Embrace Disc Recording NOW!

F

Filmfreq

Member
With the advent of programs like DV Rack, it's time to embrace disc recording and bypass tape altogether. Sure it will cost a little more to get started, but if you shoot a lot of tape, the program would pay for itself after just one feature movie. Now that we can build micro-computers for less money than a laptop, it makes perfect sense to save the tape head wear, and go straight to disc with our critical images.

I will be shooting my next feature "Wide Open" straight to disc with a micro computer, DV Rack, Vegas 5, and 250 gigs of disc space. I will build the computer myself for about $1,000, mount it in a road rack, and feel secure about every shot and every frame of footage.

I embrace this great technology and I will become an evangelist for straight to disc recording.

Preach it brother!
 
Re: Embrace Disc Recording NOW!

Not at all. I will be using the small Antec Aria cube case with 300 watt power supply that can hold up to three hard drives, a micro ATX motherboard with an 800 mhz. front side bus and 2 GHz of RAM, Pentium 4 3.2 GHz Prescott processor, ATI Radeon 9600 XT video card, and a DVD-RW drive. Total cost - $819.00
 
Re: Embrace Disc Recording NOW!

Still seems like overkill, especially as you'll have to find a power source for the machine and its monitor (and what ARE you using for a monitor?). You don't need that kind of horsepower to capture, to say nothing of a DVD-RW drive.

A laptop would probably do you better in the field. Barry Green's been trumpeting his laptop/DV Rack combo for a few weeks now.

I think direct-to-disk recording is the future and the smart way of doing things. But I think you're making unnecssary work for youself, too.
 
Re: Embrace Disc Recording NOW!

It probably is overkill. But the cost of a laptop in features compared to this system, which can handle HD in the future of my productions, is a much better bargain. I'm getting so much more for my money, and the system still remains small. I'm making Independent Films, so we carry tons of equipment to set anyway. Perhaps if I were doing smaller productions a laptop would seem like a better option, but we use generators to power all of our monitors, lights, and audio equipment, so power is not a problem for this system. I also am not saying that this is the setup that everyone should use, I'm saying that recording digital footage straight to a hard drive seems like the only way to go, and DV Rack has all of the coolest tools to take it to the next level, regardless of your personal setup.
 
Re: Embrace Disc Recording NOW!

I hear ya brother but keep in mind some things like steadicam work is not a option with your setup.

There are already Pocket PC's out there running Windows that are the size of a PDA. The problem is their built in HD is too small (20 gigs). Once thats addressed then imagine the possiblities. Run programs like DV Rack and just mount the tiny thing to your hot shoe and plug it into your cameras flip out monitor. Done.
 
Re: Embrace Disc Recording NOW!

I'd rather just use a reliable DV camera/Hard Drive interface and ditch the computer.

It's something I'd like to use in the future, but the support and price point isn't yet to my liking.
 
Re: Embrace Disc Recording NOW!

These are all valid points and I appreciate your input. There are already cameras with built in hard drives even as we speak, but the price will keep most of us from being able to get our hands on them, at least for now. HD is where everything is headed anyway, so just getting used to shooting in an all digital environment is what we should all be getting used to anyway.
 
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