Re: DVCProHD Tape > Hard drive? by john sharaf on Oct 7, 2008 at 7:12:36 pm
Kevin,
The only output on the Varicam is an HD-SDI spigot, so you'd need to use a "capture card" like an AJA Kona installed in a FCP system to import it. You can convert it to PRORES or recompress it to DVCPRO100 this way. As always, the usual warnings about excessive wear on the camera's recorder apply.
Re: DVCProHD Tape > Hard drive? by Ernie Santella on Oct 7, 2008 at 7:41:02 pm
There's no 'extra' wear by playing a tape. You cannot control the Varicam's transport by FCP, so all you can do is hit play and capture. There is no way to shuttle, just start and stop. That doesn't cause any more wear than normal record start and stops.
Ernie Santella
Santella Productions Inc.
www.santellaproductions.com
Re: DVCProHD Tape > Hard drive? by john sharaf on Oct 7, 2008 at 8:52:03 pm
Ernie,
Of course there is extra wear on the camera, at the very least you have to rewind the tape(s). I know that it might not seem significant where only one tape is involved, but it's just a bad habit that if exploited on a long term basis will cost the camera owner extra money in maintainence.
Re: DVCProHD Tape > Hard drive? by Ernie Santella on Oct 7, 2008 at 9:17:10 pm
Well, yes and no. In my case, I just can't afford a deck right now at $15-20K. (Not many used ones with low hours around anyway, I've checked) The only local rental house gets $700/day for a Panny 1400 deck. (yeah, that's insane) As I'm not doing all that much HD yet, so, this is my best option.
Anyway, the way I figure it is this...
Use my camera as a transport for now (No shuttling, just rewind and play-out to FCP without stopping). I figure, sure, it puts some extra wear, but even if I have to service the transport/heads a year early, say in 3 years instead of 4. Then that would cost me approx $1.5K extra (Full replacement in parts/labor runs around $4K.) That's still a huge savings over the investment to buy a $15-$20K deck. I could service the transport 4 or 5 times and still be way ahead in costs.
Sure, I don't have a deck for layoff, but I library Master video files on DVD-Rom and BluRay-Rom discs. If I have to supply clients a tape, I can take the master file to a local edit house and have them lay it off for a very cheap hourly rate.
OK... Flame suit on!
Ernie Santella
Santella Productions Inc.
www.santellaproductions.com
Re: DVCProHD Tape > Hard drive? by john sharaf on Oct 7, 2008 at 9:50:36 pm
Ernie,
I totally understand your position and have no intention to flame you for doing what you have to do. I own two decks, both the older 1200A and the 1400 and have to tell you that they've been an excellent investment and a great add-on both in production and post production, and I believe both are in profit already.
The reality is that when ever I shoot Varicam, the client must import it into their NLE and that's when the deck comes into play. I offer it as a preferred rate of $300/day and in LA (subject to availability) that is kind of the going rate. This way I can often "switch" a client from another requested format (usually DigiBeta).
I've always considered the camera and the deck as a system, invaluable together to assure backup and workflow and then when it comes time to sell, the combination of the two assures the buyer of that same, and I can create a package price so the new owner has a complete system with which to service himself or his clients.
Re: DVCProHD Tape > Hard drive? by Noah Kadner on Oct 8, 2008 at 5:15:56 pm
I second John for the camera is not a playback deck- argument. Really not a good idea all around for workflow, wear and tear. Not too mention you're introducing all sorts of lost timecode issues and the like by just free playing HD-SDI off the camera into a Kona. The DVCPROHD decks are a solid investment. That said, getting into a newer P2 camera without the need for an expensive deck is also not a bad call either.
