Tape Playback for importing

A

accentphotography

Active member
Should all consumer or prosumer video cameras be able to play a video made from a DVX100? I was doing an experimental import with my Sony HR1 and in as much as it imports its own video fine, the video from the DVX did not seem to have any sound. I will recheck this again but I was curious if it works to buy another cheap camera to keep the head time lower on the camera?
 
Thanks ryvac! Now to see where the problem was with my first import attempt to FCP. Was it my recently bought used DVX or the Sony. I was not sure if there was a different audio codec between what the two cameras write and read. But if I hear audio in the DVX through the speaker, then everything should be alright? Or can a firewire output work on video but drop audio?
 
I'm not an expert in FCP but I know it wont matter what ever camera you use.
even if the slave camera doesn't record 24p or squeez the slave camera will capture the 24p and squeez if you shot it like that with the DVX. it doesn't matter because it's on the MiniDv tap.

for Audio...are you sure you are viewing it right?
I never had a problem like that
 
Wait ... am I missing something here?

ryvac said:
Even if the slave camera doesn't record 24p or squeez the slave camera will capture the 24p and squeez if you shot it like that with the DVX.
Click to expand...

You just opened up a new can of worms. Does that mean I can somehow output (firewire I guess) my DVX (not using the tape mechanism) and capture to another video camera in DV mode?

How do you do that? Or did I just understand you wrong? Can you go FW to FW and another camera would capture it thru the FW as input? I thought FW for a video camera was output only.

This could be a saving grace for the future.
 
The images recorded by the DVX are stored as binary code. When using another camcorder to capture, the cheaper camera reads the data exactly as the DVX recorded it. It does not matter if you used 24p, 24pA, SQUEEZE, whatever. The cheap camera will transfer the data with absolutely no loss of image quality.

You can also use a cheap camera as a slave unit to record whatever the DVX sees and the slave will record it exactly the same way the DVX would. This has the advantage of allowing you to shoot projects with the DVX quality without even using the tape drive in the DVX and thus eliminating head wear.

Check it out here:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=142362
 
Absolutely AWESOME! I feel like a 46 year old kid. This way if a camera is having head or deck problems (and its static) I can still roll. Thanks Paladin!
 
You are welcome.

The DVX does not have to be static. You can use a slave camera and still shoot hand held and mobile. I connect the slave to my DVX with a 6 foot firewire cable and put the slave in a fanny pack belted to my waist. With this simple (and cheap) setup, I can still go anywhere and shoot without head wear on my DVX100B. This could also be a life saver should the DVX ever decide to act up with dirty heads, etc. during an important shoot.
 
Okay ... but don't you ever bump, disconnect or accidently short out the FW plug in area? I really wish the prosumer manufacturers (DSLR and Video) would put some type of cable holders in place. Something like a DIN release or thumb screw mechanism would be nice. I have had so many problems with tethered still cameras to computers.

I get more enlightened each day ... keep it up!
 
A little patch of Gaffer's Tape holds the cable in place on both cameras and doesn't leave any residue on the cameras.
 
Well I am off to buy the gaffers tape because my finger is real sticky from the duct tape I used this and last week on my DSLR. If you were in the middle of making a video and the FW lost connection, does the recording deck keep rolling until the signal is back online from the source? Or does the cable need to be totally disconnected and restart a camera so there is a fresh firewire signal (happens to me on computers every once in a while when I bump the FW drive cables)?
 
Paladin said:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=142362
Click to expand...
nice link Paladin!

I always read this method but I never heard anyone actually do it.

so after you connect the FW and set all the options as you mentioned in the link on the DVX, does it just record after you press the record button on the DVX??
it doesn't say anything about the slave camera so what do you do with the slave camera? you don't have to put it in capture mode or hit record on the slave cam? (is there an option you have to set it at?)

EDITE: actually it said you have to set it to VCR mode. Thanks (but would like to know how you start recording)
 
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I have only used the full size FW ports and not the mini FW so this will be new to me. I had such a bad taste with people not wanting to wait for reconnects in the past that I grew a little shy to connect anything off camera. I will give it a try. I am going to buy a friends Sony DV Capture Camera today for $150.00.
 
Put the DVX in the desired mode (EXT, CHAIN or BOTH) and the slave camera in playback mode. All you have to do then is hit the record button on the DVX and let 'er go.
 
To add to that, EXT only records to the slave, CHAIN will at first record to the DVX and then right before it runs out of tape, it will switch to the slave so you can shoot uninterrupted, and BOTH rcords to both at the same time for an instant backup...
 
Thanks. Ingenious of them to do that. My slave camera got delayed in purchase so I will try it in a couple of weeks. I have one show that is three hours to tape non-stop. Normally I have the emcee put one of my cellphones in his pocket (on vibrate) and I have my number ready to call to let him know its tape changing time. Not too professional but I did not know what else to do. I have tried lights and lasers but they do not see that in time.

I realize that Firestore is in some problems and that this technology is getting old, but hey ... it still earns a living for me.
 
Just a word of warning for when you choose a secondary DV cam for playback etc. Some Canon DV cameras seem to have an issue sharing a firewire bus when a drive is connected via the FW800. For example, if an external drive, such as a scratch disk, is connected to the FW800 port, and the DV cam is connected either daisy chained through that, or plugged directly in to the computers FW400 port, Final Cut will not see the DV camera.

It's an issue with Canons firewire which I don't know enough about to go in to any detail. In case your wondering (though you may already know) although there are seperate ports on the computer for FW400 and FW800, they actually share the same bus.

I only work with Mac's and Final Cut so I don't know if this information applies to other PC's.
 
actually that's what I was thinking...
I was searching those used cheap DV camera's on ebay and there's just so many...
I wish I knew which model would be the best build as a playback/capture deck that would last long but I'm just not sure. I had a few extra Canon battery's so I was thinking about getting Canon but now I'm not sure..

I was hoping if there were any cheap dv camera's anyone knew that share the same Panasonic DVX battery so I don't have to buy the extra stuff when I'm going to need to shoot as handheld.
 
Not every Canon has that issue, but it happened to my Father and it took us a moment to realise what it was. Through research and a process of elimination, thats what it turned out to be. If you do a search online there are numerous reports of it.

I'm actually looking for a secondary camera to use as the capture device and I want to go for a Panasonic, because I feel safe with them and because I have spare batteries. Not sure which to recommend. Probably just one with as few whistles and bells on it so as to keep the cost down.
I use my girlfriends little Sony handycam HC20 at the moment and it works well, but I need my own.
 
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