Host Mode Questions...

[FUBARFilms]

I have a few questions about Host Mode on the HVX and I want to make sure I get them answered before I go out and buy a HDD.

1.) Does the HDD need to be 7200rpm or will 5400 work? I know some of the smaller HDDs are only 5400 and I wouldnt want to carry a big HDD around if I could get away with a smaller one.

2.) How do the clips transfered via Host Mode interact with a Mac and FCP 6 (in other words, could you use Log and Transfer as if it was the P2 card in the camera?)

3.) What relatively inexpensive hard drives ($200 or below, at least 120GB) are proven to work well with the HVX in host mode?

Thanks so much!

 

[x002657]

2 out of 3:

2 out of 3:

I have a few questions about Host Mode on the HVX and I want to make sure I get them answered before I go out and buy a HDD.

1.) Does the HDD need to be 7200rpm or will 5400 work? I know some of the smaller HDDs are only 5400 and I wouldnt want to carry a big HDD around if I could get away with a smaller one.

2.) How do the clips transfered via Host Mode interact with a Mac and FCP 6 (in other words, could you use Log and Transfer as if it was the P2 card in the camera?)

3.) What relatively inexpensive hard drives ($200 or below, at least 120GB) are proven to work well with the HVX in host mode?

Thanks so much!

1) I'm not aware that it MUST be 7200 RPM. I use a WD Caviar SE EIDE 320GB|GO w/8 MB cache @ 7200RPM installed in a combo 1394/USB2 enclosure bought at CompUSA before our local store closed. I'm sure I paid no more than $ 225 in total. I've offloaded via both 1394 and USB2 numerous times to it and it's held up just fine.

2) Can't answer that; I don't use my Mac for editing.

3) Most any known brand of drive should do. Perhaps the wisest recommendation is to make sure the total space = 15 times your largest P2 card.

x

 

[Barry_Green]

1.) Does the HDD need to be 7200rpm or will 5400 work? I know some of the smaller HDDs are only 5400 and I wouldnt want to carry a big HDD around if I could get away with a smaller one.

Any hard disk will work; a 4200RPM drive would work.

2.) How do the clips transfered via Host Mode interact with a Mac and FCP 6 (in other words, could you use Log and Transfer as if it was the P2 card in the camera?)

Exactly the same as they do from the P2 Store or from a P2 Card.

3.) What relatively inexpensive hard drives ($200 or below, at least 120GB) are proven to work well with the HVX in host mode?

Any drive should work. However we've heard some reports that very big drives (500GB or terabyte) may be generating some sort of "too many targets" error. I haven't tried a drive that large but I've never found a problem with any drive that I've tried. Also, you have to make sure that you're supplying adequate power to the drive; some people have reported errors with their drive that they can't do anything other than format it, there's no option to copy... and they've solved that by using a stronger power supply. So only use the power supply that comes with the drive.

 

[FUBARFilms]

Thanks so much guys, yeah I just plan to use a small 150 GB HD with the AC power and as long as that holds up fine I guess I should be okay. Thanks again!

 

[FUBARFilms]

Hey guys, sorry but i have one more question...I just picked up a HDD and it can either be supplied by bus power or a separate DC cord thats 5VDC, the guy at the store said I could get a 5V DC at any radioshack, etc.. Would that be adequate to power the HDD so that I could copy files to it?

 

[x002657]

Good point!

Good point!

...I just picked up a HDD and it can either be supplied by bus power or a separate DC cord thats 5VDC, the guy at the store said I could get a 5V DC at any radioshack, etc.. Would that be adequate to power the HDD so that I could copy files to it?

I think it's really a matter of the specs for the drive, or the enclosure if you're using one. Check the specs. The combo enclosure for my 7200 RPM drive came with a 120 V A/C ->12V D/C adapter.

Power is the biggest drawback to using an external drive; choices seem to be:
1) being tethered to an outlet for the length of time it takes to offload, (which has been no problem for me personally, but could be inconvenient in the field),
2) a relatively expensive battery that lasts a good length of time, (techeon (?) has gotten lots of praise here), or
3) a less expensive battery that will provide enough power for offloading but may not last long enough to completely fill a drive; you may get a drive half-full or more. That will depend on the amount of data you're offloading, i.e. a 4 GB card will take less time & power than a 32Gb card).

In any event, don't expect a 1394 drive to receive power from the camera. The HVX will not supply power to an external 1394 drive.

I'm guessing you got a USB drive, mainly because most bus-powered drives I'm aware of are USB; I don't know of any bus-powered 1394 drives. (Though there may be...I'm just not aware of any, but I think they're trickling onto the market). I know the Citidisk can use both battery and A/C adapter and I'm pretty sure the FS-100 does, too, but both are intended for recording DTE, not for offloading.

Hope this helps.

x

 

[FUBARFilms]

I don't mind being connected to a power outlet, I just want to make sure (before I open the box and before I buy the DC cord) that 5V D/C is enough power for the HVX to send over the files. By the way it is a 1394/USB 2.0 bus powered drive (or DC outlet, of course)

 

[x002657]

I'm a little confused.

I'm a little confused.

You say:

I don't mind being connected to a power outlet, I just want to make sure (before I open the box and before I buy the DC cord) that 5V D/C is enough power for the HVX to send over the files. By the way it is a 1394/USB 2.0 bus powered drive (or DC outlet, of course)

This may be obvious, but I want to be clear:

Having "enough power for the HVX to send over the files" actually comes from powering the HVX. The camera must be powered, either by its' own battery or via an A/C outlet, for the camera to move the files. Additionally, the hard drive MUST have its' own power source, either a battery or an A/C -> D/C adapter that plugs into the drive.

The 5V cord would be powering the hard drive you're offloading to; it will not provide power to the camera. The specs that came with your hard drive should tell you what voltage is needed to power the drive.

BTW, personally, I think getting a combo 1394/USB drive is the smarter buy, if only for increased flexibility.

Lastly, be aware that USB does not allow file verification during the transfer/offload from P2 to hard drive. Verification can only be done using 1394.

Hope this helps...and welcome to the world of HVX. Good luck with your new "toy".

x