DVX Plus Slave

When I first got my DVX it came with Barry's book and DVD. I read some of it and watched the DVD. Just yesterday I spent a few hours carefully re-reading the book. Did some test clips and they look so much better with the added knowledge from Barry.
 
Deacon,
When connected as a slave, a cheap camcorder is acting purely as a recorder. As digital signals are made up as 1s and 0s (binary code). it records everything the DVX sees exactly the way the DVX sees it without any data loss. In effect, it makes the cheap camera think it is an expensive 3 CCD camera.
 
I'm trying to use a miniDV cam (GS320) as a slave (or even just as a capture unit after recording with my DVX100b) and am getting the following distortion upon capturing.

When I capture into FCP from the DVX100b it looks fine.

When I capture into FCP from the slave it looks like this (any ideas?):
 

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Try adding the deinterlace filter, maybe. That works for me when I have the lines.

Paladin, do you use a slave often? If so, where do you keep it? Like, in a camera bag on your shoulder, or another tripod, or duct tapped to the side of the dvx?
 
worked like a charm, thanks!

any idea why this would show up capturing from the GS320, but if I throw the same tape in the
DVX100 the interlacing lines don't show up? I thought it was identical reading from either device.
 
Steve,

I have sixty-two hours of footage from my DVX100B with only eight hours on the meter so, yeah, I use my slave a lot.

My JVC is a small, pocket sized camcorder, so I picked up a cheap little fanny pack for it. For "Run and Gun" I strap it around my waist. When working from a tripod, I hang it on a hook that I taped to one leg of the tripod.

Camerican,

I have never had any image problems using a slave, so I cannot comment on your particular problem. I have used two different cameras (One is a Panasonic PV GS320) as slaves and for capturing with excellent, flawless results. Perhaps the problem is in your slave camera?
 
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OK, seeing as using a mini dv slave seems to get results...what about using a small HD camcorder. Would it still capture the same way a mini dv cam would? And then you just upload the footage from the slave to your computer, or would the signal from the DVX not be compatible since the HD cam wants to shoot HD footage ??
Is this making any sense?
If not, just tell me to shut up.
 
SD and HD use completely different protocols and are not compatible. To use a camcorder as a slave unit, the slave must be SD, same as the DVX.
 
When recording in chain mode, once the DVX tape is full it switches over to the "slave" and starts recording........my question is once the slave tape is full will it automatically go back to the DVX and start recording, providing you have a clean tape in it?
 
that's what I thought, I just wanted to make sure there was no way around it. Thanks.

Has anyone here tried going tapeless using your computer to capture footage through something like Final Cut Pro? I've heard this can work, but how exactly would you do it?

If my brain is working correctly, I think you would plug the camera into your computer, and in final cut pro capture what the camera is seeing using like the capture mode? So then no wear on your camera and you've already captured your footage onto your HD
 
When the DVX is in CHAIN mode, the DVX will switch back and forth between the slave and the DVX as long as you keep replacing the tapes. The DVX will record to its own tape first, switch to the slave then back to the DVX, back to the slave, back to the DVX...on and on as long as you keep switching to clean tapes.
 
Thanks, I played around with my cameras yesterday in slave mode and it works perfectly.........This is a great benefit for shooting extended events like concerts and weddings (not that I shoot too many of either) also an excellent way to save wear and tear on the DVX heads!:dankk2:
 
Will any cheap camcorder with Firewire work. I'm wondering if all camcorders allow you to record through the Fire Wire port in VCR mode. Specifically I'm thinking of the Canon ZR900.
 
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