USB Hard Drives for HDV Capture - Archos Devices
 

I have been looking at several new devices from Archos (www.archos.com)

Is it possible to rig this hard drive to a JVC-HD100 for video capture?

It is very small!

...

40gb external self powered hard drive - specs...
Capacity: 40 GB(1)

Buffer size: 2 MB
Rotation speed: 4200 rpm
Interface: USB 2.0 (compatible USB 1.1) - upt to 480 Mbits/sec.
Dimensions: 76x77x11,3 mm (2.99"x3.03"x0.44")
Weight: 96g (3.39 oz)
Compatible OS: PC: Windows® 98SE, ME, 2000, XP
Compatible systems: PC Compatible IBM(*) Pentium® 233 MHz, or higher
Package includes: ARCDisk

USB 2.0 Cable

($199)

btw, I also like the idea behind their 100gb video units as great ways to share video in near DVD quality and with a decent 7" or 4" screen (I think they are much more professional than an Ipod).

The drive rotation speed isn't something I would use. I am having issues playing HDV through Vegas (I'm no expert in Vegas, just hacking with a friends unused copy) on my laptop with 100GB drive at 5400 rpm.

I know it's quite appealing to go with a tiny drive that is self powered but it may not be the best answer.

You might look at ordering the fastest small (these are really notebook drives) 2.5" drive you can find and ordering a small USB 2.0 powered drive enclosure. That way you can choose a very fast small drive and an enclosure you like.

Poke around tigerdirect.com and see if they have something you like. Make it a brand name and you should be good.

Just a suggestion.

Sean

It is impossible to make the archos capture because it is usb and not firewire. HDV is only transferable in the orginal format through firewire and then you'll need a device that knows how to recognize and deal with the data.

An ipod can playback 100mbit/sec and is a 1.8" toshiba drive at 4200rpm (or slower maybe) then I'm pretty sure that almost any new drive out their can handle the 25mbits (3.6mB/s) for hdv. Processor power is more likely the issue with hdv, not bandwidth, if the drive can handle miniDV then the drive can handle HDV.

I'm not so sure that applies to Avid however. I'll have to check but as Avid converts normal SD video to OMFI media files on the way in, they can be stored anywhere. Don't recall how Avid handles HDV files. I'll check our work system, tomorrow. I know Vegas stores incoming HDV as m2t files but I would think they can be sent to any drive.

If we hang out long enough we'll get Douglas Spotted Eagle to show up and give us the Gospel on it.

Douglas, what does the good book of Vegas say on that?

Sean McHenry

I haven't been around the office long enough to load my Express HD which only arrived recently, but expect it will convert on capture.
m2t files, as you say, can be stored anywhere, and opened by just about everything.

Thanks Douglas. Can Vegas send captured HDV to USB drives? 1394 drives?

I'm on page 90 of the manual. migh be suggesting a Vegas setup for easier HDV workflow soon.

Sean

In Prefs,
Vegas HDV Vidcap can send video to any drive you specify.