Tapeless options for XH-A1?

Grug

Grug

Veteran
Hey Guys,

I'm pretty certain that I'm going to go with the XH-A1, but I really want to move away from tapes and capturing. Do options like the Firestore-C (and is that the only option ATM?) allow you to record your A1 footage (WITH sync sound) and with no loss of quality to a hard-drive?
 
Citidisk is also an option
http://www.shining.com/products/totalsolution/citidisk_hdv/


coincidentally I just saw this notice regarding the Catapult, a much awaited and overly hyped piece of vaporware that was hoped to inexpensively replace a Firestore:

"...Catapult Update
The interest in Catapult has been amazing. While we wish that we could offer great development news and even a release date, we are not able to at this time. The cause has been the engineering firm we hired for the project: as we progressed further into the project, it became clear that they were simply not capable of delivering what was promised

While we have ended our relationship with that particular engineering company, we are committed to Catapult and bringing it to market. We are looking at other avenues and engineering firms, and we will keep you updated on any progress..."
http://www.bella-usa.com/Catapult.htm

I've recently talked to reps from Seagate, in the hope that they would appreciate and pursue this niche.
 
Get the Firestore C--well worth the price premium as it records in the standard m2t format, which Premiere Pro and Vegas want, but also records in QT HDV format, (have to choose one or the other, however) including true 24p QT HDV for 24F HDV mode from the A1. What that means is IF you are a Final Cut Pro user, it records 24F in files that are FCP HDV 1080 24p compatible. You simply switch the FS-C into disk drive mode and drag your clips to the FCP bin or timeline and immediately edit from the device. You can, of course, copy the files to another drive to for safety purposes, but the best part is the clips will match timecode on tape if you recorded HDV tape simultaneously. That means you can simply put your tapes away for safekeeping and you have the option of batch re-capturing should you ever need to re-edit a project but don't have the files archived on hard disk. It's really the best of both worlds: safety/archival of tape, immediacy of tapeless for quick edits or bypassing the whole tape capture stage.

You also get a nice live timecode readout from the FS-C while it's recording. In all, it's a professional product and has some nice organizational tools as well.

You will love it.

Edit: sorry, just realized your from a PAL country. You can record 25F, 50i QT HDV/m2t's as well.
 
Last edited:
so Elton, are you still converting to something other than HDV for editing? I know you have a capture card but you wouldn't need that now?
 
Nope, straight HDV editing now, but I usually master using the Sheer codec. (bypassing HDV "conform" process)
 
Citidisk Hdv/dv 100gb 7 hours

Citidisk Hdv/dv 100gb 7 hours

Hi

I am using Citidisk for the last 3 years .
the first 2 years was the ups and downs of the upgrde firmwares .
ever since a year we had best performance of unbelivable results .
In feb. was the complete fat rom update . with major change .

I just can not work without this unite .

:dankk2:
 
Thanks guys, Firestore sounds pretty good to me! Do people use the 60gb or the 100gb drives? 4.5 hours out of the 60gb sounds like as much footage as I could ever manage to shoot in one day anyway!
 
Grug said:
Thanks guys, Firestore sounds pretty good to me! Do people use the 60gb or the 100gb drives? 4.5 hours out of the 60gb sounds like as much footage as I could ever manage to shoot in one day anyway!
Click to expand...


Go for 100GB of 7 hours HDV/DV . You never know when your weekend is fully booked and you have no time for transfer . :crybaby:
 
avak avakian said:
Go for 100GB of 7 hours HDV/DV . You never know when your weekend is fully booked and you have no time for transfer . :crybaby:
Click to expand...

Is this advice wouldn't come from personal experience by any chance? :violin:I hear violins for some reason... ;)
 
I'd get the 60 GB and spend on extra Firestore batteries. You will need those more than the extra capacity in a single, long day of shooting.
 
Hi
our week end we have to cover
Sat. wedding 3-4 hours finishin at next day sunday 2am
Sun christinins 1 1/2 hours from miday, finishing at 2pm
Sunday wedding 3-4 hours with the help of second hard disk (both 100GB )

Cheers & thanks .:dankk2:
 
What about FCE?

What about FCE?

Elton said:
Get the Firestore C--well worth the price premium as it records in the standard m2t format, which Premiere Pro and Vegas want, but also records in QT HDV format, (have to choose one or the other, however) including true 24p QT HDV for 24F HDV mode from the A1. What that means is IF you are a Final Cut Pro user, it records 24F in files that are FCP HDV 1080 24p compatible. You simply switch the FS-C into disk drive mode and drag your clips to the FCP bin or timeline and immediately edit from the device. You can, of course, copy the files to another drive to for safety purposes, but the best part is the clips will match timecode on tape if you recorded HDV tape simultaneously. That means you can simply put your tapes away for safekeeping and you have the option of batch re-capturing should you ever need to re-edit a project but don't have the files archived on hard disk. It's really the best of both worlds: safety/archival of tape, immediacy of tapeless for quick edits or bypassing the whole tape capture stage.

You also get a nice live timecode readout from the FS-C while it's recording. In all, it's a professional product and has some nice organizational tools as well.

You will love it.

Edit: sorry, just realized your from a PAL country. You can record 25F, 50i QT HDV/m2t's as well.
Click to expand...

I'm curious - does the FS-C's QT storage also work in Final Cut Express HD? We don't shoot terribly large quantities, but not having to capture from tape would be hugely beneficial, and we already own several FCE 3.5 licenses.
 
The FS-C footage acts like natively digitized media. If you are currently able to capture from the A1 in FCE, then you should not have any problem using Mov files from the Firestore.
 
Firestore FS-C for sure. I bought the 60gb and it has been enough. For those geeks out there you can upgrade your 60GB to a 100gb. It is nothing more than an internal hard drive. It voids the warranty of course but doing it after would give you a cheap way to upgrade to 100gb or more (depending on the firmware.)
 
Here is my question?

I got my XHA1 last week and have been testing it out. I seem to be able to record to tape (HDV) and firewire out to my laptop through Vegas capture, at the same time. It has a second or two delay, but the .m2t files seem to be perfect.

Is there any reason I shouldn't do this? This would be nice since I am using a tripod, and have power for the laptop. This would make the tapes my backup media, and I wouldn't have to capture the tapes.

Basically just like my Firestore.

I have an HVX and the data buildup was to big, especially when I have to raid my drives because I don't want to lose data. I record Concert Video, so the Firestore was the only possibility for me with the HVX and I was coming home with 100gb after every shoot. Raid that, and then I buy a terrabyte drive a month!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top