Recording direct to external HDD

B

BroadwayBridgeProductions

New member
If this topic has already been covered, please forgive me. Total n00b here. I would appreciate the link though.

Here is my issue. I'd like to record directly to an external hard drive. Specifically two, one for the main project and one for backup. However, since I'm new at this, I have no idea how to set that up. I'm assuming it's not as simple as just plugging in a firewire drive and letting it roll.

If anyone has any input on this, or has done it before, knows what sort of format I need to put the drive in, etc. I would really value your advice. Also, I'd like to see how you had the drives setup on the camera.

Thanks all.
 
You can plug in through a computer and record to external drives that way; if you want to record to a standalone drive then the only way to do that is with a FireStore type of device, and then that would limit you to DVCPRO-HD; you can't use AVC-Intra over firewire.

Why not just use the P2 cards? The prices have come down so much that they're actually very competitive with the FireStores, and two 64GB "E" cards would give you anywhere from 2.25 to 11 hours of continuous recording. Once you've recorded to the cards, you could then easily copy the footage off to cheap external hard disks.
 
I guess I was hoping to save $1800 bucks and just record directly onto the external drive. I've seen people doing it, so I know it's possible. If I recorded through eSata, would I run into the same problem?
 
I need to test this too. My test is going to be be a ext HDD connected to cam via Firewire. The problem with this is that the cam doesnt supply power to the drive, so I'd need to rely on mains and extension cables to power the HDD - not good. However maybe the drive can be powered from the USB port as I have a lead that is USB to a jackplug with one of my HDD's specifically for powering this way I think. I just dont know if the cam will supply USB power in a shooting rather than USB Host or USB Device mode? Anyone know? Also anyone this know if itcan it record simultaneously on the ext FW HDD and also the P2 card as a backup?

Cheers
 
GaryNattrass said:
How about a nanoflash you could then record to the P2 cards and to that via HD/SDI?
Click to expand...

That is an useful bit of kit Gary - especially to get editing quickly on FCP whilst killing SXS card prices, 35MBPs and long GOP on EX1's. I'm a little confused as to what exactly it records - stating only 'MPG' as the codec rings an alarm bell - but the rest seems really good!

However as I'm delighted with the HPX's AVC-I MP4 codecs & bitrates I'm still gunning for a $100 HDD solution rather than a $3000 one though:)

D
 
Shame we cant get PCMIA hard drives so that we could pop them into the P2 card slots, the noise may be a problem but it could be a good way of getting lots of gb cheaply.
Even a PCMIA to esata interface card could be a useful addition, as you say the nanoflash is an expensive solution and an interface such as a matrox MXO hooked up to a macbook may be a more cost effective solution although not very location friendly.
 
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