HDV Deck options
by Bryce Groark
on
Jun 24, 2009 at 3:22:50 am
Hi - I'm in need of an HDV deck and was thinking of getting the Sony GV HD700. I was told that I could only capture with it - not export back to and copy with it. Can anyone confirm this - and/or suggest another inexpensive way to get the footage from my Sony Z1u into FCP? The M15u or M25u are a bit out of my price range. I was also considering getting maybe a cheap single chip HDV camera to use - but am worried about wear and tear.
Re: HDV Deck options by Tim Robinson on Jun 24, 2009 at 1:20:47 pm
That deck offers HDV firewire playback, but not record (it does offer DV firewire play/record).
Now your issue with having a sony is you need HDV 1080i, so you have to stick with sony for that HDV format. Using a camera for playback works fine. Years ago, I always used cheap DV single chip cameras to digitize 3 chip camera footage.
From the specs I can read the HVR-HD1000 series HDV playback and record. It's also pretty affordable.
Re: HDV Deck options by Brian Louis on Jun 24, 2009 at 6:49:01 pm
>That deck offers HDV firewire playback, but not record (it does offer DV firewire play/record).<
I don't where you got that erroneous bit of information but the GV-HD700 records HDV via Firewire perfectly fine, I own one and use it for dubbing and rough cuts in the field.
Also I use a 2-way miniDV rewinder to rewind or retension tapes to take wear and tear of my decks, the best one I've found so far is a Lenmar MDV66, Focus and others are junk.
Re: HDV Deck options by Bryce Groark on Jun 24, 2009 at 7:00:01 pm
Hey Brian - thanks for that. I heard it from a couple people I asked - then I called B&H and asked them and they confirmed that it doesn't record back to tape - only plays back. Hence the lower cost than the decks. If what you say is correct then - it's an easy choice for me.
A google search tells me it can't record back as well on multiple pages?????
So - you can print to tape from FCP (or another NLE) with no issues?
Re: HDV Deck options by Bryce Groark on Jun 24, 2009 at 7:03:22 pm
Brian - where do you buy the Lenmar? Can't find it anywhere on the internet?
I could use a tape rewinder for the field as well - but don't trust any of them out there and have heard many horror stories. Interested in the Lenmar now though as I've never heard of it.
Re: HDV Deck options by Brian Louis on Jun 24, 2009 at 7:44:05 pm
I don't where the info on the GV-HD700 came from but I think someone didn't read their manual correctly, the deck won't record component, but does HDV I/O iLink fine.
Originally I got the Lenmars from B&H but they stopped selling them, then I was getting them from Amazon but don't see them anymore try searching the net for a Sima SRW-62, looks exactly the same probably just relabled, the chinese do that all the time. Amazon is selling some rewinders in a kit(says "MINI DV KIT"), no good, looks just like the crappy ones I got from B&H when they stopped selling Lenmar.
Re: HDV Deck options by Bryce Groark on Jun 24, 2009 at 8:15:34 pm
Hey Brian - I just called B&H again as I'm planning on buying this machine now - and they told me 100% positive that it cannot record back to tape in HDV - but it can print to tape in DV. He said he knew for sure that what you're saying is impossible!?!?!?!
Re: HDV Deck options by Michael Palmer on Jun 24, 2009 at 1:40:45 pm
What most people don't understand is that most HDV decks don't actually have an HDV encoder within them and they just can write the HDV code sent to them. The camera actually has the encoder but it is isolated and used only by the camera sensors that create the original video.
To answer your question I'm pretty sure you could use this Sony GV HD700 to record back HDV to because your NLE would conform the HDV.
I just don't understand why anyone would want to go back to HDV tape, it isn't a delivery format and the conforming times can be long.
If you are looking for a tapeless recorder I suggest you look into the Convergent Design Nano Flash and get away from this lower HDV bit rate and take advantage of the potential your camera has to offer.
Re: HDV Deck options by Bryce Groark on Jun 24, 2009 at 6:33:58 pm
Thanks for your responses guys. Tim -that HD1000 is a bit large - but I guess could be an option. I couldn't find if it's single chip or not? Must be for that price?
Michael - thank you for that link. That NanoFlash looks pretty awesome - but the Z1u does not have HDMI or SDI out so it wouldn't be able to hook up to our cameras. I also only shoot underwater so it most likely wouldn't have fit in our housings when attached to the camera either.
There's not too many times I output back to HDV tape - but on occasion, we need to. I realize we are stuck with a crummy format, but I'm trying to make due with what we have for a bit before moving on to the EX3.
Re: HDV Deck options by Jerry Alto on Jun 25, 2009 at 10:51:04 pm
Bryce- I've had the 700 for two years now and use it all the time for recording HDV from my Final Cut
system. The 700 has all kinds of usage:
Great field monitor AND recorder when being fed an HDV firewire signal.
Great recorder/monitor for recording from an analog POV camera.
Great feeder deck for NLE system with firewire (HDV or DV) OR feeding the HD component out from the 700 thru my Kona LH and digitizing in ProRes or 8-bit uncompressed. Saves wear and tear from using the camera as a deck.
And my favorite: Using the HDMI out to show my client his new video in HD on his 50' plasma monitor.
Re: HDV Deck options by Brian Louis on Jun 26, 2009 at 12:49:58 am
One more use, recording a overlap when changing tapes with long events, there is abit of delay between the cam and deck but doesn't matter when overlapping the tapes
Re: HDV Deck options by Michael Palmer on Jun 27, 2009 at 1:50:51 pm
If the tapes were recorded with a Sony camera (24p) it will still be 60i. This little 700 deck will only record 1080i and itwill only play 1080i and possile 720p 60. It won't play Canon f modes.
With most Sony HDV devices you need to control the I-link or FireWire port and you must disconnect the the FW cable before any changes take effect. Disconnect FW cable, open Menu/ In Out Rec/ I-link Conv set to off for HDV, on for DV conversion.
Re: HDV Deck options by Brian Louis on Jun 27, 2009 at 11:09:24 pm
[Michael Palmer]"If the tapes were recorded with a Sony camera (24p) it will still be 60i"
The Z7 supposedly records true 24P/30P, Sony has new M series decks that will read the tapes, there is a 24 frame mode the the Z7 uses that will record 24p over 60i, what its called I don't remember off hand and I don't have a Z7 ahndy to play with.
