HVX / FS100 and DVRack in combination

Shooter

Shooter

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Anyone using HVX / FS100 and DVRack in combination.

Interested to know how you utilise the single Firewire output from the camera to feed signal to both FS100 and DVRack (Laptop) simultaneously.

I have a 3 port mini F/wire hub ordered and will test late in the week. I am hoping this is the solution and it will work... but open to any suggestions (better ones).

http://www.expansys.co.nz/product.asp?code=137597

One objective is to minimise cables (especially power supplies). I think the hub will mount on the camera even if I have to provide battery power to it (9v) and then it will be one short cable in from camera (4p to 6p) and then short cable to FS100 (6p to 6p) then a long cable out to DVRack ( 6p to 4p)
 
I did not been able to connect at same time HVX, Firestore and DVrack2.0.

As Serious magic states, you need to have separate firewire cars installed in order to DVrack recognize different devices such as cameras etc.

Firestore does not have a second firewire port (it should) in order to daisy chain devices (as firewire specs states)

But later I realized that if I have DVrack2.0 runign I don't need firestore, in my laptop (HP Zv600, 3200+ AMD 64, 1 GB Ram, 100 GB HD, 250 GB Ext USB HD), because the little DVRak2.0 marvellous records my clips (1080 or 720 24p, Really 24p!!!) without problem, we just finished a short feature couple of weeks ago and are in the blow up to 35 mm stage.

By the way, the longest Firewire cable you can connect in order to DVrack detects HD signals, is 15 feet, no more.
 
I am glad to hear how well the record to DV RAck worked for you and on occasions will also do this.

Mostly I wont because I then have the issue of transferring files from Laptop to Desktop which I would prefer to do without an intermediate file transfer (eg external disk).. With the Firestore I want to take it straight in to desktop and save time and process.

Anyway I have hopes for the Firewire Hub that I have ordered and will let you know if it works.
 
As a matter of fact, I have an external HD (USB) where I record DVrack clips because internal Laptop HD is not capable of sustained data rate transfer DVCPro 100 needs.
So I record in that HD and later plug it in my destop in order to edit.

We have done 2 short features with this workflow.

PS: Firestore is among other things, an external (sofisticated) hard disk
 
AVI or FCP-compatible QT or AVI Type 2 or Canopus AVI or... well, I imagine there might be other formats too, but those are the ones I've used.
 
One issue I'm facing next week with the decision to use DVRack or not is when the client isn't sure on which platform they'll be editing. Record to a QT and you're in trouble if the client is PC based (unless they have Edius or some flavor of Avid I suppose). Record AVI and you rule out FCP on the Mac.

I ran into this situation with the P2 Store back in June. I'm a PC guy and suddenly here's 60 gig's of DVPRO 50 QT's that I can't read. Grrrr...

At least the native .MXF's put off the decision making until after the shoot... I wish DVRack could give that as an option.
 
Use a converter...

...but I am puzzled why you can not view QTs on your PC (or timeline)

Quicktime Pro is a must have app. and its only about $50
 
Doesn't work on the PC. Apple refuses to release the DVCPRO-HD quicktime codec on the PC. I figure they should just tap into the existing DVCPRO-HD codec that's installed whenever someone installs P2 Viewer, but for whatever reason, Apple won't do it.
 
erdiaz said:
By the way, the longest Firewire cable you can connect in order to DVrack detects HD signals, is 15 feet, no more.
Click to expand...

We're running HD-Rack over multiple 30 foot cables, giving a total length of more than 20 meters: a 1 foot rightangled 4-pin from the camera to a small 6pin-6pin firewire
repeater underneath the camera. From here to the next repeater over a 30 foot cable. This repeater is in the middle of the 'lifeline' and protected by a small waterproof housing. Next, a new 30 foot cable to the third and last repeater. This repeater is slightly bigger and is powered by an ac/dc adapter. Finally, a 3 foot 6-pin to 4-pin cable to the 4-pin laptop input. The ac/dc adapter is necessary because the neither the HVX, nor the 4-pin laptop( Dell M90) provide power for the repeaters. The one powered repeater also powers the other 2 over 6-pin firewire cables.

Multipe hours of HD recorded( 1080p25) without glitches. I can look up the brand names of repeaters/cables, if anyone wants to now.
 
I have yet to hear of anyone using HVX200 + FS100 + DVRack in combination (which surprises me). Someone must be doing it somehow / somewhere.

My F/W hub I ordered was delayed so I have not been able to test the idea yet.
 
erdiaz said:
By the way, the longest Firewire cable you can connect in order to DVrack detects HD signals, is 15 feet, no more.
Click to expand...

I must said: ..." without a repeater".

a very cumbersome resourse wich I'll never use untill it becomes a unavoidable need!!!
 
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