DVX Plus Slave

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Paladin

Well-known member
Here is some info (from Barry Green's DVX Book) that I think will be of use to the DVX community. The DVX100(A)(B) can be connected via Firewire to another (cheap) camcorder and use the second camera as a slave unit. This has a few important benefits:

The slave camera can be used to do all the recording for the DVX without a tape being present in the DVX's internal drive, thus eliminating head wear on the DVX.

The slave and the DVX can both record at the same time to make back-up tapes and to help guard against the occasional dropouts.

The Dvx and slave can be programmed to record sequentially so that recording time can be extended indefinitely without the loss of a single frame of footage.

Here's how to do it:

1. Connect a slave camcorder to the DVX via Firewire.

2. Go into the menu and select OTHER FUNCTIONS.

3. Select DV CONTROL

The options are:

OFF
EXT
BOTH
CHAIN

OFF: This is the default mode. This is the DVX's normal operating mode. In this mode, when connected to a slave camera via Firewire, anything the DVX sees, the slave sees, whether the DVX is recording or not. By pressing the record button on the slave, you can record whatever the DVX sees without the DVX recording.

EXT: In this mode, the DVX does not record to its internal tape drive at all. Instead, the data is sent to the slave and the slave does the recording with no loss of quality. Just set the slave to VCR mode just as you would when using it as a capture camera. Then, just record as usual (press "Record" on the DVX) and the slave does the work without a tape even being in the DVX. So, no head wear on the DVX!

BOTH: This is self-explanatory. When set to BOTH, both cameras are recording what the DVX sees. Just press "Record" on the DVX and both cameras record at the same time. Handy for making instant back-up tapes.

CHAIN: In this mode continuous, nonstop recording is possible. Put tapes in both cameras, set the slave to VCR mode, and start shooting. Press "Record" on the DVX and the DVX uses its own, internal tape first. When it is almost full, the DVX turns on the slave to continue recording. While the slave is recording, you can swap out the first tape so that recording continues, uninterrupted, when the slave's tape is full.

I hope this info is of some use.
 
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If I use some cheap mini DV camcorder, will it record DVX100's signal 24p progressive even if that cheap camcorder does not support progressive footage?
 
Yes! The slave camera will record all the data and flags from the DVX just exactly as the DVX itself would record them. There is no loss of quality or data. The DVX always adds pulldown to convert all 24p and 24pA images to NTSC code before it records to tape and the slave records everything the DVX sees and does. So, yes, if you use a cheap slave camera to do your recording, the data on the tape will be exactly the same as if it had been recorded on the DVX itself!
 
that is really, really awesome. im buying a dvx soon and i just bought a cheap camera from my friend to use as a tape deck to capture from, and for this purpose specifically.
 
i think the point is that when you do that the other cam acts as the dvx bony..thats how i understand it
 
When you connect a cheap camcorder to the DVX, it records EVERYTHING from the DVX, EXACTLY the way the DVX sees it (24p, 24pa, 30p, etc.) and with EXACTLY the same quality. The same goes for when you use a cheap camcorder as a capture camera. The idea of using the slave camera is to reduce the wear on the DVX heads or expand your shooting options.
 
I have a question, somewhat unrelated, but I'm sure very basic for you guys. I have a JVC GR-D370U for a slave, and a DVX 100b. I want to make back up copies of tapes I have already recorded. Both cameras have DV ports. I have a fire wire, but it is DV to USB. What cable do I need, or can I use an adapter? Also how do I set the cameras up? Also, are there any good threads on green screening? Sorry, I'm still a newbie. I'm not trying to hijack, but PALADIN you have supplied good advice in the past. Thanks!
 
Focal7,
I have never copied tapes using a camera-to-camera setup. Partly because I am rather anal about putting unnecessary hours/head wear on my precious DVX100B and partly because, to be perfectly honest, I never thought to do it that way. Instead, I capture the tape I want to copy onto my NLE (Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0) using a JVC GR-D347U that I have just for that purpose. Once the tape is on the computer, I can then export the footage back onto a clean tape in the JVC. Using this method, I can make as many back-up copies of a tape as I want while putting zero extra hours on my DVX.

I hope this helps.
 
Barry's DVX book tells you pretty much how to make a DVX100(A)(B) sit up and beg. It goes into great detail on everything it can do and how to make it do it.
 
Yep, that's the book. My advice is that you read the book from cover to cover before you do anything with the camera. (except hold it and hug it and...uh, sorry, I get a little carried away sometimes.) Anyway, congrats on getting the DVX100B. You are going to be amazed at what your new camera is capable of doing. I've had mine since March and it still blows me away sometimes.
 
This is really good information. I was a bit incredulous so I gave a it a try. Awesome! Thank you very much Paladin.
 
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