Firewire DA?
 

Hi,

I want to feed Firewire from my Sony PD-170 into two Panosonic DVD recorders. Each recorder had firewire in. I'd like to locate some type of firewire distribution amp that I can feed the camera firewire out to and get maybe 4 or 5 firewire outputs from. I then want to take these outputs and feed them into the firewire in on several recorders. I can then play the tape from the camera and make several dvd's at a time. Anyone tell me of a DA or other device that would allow this?

Thanks
Dean

Just do a Google search on "Firewire Hub" and you'll find plenty.

Since Firewire (IEEE 1394) is a digital signal, you don't really need a distribution amp like you would in an analog signal DA. At least not for 3 or 4 clones.

If you want to do 20 or so, Kramer makes one for large installations that does that.

Search "Firewire DA" to find that.

Firewire HUB
 

Hi again,

I bought a Kramer VS 4 FW Firewire Hub. I am having a problem using it with my Sony EX1R and two Sony DVDirect 16x External USB 2.0 Double-Layer DVD±RW Drives. At first hook up I can not get the drives / burners to see the firewire video. If I keep playing with each piece of equipment I can got ONE of the drives / burners to see the playback from the camera. Any one making multiple DVD's from the EX1R using firewire? Can anyone tell me how to make the hookup work?

Thanks
Dean

Did you really mean you're hooking Firewire to USB? I didn't think that would work at all.

A Firewire hub does not act as a DA does in analog. Firewire establishes point to point streams. A hub lets you physically hook up a bunch of devices but at any given time, only two are transferring data to and fro.

I've not been successful in doing what you are trying to do after buying a Laird Firewire device 8 years ago that claimed to be a DA. But you could take a look at their current products and maybe find something that will be of use.

Laird Telemedia Welcomes You!

Hi Dean,

Have you tried this with just a single DVD burner and got it to work? MiniDV tape is 13GB/hour. DVD is 4.7GB. You'd only get about 20 minutes on a DVD. Even for going to a single DVD burner, I think you'll need a computer in between the camera and the burner.

I'm afraid you're going to have to capture the footage using a computer and editing software, which will put it into a video file format and then you can output it to a mulitple-DVD burner unit, which goes for about $500-800.

Mark