Mini DV Tape Deck at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Windows / PC Post Production Solutions > Non-Linear Editing on the PC

Non-Linear Editing on the PC
Discussing the editing of all formats with Matrox, Pinnacle and more.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 16th, 2004, 09:45 AM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southampton, UK
Posts: 47
Mini DV Tape Deck

Hello. I am after a little bit of advise. I have been running my video business well for nearly a year. I have two XM2 camera's a sound knowledge of Premiere Pro and a good editing computer.

I am now ready to make the big jump. I need some advise on what type of tape deck I could purchase to transfer my footage to my machine. At this moment I use my Matrox RT.X100 Extreme card's scan and capture from one of my XM2's but obviously I am worried that this is not an idea solution and I will kill the heads of my recorder. Also, I dont feel comfortable using a camera to transfer footage.

I am looking for the best option but obviously keeping the cost to a realistic level. My workload for 2004 is far greater than I could of imagined so I want to be well prepared.

Thank you in advance.

Steven
Steven Salmon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 16th, 2004, 10:11 AM   #2
Trustee
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada
Posts: 1,051
You might want to consider an external drive for recording your videos.

a Quickstream or a Firestore device will cost you about the price of a DV deck but you will never have to capture mini dv tapes again!
__________________
Jean-Philippe Archibald
http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib
Jean-Philippe Archibald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 16th, 2004, 10:45 AM   #3
Sponsor: JET DV
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 7,953
I have a Panasonic AG-DV2000 that works well. Other choices include the Sony DSR series of decks.
Edward Troxel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 16th, 2004, 01:04 PM   #4
Trustee
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 1,727
Edward, on the Panny deck, is the IEEE 1394 device control responsive? I'm slowly looking for a deck too and I'd like one that was quick to stop, play, rewind etc unlike cameras which are veeeeery slow.

Cheers
Aaron
__________________
My Website
Meat Free Media
Aaron Koolen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 16th, 2004, 01:27 PM   #5
Sponsor: JET DV
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 7,953
I think it is. However, if you're rewinding to start a batch capture at the 10 minute mark, it will rewind to just after 10 minutes then do a "stop". However, because of the speed of the rewind, it may not get stopped until it hits the 7 minute mark! Batch then just runs it forward to proper spot so all is fine. (Does the same thing when manually pushing the buttons, though - just the nature of fast rewinds/fast forwards)

I like the deck. It has performed very well for me.

Passthrough to/from firewire from/to analog works great too.
Edward Troxel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 16th, 2004, 03:25 PM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southampton, UK
Posts: 47
Ah. I did not think of a Quickstream device. Has anybody had much dealings with this piece of hardware. The costs sound reasonable but I worry that it's just another device to go wrong on the big day. Thoughts anyone?

Thank you to all your replies so far.

Many thanks

Steven
Steven Salmon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 23rd, 2004, 07:46 PM   #7
New Boot
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 19
What are some of the more reasonable decks on the market? I am looking at a JVC SR-VS30U right now. Any thoughts on that? Are there any cheaper?
Tyler Gred is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 23rd, 2004, 11:43 PM   #8
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 4,750
Tyler, lots of people report problems with the JVC deck. Most people recommend the Sony DSR-11, and the cheaper Panasonic decks seem to be ok.

Sony sells some cheaper mini-DV decks that are small, have a LCD screen, and use camcorder tape mechanisms (apparently not as fast as a real deck). I think you might as well get a cheap camera to use as a deck, hopefully one with analog-digital passthrough (converts analog to DV or back on the fly- may not be necessary).
Glenn Chan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 24th, 2004, 08:40 AM   #9
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: York, England
Posts: 518
I have used a Sony Walkman GV-D300 for the past three years and found it excellent for import/export using either a straight firewire port or the Pinnacle DV500. You have full device control from within the software with either. It also works well with Scenalyzer.

That model has no screen and is no longer available. its replacement is the GV-D1000 (I think) and this has a small TFT screen.
Alan Craven is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 4th, 2004, 09:15 AM   #10
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Somerville, MA
Posts: 148
I too will somewhat soon be looking to get a dv deck or mini dv cam.
Will any cheap mini dv camera work well?
I'm just worried about quality transfer.
I guess it be nice to have a 2nd small camera and use it as deck.
I'd get a mini dv deck, but all the ones i've come across are in the $1000 and up range.
So should I buy the cheapest Sony MiniDV camera and use it as a deck? If so which one?
__________________
Sony VX-1000
G5 1.8 dual
91 Turbo MR2
Ray Echevers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 16th, 2004, 09:27 AM   #11
Trustee
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,558
I have had both the Panni dv2000 and the dv1000. I have had them both for years and have NEVER had a problem with either one. Bob
Bob Safay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 16th, 2004, 09:46 AM   #12
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 4,750
Quote:
Will any cheap mini dv camera work well?
I'm just worried about quality transfer.
I guess it be nice to have a 2nd small camera and use it as deck.
Using a cheap camcorder is fine. The quality is exactly the same since the transfer is digital.

However, I do have a Samsung camera with really horrid deck control and it will get dropouts on some transfers. As long as you don't get a piece of crap like that you will be fine. I would look for a cheap used camcorder. Features to look for:

Top loading (most newer cams are bottom loading. In any case, just search for reviews or look at the picture of the camera to figure out if it's bottom loading or not)

Good deck control. Sony cameras all have good deck control. Canon and Panasonic cameras are fine. The Samsung SCD55 I owned is crap.

analog-digital passthrough if you need it (convert from analog to DV/firewire and vice versa on the fly).

Good camera features and image quality if you'd like a 2nd or 3rd camera. A lot of the old Panasonic models are good, and all of their 3CCD ones. Check out dvfreak.com 's buyer's guide for some recommendations too.

Price. I don't see problems buying used as long as you're getting the camera for a low price. Also, old cameras are just as good if not better than newer ones (they tend to have better low light and are more likely to be top loading).
Glenn Chan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 17th, 2004, 09:34 AM   #13
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Somerville, MA
Posts: 148
I might eventually but a new lower end sony small mini dv camera.
A deck and a vacation/everyday camera/deck in all in one.
__________________
Sony VX-1000
G5 1.8 dual
91 Turbo MR2
Ray Echevers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 17th, 2004, 11:59 AM   #14
Trustee
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Deep South, U.S.
Posts: 1,526
Stephen,

I am using a cheap $327 panasonic S9 camera as my playback deck. Been doing to for about 6 weeks now and have run about 30 hours of tape thru it. However, if I had known that Firestore was coming out with a reasonably priced portable drive I would have opted for it instead. They have a GREAT reputation. Stay away from the Quickstream. I have been following this product for about a year and almost bought one. But discovered many users report nothing but problems.

Regards,

Mark
Mark Williams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 17th, 2004, 12:44 PM   #15
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southampton, UK
Posts: 47
Great. I dont know much about the Firestore drive and my only concern would be the worry about my actual content being saved on the drive. Am I right in thinking that you can actually record to DV Tape at the same time the the firestore is saving? Safety is my number one priority.
Steven Salmon is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Windows / PC Post Production Solutions > Non-Linear Editing on the PC

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:10 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network