auxiliary deck or cheap cam for downloading footage? at DVinfo.net

Susan Highsmith · April 18th, 2003, 09:27 AM

I’m curious, what do most of you use for downloading dvx-100 footage in order to avoid wearing down the heads? Do you use an auxiliary deck or a cheap cam? And what brand do you use? Thanks for any advice you can provide.

Dylan Couper · April 18th, 2003, 11:12 AM

I think most of us are split between a deck and a cheap miniDV camera.
I use a Canon ZR40 as a deck because it was about 1/3rd the price of a deck. Plus it has a built in LCD screen, and is portble, so it is alot more versatile than most decks. Plus it's a camera.

Stephen van Vuuren · April 18th, 2003, 12:37 PM

I use a JVC MiniDV/SVHS deck (several models available, mine cost $1000).

Makes great VHS & super VHS copies, cheap and works well.

Jaime Valles · April 18th, 2003, 12:46 PM

I bought a Samsung SCH80 (I think) at B&H for $339. MiniDV w/Firewire. I plan on using it as a deck this fall when editing a project I'm shooting this summer. I can't see the advantage of a regular deck costing at least 2X as much, if all you're doing is transferring to a computer.

Stephen van Vuuren · April 18th, 2003, 12:51 PM

If that's all you are doing with it, I agree. But I needed much more flexibility (like getting VHS into my system via firewire and making quality VHS dubs). Plus the JVC has a nice remote for reviewing footage and hold up well to wear and tear of shuttling and recording.

Jaime Valles · April 18th, 2003, 03:53 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Stephen van Vuuren : If that's all you are doing with it, I agree. But I needed much more flexibility (like getting VHS into my system via firewire and making quality VHS dubs). Plus the JVC has a nice remote for reviewing footage and hold up well to wear and tear of shuttling and recording. -->>>

Stephen is right. If you want to do VHS dubs or anything more comlex, then you'd need a dedicated deck. If you're just transfering footage to your computer, use a cheap-o camera. Also, the one I got came with a remote control, so check which accessories come with the cheap camera.

I'm very satisfied with my Samsung MiniDV camera. It's tiny, cheap, and completely automatic (almost no picture adjustment is possible), but the images are surprisingly clean.

Christopher Go · April 18th, 2003, 05:06 PM

I use a Panasonic AG-DV1000 deck. Along with the JVC model Stephen has this deck can be purchased for around $1000 or less as well. My production monitor and monitoring speakers for audio is hooked up to it for use with Avid Xpress.

Will Fastie · April 18th, 2003, 05:12 PM

I'm in the cheap cam camp.

Even though I could continue to use my GL2's passthrough feature, I just installed a Canopus ADVC-50 analog to digital video converter. This is an input-only device, but what I like is the 5-1/4" bay it includes that puts the connectors on the front of my video PC. This is just a whole lot more convenient than having two devices to get the analog stuff. That will be nice because one of my projects involves a lot of historical VHS and 8mm video tape.

The Canopus ADVC products have locked audio, eliminating the audio sync problem lots of folks have with the inexpensive analog capture solutions. The bay's jacks include 4-pin 1394, S-Video, and RCA.

Susan Highsmith · April 23rd, 2003, 07:06 PM

Thanks guys for your invaluable info!

April 18th, 2003, 09:27 AM	#1
Susan Highsmith Tourist Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 4	auxiliary deck or cheap cam for downloading footage? I’m curious, what do most of you use for downloading dvx-100 footage in order to avoid wearing down the heads? Do you use an auxiliary deck or a cheap cam? And what brand do you use? Thanks for any advice you can provide.

April 18th, 2003, 11:12 AM	#2
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I think most of us are split between a deck and a cheap miniDV camera. I use a Canon ZR40 as a deck because it was about 1/3rd the price of a deck. Plus it has a built in LCD screen, and is portble, so it is alot more versatile than most decks. Plus it's a camera. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

April 18th, 2003, 12:37 PM	#3
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	I use a JVC MiniDV/SVHS deck (several models available, mine cost $1000). Makes great VHS & super VHS copies, cheap and works well. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

April 18th, 2003, 12:51 PM	#5
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	If that's all you are doing with it, I agree. But I needed much more flexibility (like getting VHS into my system via firewire and making quality VHS dubs). Plus the JVC has a nice remote for reviewing footage and hold up well to wear and tear of shuttling and recording. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

April 18th, 2003, 05:12 PM	#8
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	Analog Capture I'm in the cheap cam camp. Even though I could continue to use my GL2's passthrough feature, I just installed a Canopus ADVC-50 analog to digital video converter. This is an input-only device, but what I like is the 5-1/4" bay it includes that puts the connectors on the front of my video PC. This is just a whole lot more convenient than having two devices to get the analog stuff. That will be nice because one of my projects involves a lot of historical VHS and 8mm video tape. The Canopus ADVC products have locked audio, eliminating the audio sync problem lots of folks have with the inexpensive analog capture solutions. The bay's jacks include 4-pin 1394, S-Video, and RCA.

April 18th, 2003, 12:46 PM	#4
Jaime Valles Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 316	I bought a Samsung SCH80 (I think) at B&H for $339. MiniDV w/Firewire. I plan on using it as a deck this fall when editing a project I'm shooting this summer. I can't see the advantage of a regular deck costing at least 2X as much, if all you're doing is transferring to a computer.

April 18th, 2003, 03:53 PM	#6
Jaime Valles Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 316	<<<-- Originally posted by Stephen van Vuuren : If that's all you are doing with it, I agree. But I needed much more flexibility (like getting VHS into my system via firewire and making quality VHS dubs). Plus the JVC has a nice remote for reviewing footage and hold up well to wear and tear of shuttling and recording. -->>> Stephen is right. If you want to do VHS dubs or anything more comlex, then you'd need a dedicated deck. If you're just transfering footage to your computer, use a cheap-o camera. Also, the one I got came with a remote control, so check which accessories come with the cheap camera. I'm very satisfied with my Samsung MiniDV camera. It's tiny, cheap, and completely automatic (almost no picture adjustment is possible), but the images are surprisingly clean.

April 18th, 2003, 05:06 PM	#7
Christopher Go Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 429	I use a Panasonic AG-DV1000 deck. Along with the JVC model Stephen has this deck can be purchased for around $1000 or less as well. My production monitor and monitoring speakers for audio is hooked up to it for use with Avid Xpress.

April 23rd, 2003, 07:06 PM	#9
Susan Highsmith Tourist Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 4	Thanks guys for your invaluable info!