Wouldn't it be awesome if the unreleased new feature of the iPod were that it can be used as a hard disk recorder for mini-dv camcorders? It is so much more affordable than the current ones available and I know it would be much more reliable. Plus it already has an LCD screen to tell you how many hours of recording you have done, or have left. I would write this feature in to Apple to let them know how many of us would want something like that to be included in the next firmware update, if it already hasn't been implemented. I think it would be a huge hit with the video industry, right next to the music industry. Just my suggestion.
New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recording?
- Thread starter reelmagik
- Start date
kai
After FX Guru
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
The microdrives they use in the ipods have a very very tiny platter and i'm sure the read/write speed isn't fast enough to support the bandwidth needed to write realtime video files. Shoot mine gets hot enough just playing MP3 files... You're right though, it would be an awesome feature if they could make it work.
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
The microdrives they use in the ipods have a very very tiny platter and i'm sure the read/write speed isn't fast enough to support the bandwidth needed to write realtime video files. Shoot mine gets hot enough just playing MP3 files... You're right though, it would be an awesome feature if they could make it work.
kitsu
Well-known member
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
I have a friend who works for a manufacturer of accessories for among other things, the iPod, and I bought this up with him a few months ago. His take was that
A: there is not enough market to justify creating a product that will turn an iPod into a Quickstream or similar, and that
B: the data rate isnt fast enough to keep up with a DV stream.
It would be cool tho.
~Andrew
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
I have a friend who works for a manufacturer of accessories for among other things, the iPod, and I bought this up with him a few months ago. His take was that
A: there is not enough market to justify creating a product that will turn an iPod into a Quickstream or similar, and that
B: the data rate isnt fast enough to keep up with a DV stream.
It would be cool tho.
~Andrew
TC
Resident Agitator
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=Kabz link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#4 date=08/12/04 at 02:15:51]If anyone watched the LOTR extra's.....they would have heard the story of how full scenes from the movie were held on iPods...
[/quote]
Wait, what? Please explain. (Damn I want those platnum editions, but I'm forcing myself to wait until all three some in one big platnum package.)
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=Kabz link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#4 date=08/12/04 at 02:15:51]If anyone watched the LOTR extra's.....they would have heard the story of how full scenes from the movie were held on iPods...
[/quote]
Wait, what? Please explain. (Damn I want those platnum editions, but I'm forcing myself to wait until all three some in one big platnum package.)
J_Barnes
Veteran
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Well, everyone agrees that the next logical step in the hard disk equipped personal audio player device is...video, right?
THere's already a couple versions out there that are larger then an iPod, but I saw at least one that did it's own internal mpeg compression so that it could record live television.
If video is the next step, then it will probably only be a generation later to get a throughput sufficient enough to record and playback a dv stream, right?
That's what I'd expect at least. I'm still a little surprised that apple even released another iPod before releasing a video version. It doesn't seem like they did much to improve upon the last one, so it seems like a waste of a press release to me.
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Well, everyone agrees that the next logical step in the hard disk equipped personal audio player device is...video, right?
THere's already a couple versions out there that are larger then an iPod, but I saw at least one that did it's own internal mpeg compression so that it could record live television.
If video is the next step, then it will probably only be a generation later to get a throughput sufficient enough to record and playback a dv stream, right?
That's what I'd expect at least. I'm still a little surprised that apple even released another iPod before releasing a video version. It doesn't seem like they did much to improve upon the last one, so it seems like a waste of a press release to me.
J_Barnes
Veteran
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Also, projecting further. I'd expect that the next logical evolution for the dv camcorder would be to incorperate an onboard firewire utility allowing direct to disk record on any firewire or USB2 hard drive.
Right now, the actual physical movement of the tape is the most archaic part of the video system. Recording and playing back the tape litterally scrapes off data, so why are we still stuck with tape transport systems?
Of course, maybe it will be bluray dvd recording...who knows.
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Also, projecting further. I'd expect that the next logical evolution for the dv camcorder would be to incorperate an onboard firewire utility allowing direct to disk record on any firewire or USB2 hard drive.
Right now, the actual physical movement of the tape is the most archaic part of the video system. Recording and playing back the tape litterally scrapes off data, so why are we still stuck with tape transport systems?
Of course, maybe it will be bluray dvd recording...who knows.
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=J_Barnes link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#7 date=08/12/04 at 05:16:33]...Right now, the actual physical movement of the tape is the most archaic part of the video system. Recording and playing back the tape litterally scrapes off data, so why are we still stuck with tape transport systems?...[/quote]
Not only the most archaic, but the weakest link in the whole system. DV recording is a miracle of minaturization, but the 10 micron track width is an invitation for the tiniest dust particle or fleck of tape coating to clog the heads. I will be so happy to see tape go into the history books. It had a good run, but it produces a slow workflow and reliability issues.
It would be fantastic if cameras had the built-in circuitry to output directly to the hard drive of your choice, but I think manufactureers are trying to leapfrog the physical mechanism of hard drive recording. Given that the follow-up storage technologies are still expensive and in development--I'm not sure it was a wise move.
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=J_Barnes link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#7 date=08/12/04 at 05:16:33]...Right now, the actual physical movement of the tape is the most archaic part of the video system. Recording and playing back the tape litterally scrapes off data, so why are we still stuck with tape transport systems?...[/quote]
Not only the most archaic, but the weakest link in the whole system. DV recording is a miracle of minaturization, but the 10 micron track width is an invitation for the tiniest dust particle or fleck of tape coating to clog the heads. I will be so happy to see tape go into the history books. It had a good run, but it produces a slow workflow and reliability issues.
It would be fantastic if cameras had the built-in circuitry to output directly to the hard drive of your choice, but I think manufactureers are trying to leapfrog the physical mechanism of hard drive recording. Given that the follow-up storage technologies are still expensive and in development--I'm not sure it was a wise move.
DVX100Shooter
Veteran
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
I just saw a little RCA MP3 player called the LYRA that looks kinda like the ipod at Circuit City. You can download up to 80 hours of pre recorded TV shows, feature Films, or home videos. Will also allow you to view JPEG files as a slide show as well as create playlist for your favorite songs...the price for this is $399. So it seems that technology is there....not sure if this would work hooked up to the DVX though.
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
I just saw a little RCA MP3 player called the LYRA that looks kinda like the ipod at Circuit City. You can download up to 80 hours of pre recorded TV shows, feature Films, or home videos. Will also allow you to view JPEG files as a slide show as well as create playlist for your favorite songs...the price for this is $399. So it seems that technology is there....not sure if this would work hooked up to the DVX though.
kai
After FX Guru
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=Kabz link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#4 date=08/12/04 at 02:15:51]If anyone watched the LOTR extra's.....they would have heard the story of how full scenes from the movie were held on iPods...
[/quote]
That doesn't mean they were editing from the ipods. They simply stored files of dailies or something on them and transfered the files into an nle or real drive for editing. The ipod does double as a firewire drive (albeit a slow one).
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=Kabz link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#4 date=08/12/04 at 02:15:51]If anyone watched the LOTR extra's.....they would have heard the story of how full scenes from the movie were held on iPods...
[/quote]
That doesn't mean they were editing from the ipods. They simply stored files of dailies or something on them and transfered the files into an nle or real drive for editing. The ipod does double as a firewire drive (albeit a slow one).
J_Barnes
Veteran
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=Barry_S link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#8 date=08/12/04 at 08:25:31]It would be fantastic if cameras had the built-in circuitry to output directly to the hard drive of your choice, but I think manufactureers are trying to leapfrog the physical mechanism of hard drive recording. Given that the follow-up storage technologies are still expensive and in development--I'm not sure it was a wise move.[/quote]
Now see, this is an area where companies probably reuse a lot of the same engineering, but I'd still expect that engineering a tape path, threading mechanism, stable constant motors and all the interlocking pieces would be a lot more expensive to engineer then a firewire drive controller.
If you figure that the drive controller wouldn't even have to supply power, then it should be an easy option to incorperate, not to mention that it would instantaniously make cameras more reliable.
Companies are building devices that are controllers and drives together, but I dont see any reason why they have to come in the same plastic box. Currently, firewire drives are about a dollar a gig...so that does make it more expensive then tape, but the other advantages are obvious.
Not to mention that you'd cut a chunk of weight and bulk out of the camera. Without accomidating a tape mechanism, you could effectively shape a camera any way you wanted. Your only constant would be the lens mount and lens, everything else could be placed as you like.
Seems to me like the engineering advantage is so obvious that I can't see them neglecting this type of development over something even more far-fetched, like say flash storage.
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=Barry_S link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#8 date=08/12/04 at 08:25:31]It would be fantastic if cameras had the built-in circuitry to output directly to the hard drive of your choice, but I think manufactureers are trying to leapfrog the physical mechanism of hard drive recording. Given that the follow-up storage technologies are still expensive and in development--I'm not sure it was a wise move.[/quote]
Now see, this is an area where companies probably reuse a lot of the same engineering, but I'd still expect that engineering a tape path, threading mechanism, stable constant motors and all the interlocking pieces would be a lot more expensive to engineer then a firewire drive controller.
If you figure that the drive controller wouldn't even have to supply power, then it should be an easy option to incorperate, not to mention that it would instantaniously make cameras more reliable.
Companies are building devices that are controllers and drives together, but I dont see any reason why they have to come in the same plastic box. Currently, firewire drives are about a dollar a gig...so that does make it more expensive then tape, but the other advantages are obvious.
Not to mention that you'd cut a chunk of weight and bulk out of the camera. Without accomidating a tape mechanism, you could effectively shape a camera any way you wanted. Your only constant would be the lens mount and lens, everything else could be placed as you like.
Seems to me like the engineering advantage is so obvious that I can't see them neglecting this type of development over something even more far-fetched, like say flash storage.
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=Kai link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#10 date=08/12/04 at 10:44:55]
That doesn't mean they were editing from the ipods. They simply stored files of dailies or something on them and transfered the files into an nle or real drive for editing. The ipod does double as a firewire drive (albeit a slow one). [/quote]
ah.....this is true......
funny how you can spend $300 for a 15gb ipod, and also get an 80gb firewire for the same price.
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=Kai link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#10 date=08/12/04 at 10:44:55]
That doesn't mean they were editing from the ipods. They simply stored files of dailies or something on them and transfered the files into an nle or real drive for editing. The ipod does double as a firewire drive (albeit a slow one). [/quote]
ah.....this is true......
funny how you can spend $300 for a 15gb ipod, and also get an 80gb firewire for the same price.
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=Kabz link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#12 date=08/12/04 at 13:04:09]
ah.....this is true......
funny how you can spend $300 for a 15gb ipod, and also get an 80gb firewire for the same price.[/quote]
Say, you're right. Now where do I plug my headphones into a standard hard drive--I forget ;D
Re: New iPod secret feature-direct to disk recordi
[quote author=Kabz link=board=Links;num=1092171795;start=0#12 date=08/12/04 at 13:04:09]
ah.....this is true......
funny how you can spend $300 for a 15gb ipod, and also get an 80gb firewire for the same price.[/quote]
Say, you're right. Now where do I plug my headphones into a standard hard drive--I forget ;D