HVX and Firestore - Question about shooting time...

[AustinGK]

All,

We're new to the tapeless world, so please bear with the basic question about the Firestore.

We're wanting to shoot in 720/24p. The camera is set on the format. We have also set the Firestore as suggested.

Presently, to get more time out of the Firestore, I have it set at DVCPro 50. But when I start recording (we are just testing) the Firestore resets itself to DVCProHD and only have 111 minutes of record time.

TWO QUESTIONS:

1) Is there a way to set the Firestore so that I can get more time?

2) Also, if I'm only getting 111 minutes of footage, how much external storage am I going to need for 80 hours of footage?

[agcohn]

You need to have the FS-100 with the latest firmware, and the FS-100 itself needs to be in PN mode.

You should be getting ~260 minutes in 720/24p, as long as you have the FS-100 in PN mode.

The FS-100 is resetting itself to DVCPRO HD, because the signal you're sending from the camera is DVCPRO HD.

720p is DVCPRO HD, not DVCPRO 50.

[AustinGK]

Thanks for the reply.

Here's my follow up:

So if I set the FS-100 in PN mode, I get 260 minutes in 720/24p. If I set the shooting mode on the camera to 24pn, do I get even more shooting time?

Also, what is the visual difference if I shot in 480i/24p? Does this increase my time even more?

Lastly, what are you doing about the issue that the FS-100 only has battery life of 1.5 hours? Extra battery? P2 card?

Thanks.

[agcohn]

Thanks for the reply.

Here's my follow up:

So if I set the FS-100 in PN mode, I get 260 minutes in 720/24p. If I set the shooting mode on the camera to 24pn, do I get even more shooting time?

Also, what is the visual difference if I shot in 480i/24p? Does this increase my time even more?

Lastly, what are you doing about the issue that the FS-100 only has battery life of 1.5 hours? Extra battery? P2 card?

Thanks.
The camera cannot be set to pN mode when using the FS-100. It won't record anything. PN mode on the HVX200 itself can only be used to record to P2.

480 is SD. 720 is HD. Of course there is a difference. I don't believe that there is a PN mode for 480 on the FS-100, but by nature that it is SD, you will get more recording time.

I use 2 batteries, one extended life battery (3 hours), and one standard battery (1.5 hours).

[AustinGK]

So, in my editing process and in my importing to FCP, does it matter if it's 24p or 24pn? Or can there be a combination?

[agcohn]

So, in my editing process and in my importing to FCP, does it matter if it's 24p or 24pn? Or can there be a combination?
There's no problem with mixing 24p and 24pn footage, as long as you remove the pull-down correctly from the 24p footage.

[AustinGK]

AG,

Thanks for all the help on this.

I was shooting in the field today. I had the Firestore on "pn" and the HVX on 720p/24p. I'm only getting 111 minutes on the screen.

What am I doing wrong?

[agcohn]

AG,

Thanks for all the help on this.

I was shooting in the field today. I had the Firestore on "pn" and the HVX on 720p/24p. I'm only getting 111 minutes on the screen.

What am I doing wrong?
Look at the minutes while the FS-100 is recording, not while it is stopped. Before you start recording it will show 111 minutes, because the FS-100 doesn't know if you are going to be recording 1080 or 720. Once you start sending it a 720 signal, the minutes will jump to around 265, and start counting down from there.

[musicprogirl]

Thank you Agcohn so much for the information. I have wanted to post but wasn't even sure where to start with the questions. You've made what seemed like a huge pain in the..... to learn. EASY! I'm trying today. Thanks again and THANK YOU AustinGK for a great post.