouldn't re-use tapes. Considering how cheap a blank tape is, why would you want to take any chance for the few dollars it might save? If you really feel the need to recover some money from your "thousands of tapes" you could always offer them for sale.

I showed them the ad, but I believe there is a disclaimer on HDV with a *. I think its misleading too, but I am not going to argue with them...

Brian,

Look at Shannon's first entry at the beginning of this thread, she has the link there. It sure looks like Shining is claiming that the Qplay works with HDV. No "*" to be seen.

I would really be interested to know if the Citidisk has improved since I tried-out the Quickstream and Citidisk two years ago.

MISTER Shannon W. Rawls called Shining this morning and spoke with them.

They said the website is wrong. The current release will NOT Qplay. It will in the forthcoming free firmware update.

It will NOT capture timecode either. They are experimenting with this now.
The Firestore will capture timecode and will playback HDV footage on your cameras viewfinder and has removable batteries along with an LCD screen for information. However the firestore is bigger and bulkier, has a loud fan in it, smaller hard drive and costs allot more.

Pick your weapon.

- ShannonRawls.com

I don't see where there was any indication in my last post that I assumed that you were a MISSES (which I have to admit I did). But anyway - I hope no harm has been done - all the Shannons I have ever known (1) have been women.

Getting back to the matter - what you say is true about the advantages of the Citidiscs size and lack of noise - but does it really work - and how can a company, to be taken seriously, allow their website to advertise something so wrong, for more than twenty minutes. I'm going to go check the link again in an hour to see if they have corrected it after your telephone call to them, which has brought the error to their attention.

To be honest - I don't trust Shining. There are a few little reasons, which start with misleading advertising and include user guides written in dinglish.

Then the next step is DR-100 which should be out soon. I'll be getting it myself... unless Citidisk actually fix their first, sinc eit is 1/2 price and more GB.

You said something along the lines in the post SHE made - but no big deal, obviously its a mistake and we are online so its impossible to tell just by a name and if I didnt see his website I wouldn't have known either.

Anyways - about the citidisk...I like it because its smaller and quieter and seems to be heading in the right direction. The firestore to me is just a rip off right now (same reason Shanon stated) - they need to fix their fan, their battery lengths and their recording lengths before I would even consider.

I agree - Shining scares me a little due to their lack of English - but to be honest - to make a great device it doesnt need to be in english - where do you think 99% of our cameras are made? I think if this takes off and they create a device that works well then then they can invest in a translator lol.
Mine should be here today - but again I dont have any HDV cameras so I will be testing just DV - and if it doesnt work up to specs - it goes back and I wait for something better to come along (maybe a firestore).

Oh speaking about english - I got an email from them stating my item has been shipped, it made me laugh a little, and may make me cry later...

"HI , Dear Customer :
Your unit was shipped by UPS Next Day air as you specified today.
Tracking number is ---------------

Best regards
Shining Technology Inc.
Shipping Dept.

P.S. Battery no stock now, allow later release 01/9/2006 (about)"

I hope I get the extended battery soon because thats going to hinder some of my testing.

Your right, I just looked back - sorry about that Shannon.

As far as the extended battery is concerned - if the bloody thing works reliably you shouldn't have too much trouble getting a third party battery that will fit into the plug for the mains power adapter. There have been a few threads with good ideas for this type of set-up in connection with the FS-4.

[QUOTE=
As far as the extended battery is concerned - if the bloody thing works reliably you shouldn't have too much trouble getting a third party battery that will fit into the plug for the mains power adapter. There have been a few threads with good ideas for this type of set-up in connection with the FS-4.[/QUOTE]

Good point - Maybe I can find one or make one that will fit better in the under the camera harness type thing I want to make if I like the device - even if I move to a firestore I want to make something that will attach under the camera and also allow a quick release onto that.

Somehow UPS messed up my damn order and my next day air has turned into 3 days - but now it shows on truck for delivery so maybe tonight I can post my first impressions...I will probably start a new thread for that.

Matthew,
Did you find a way to mount the Citidisk under the GL2 or find the alternative battery?

Hmm, I always thought Shannon would look good in heels. (^_^)

Has anyone used one of these CitiDisk units with an FX1 with HDV footage- how well did it all work?

I did play with this for about an hour at the 4EverGroup expo, and while it "worked" it also crashed a couple times. I don't know that I'd trust it. I've asked Chris Wang (owner of Shining Technologies) to allow me to review a unit for 3-4 days, and they weren't interested. Apparently they're not really into reviews or something. Anyway, it's an interesting tool, has a kinda clever mount for the Z1, but I didn't see how it would connect to the FX1.
I'd be curious to hear from anyone who's owned one for a few days.

DSE- thanks for that reply. It's ashame it is plagued with small problems as it seems like a very useful device.
It seems that every direct-to-disk for HDV product has problems of some sort. There doesn't seem to be a rock-solid solution to DTD recording.

I hope the Citidisk people sort out these problems and let you review a unit- if it works as it should- I can't see a review hurting it- it would be positive advertising.

The way I see it- we'll have to wait til the next generation of internal HD HDV camcorders to get this right........time will tell.

Any new news on this thing? Has anyone had any luck getting them to work consistantly?

I've been using CitiDIsk HDV with Canon XL H1 for several weeks. It works fine except two details: the HDV playback to the EVF does not work (DV mode is ok), and the timecode is not stored. Otherwise no problems what so ever. No crashes at all.

I transform the m2t files to avi files with Cineform HDlink and then edit with Premiere Pro (1.5 or) 2.0.

lauri,
Why do you change the m2t files to avi?
Bruce Yarock

the Cineform "intermediate codec" is used in Premiere Pro editions to improve editing capablities and color correction, as well as to reduce strain on the System due to extensive processing required to edit and render in native HDV. In the HDV .m2t files, each frame rendered requires interpolation from the prior frame. In an .avi file, each frame stands on its own. Major issue is it takes about 4 to five times the drive space for a .m2t to become .avi.

Not really an issue in today's world, though. You can find some really great deals on 1TB raids and 500GB HDs. Space is less of an issue than CPU, IMO.

ciao,
Matt

That's the Cineform codec: It includes a program called HDLink. I open the files on the CitiDISK HDV with HDLink, convert the m2t files to avi-files, and store them on harddisk. Then when I open these files with Premiere Pro, the procedure is the same as if one had dv-avi files.

I just called at Shining technology asking what is the speed of
the laptop HD's that they use for their HDV models and they said
it's 4200 RPM!!.....not even 5400 RPM like the nNovia QC.....

I can't imagine my workstation working with either speed in my HD's....
7200 RPM it's ok for plain DV...I dont know HDV...but I am guessing
those 10,000 RPM Raptors were invented for something....
And those Maxtor (SCSI HD's running at)15,000 RPM......oh well....

I know that at the present time you only CAN buy 7200 RPM laptop HD's
Probably I will wait for the Catapult and see if I can configure something
with a 80GB 7200 RPM Hitachi antishock Laptop HD....
Cesar

Caesar: I'm sure someone will tell me if I am wrong, but I think HDV captures at the same bitrate as DV SD, so if you should be able to capture HDV on any hard drive fast enough for DV. Problem comes with processing the image at the same time on a capture monitor on the computer. Premiere Pro actually instructs you to monitor on camera's LCD.

Chris:
Thanks for your responce.

You are right...I have a friend that has the Sony FX1
and he told me that when he captures it takes for the MPGE-2
file the same HD space as the AVI file of Standar Definition.
About 13.5GB for each hour of footage.

But also there are other codecs for HD that require more
space like DVCPro HD and 50 for the Panasonic HVX200....

I think that for some of the current DTD's Recorders in the market
they use 4200 and 5400-RPM HD's because that's what it was
available a couple of years ago.

Now with the introduction of the 7200-RPM 2.5" Laptop Hard Drives
They may star building the recorders with this kind of HD's....
But first they have to get rid of his OLD inventory first....

Cesar.

So can we confirm that the CitiDisk HDV does indeed work with the Sony FX-1?

Any issues? (Thanks)

Citidisk with JVC HD100?
 

Anyone had success with the Citidisk and the JVC HD100U?

Has that firmware upgrade come out yet that lets it play back or store timecode?

Bruce, Just realized that I'd read you question "HOW do you change .." instead of "WHY do you change ...". The answer is, the mpeg2 format does not lend itself to editing. Moreover, the TV-stations do not want to have master material in mpeg2 format. Thus, it is better to change the format immediately to something else.

Cineform codecs (Aspect HD and Prospect HD) are in my experience just wonderful. After I've edited using Cineform codecs the doors are open to any direction.

In short, the question is of maximizing quality between shooting and creating a master tape/file.