The best alternative to P2

Hey, here's an idea -- what about a USB2 On-The-Go device... those are supposed to work in host mode, right? I've never used one, but for anyone who has one of those one-touch-backup drives -- can you just plug it into another USB drive and press a button and it automatically copies the contents over?

The HVX can appear as a USB2 device. I know since I've done it with my Archos AV500 -- the Archos is a battery-powered 100gb host device, and I could control the HVX from the Archos and copy a file over. The only problem is that it's not practical, since the Archos file manager doesn't let you copy a full drive or full directory, just an individual file at a time. That'd never work for in-the-field offloading; you need to copy the full directory structure over.

But if one of those "USB-To-Go" devices, which does allow for host mode, could automatically copy the full contents of the destination device... maybe that's another alternative?
 
Benton said:
I agree,
But...
How wiill you be getting Power to the external HD's out in the field...
easily & consistantly
& without interrupting shooting to download?
There is the iPod solution, but that's gonna be Slow
Click to expand...
Well, how are you going to power the lighting kit? The Laptop? The Monitor? The last film I shot with my dvx, we always had a couple of power-strips and extension cords, and everything was plugged in. Camera, monitor, battery charger, lights, etc. Rarely was the camera completely unplugged from anything. And rarely were we in a location that didn't have some kind of power source.

Just keep the firewire hard disk plugged in right where the monitor is. For narrative film, it shouldn't be a hassle at all.
 
I'm gonna get the selfpowered firewire drive regardless, because it's cheap.

A laptop can, on top of streaming capture, can also:

run DVrack
preview footage
edit footage
edit script
play videogames
play dvd movies

...now that's versatile. To boot, it's probably cheaper than a firestore or cineporter, which are hardwired for capture, and will do nothing but.
 
Am I missing something? I thought that one could NOT record into a laptop hard drive combo with the HVX. Am I wrong?

Kelly
 
You can record directly on a laptop, or directly to an external hard drive connected to that laptop, as long as you're running a video capture application that understands DVCPRO-HD (or, well, whatever other mode the camera's operating in, be that DVCPRO50, DVCPRO25 or DV).
 
Two Questions:

1. When hooking up to a laptop, etc., is there a limit (below the reasonable limit for normal computer usage) to the length of firewire cable used?

2. In this thread, I am inferring from the way some are writing it out that one could use an external firewire drive without a laptop. If so, does the P2 card have the necessary connection right on the card, or do you go through the cam to dump from P2?
 
A lot will depend on what format your shooting. If your going to shoot 1080i 30 then 2 x 4Gb P2 cards are going to last less than 8mins, at 720p24 you'll get almost double. Firewire cables will go to about 6m (12ft) without problems, beyond that you can get repeaters to extend the length. For me it will have to be something like the cineporter or firestore as I need to be able to shoot in bad weather for extended periods. Having to stop and off load P2 cards to disk may be a good practice as it will force directors to take more care with each shot and bring back much of the disciplines lost when video replaced film for so many applications.
 
Hi, I´m new here, but have been reading for some time. My question is for Barry. What video capture aplication that works with DVCPRO HD are you talking about? Does it have to be Avid or FCP or something like that or is there a little program that will do just that? I´m asking because I´m thinking about getting a laptop, but I´d be buying AVID XPRESS PRO HD for a workstation (you can´t install it twice, you have to buy 2 licences or am I wrong?) so I´d just capture on the field. Also, is there a program or some way to use the laptop full screen so it serves as a monitor? That way you could check focus and review clips and stuff without the need for an expensive location monitor. Thanks you.
 
Litzwire said:
2. In this thread, I am inferring from the way some are writing it out that one could use an external firewire drive without a laptop. If so, does the P2 card have the necessary connection right on the card, or do you go through the cam to dump from P2?
Click to expand...
Here's the process for shooting without a laptop:

1) Shoot footage to P2 card(s)

2) Plug in a cheap, off-the-shelf Firewire hard disk to the HVX via the Firewire plug on the side of the camera.

3) Offload footage from P2 card through the camera into the hard disk.

4) Delete contents of P2 card, and go back to step 1.
 
stabwound said:
I'm gonna get the selfpowered firewire drive regardless, because it's cheap.
Click to expand...

Stabwound.......which selfpowered firewire drive are you talking about? The one at dvvideo.com was discontinued. I hope you found another one.....not being sarcastic......I hope you did so you can tell me where I can get it too!

Thanks!
 
woodspoon said:
What video capture aplication that works with DVCPRO HD are you talking about?
Click to expand...
Right now there are two (Avid and Canopus). But I'm strongly hoping that Serious Magic makes a DV Rack-style DVCPRO-HD capable version. I talked to them at DV Expo and all sounds promising.

Does it have to be Avid or FCP or something like that or is there a little program that will do just that?
Click to expand...
Someone could certainly write up a self-contained capture application. DVCPRO-HD protocol is supported by Windows XP Service Pack 2, so the actual protocol is already present.

Also, is there a program or some way to use the laptop full screen so it serves as a monitor? That way you could check focus and review clips and stuff without the need for an expensive location monitor. Thanks you.
Click to expand...
We're expecting Serious Magic to adapt DV Rack to do exactly that. They haven't formally announced such a product yet, but have said that they're working with Panasonic and they want to make it happen.
 
icicle22 said:
Stabwound.......which selfpowered firewire drive are you talking about? The one at dvvideo.com was discontinued. I hope you found another one.....not being sarcastic......I hope you did so you can tell me where I can get it too!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hiya Icicle22:

I found the battery powered enclosures for 2.5 harddrives... somebody in this forum enclosed a link to where you can order them.

You stick in the harddrive yourself and presto....

And they're pretty cheap too... just over 30 bucks each... (from what I can remember...)

I'm trying like mad to find the link for you, but, without success. However I did bookmark it on my other computer... and I won't get to it for another two weeks (I'm on holiday... using my friend's computer).

Barry... help... anyone.... gimme a hand here... I'm dying of embarrasment....:cry:

Edit: I started to dig around the net and came up with a lead:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/drives/7158/

I'll see if I can find more.
 
If it was firewire it'd be nearly perfect, but being USB it may not be that valuable, unless the USB2Go feature can actually intelligently quaff a card through host mode.

I just ordered one, so I'll try it and let you know how it goes.
 
jrv3034 said:
Here's the process for shooting without a laptop:

1) Shoot footage to P2 card(s)

2) Plug in a cheap, off-the-shelf Firewire hard disk to the HVX via the Firewire plug on the side of the camera.

3) Offload footage from P2 card through the camera into the hard disk.

4) Delete contents of P2 card, and go back to step 1.
Click to expand...

so why do you have to use p2, can't you go straight to the off the shelf firewire hard disk? in other words, a slightly more cumbersome but cheaper firestore?
 
brianluce said:
so why do you have to use p2, can't you go straight to the off the shelf firewire hard disk? in other words, a slightly more cumbersome but cheaper firestore?
Click to expand...

Hiya Brianluce:

Off the shelf firewire drives don't have the neccessary controllers built in, like the Firestore.

Using host mode in the HVX, you can dump footage from P2 to the firewire harddrive. Doesn't work with USB drives , though.... Panasonic engineering decision, apparently.

I keep thinking the powered drives I bookmarked are indeed firewire/usb... I'll let you know for sure when I get back to my own computer (using my friend's right now.

Thanks for the help, Barry and all.:)
 
So,,
I will be using a 35mm adaptor (so I need to fliip the image)
and I will need longer recording times than the P2

So I'm toying with ways to configuring a 12" powerbook (or the new lightweight Intel iBooks) to do both.
I had an older powerbook rigged up to the Vest on my Steadicam last night and it felt quite alright!.. A smaller/lighter PB would work perfect for ingesting the video
and the monitor works for checking the image
now I wonder how I could Flip the desktop (or the log and capture window) as a solution for the 35mm?

Any ideas?

~benton
 
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