Yes Daniel the TX3 should really have a mouse, keyboard and VGA monitor, but nobody has the time or inclination to fiddle with things like that on location! I know that when I am filming weddings (over 50 this season) I have enough to think about without having to type titles for captured video files.
It would not be necessary to read anything on the 4" display, just to know that when I tap the record icon on the capture program it will start recording on the correct drive (set up before the shoot on a full sized monitor). So far, MediaStudio Pro 7 is the nearest to ideal I have found because the capture screen takes up the whole desktop, and there is no unecessary clutter. If anyone knows a better app. please let me know.
I like the look of the Lilliput, except for the touchscreen using a USB interface. I thought USB should not be used at the same time as firewire, perhaps that is why you are getting dropped frames, Alex. I guess you have done the usual things like disabling indexing and system restore monitoring on the video drive. Also checking this drive has DMA enabled to the correct level with no slow running optical drives etc. on the same IDE channel.
I will probably have to borrow my wife's specs every time I use my TX3!

What about an embeded SBC:
http://www.lannerinc.com/products/ac_em_sbc.asp
Haven't found one with Firewire yet, but it's a start

Yes Valeriu, please see my posts of November 7th and 9th, although it was Joe Carney who had the brilliant idea to use SBCs. The only one I've found that has fw included in the same module is:
http://www.evalue-tech.com/evalueweb/products/specifications/ECm-5716.cfm
It is feasible to buy a PC104plus SBC, and add a fw module.
The cheapest quote I have had is for an Acrosser AR-B1520 which is expected to be (it has not come out yet!) $170.
Alex, you have sold me on a Lilliput screen. The only VGA 640x480 kit I could find was 5.4", and once the adapter board etc. were added it would have ended up being bigger than the Lilliput! Please could you tell me if there is any issue with the USB operating at the same time as firewire.

I am sorry if I have offended anybody, but I would really like a response to my posts because if we are to come up with a viable alternative to the already manufactured D2Ds then time is of the essence.
I forgot to mention that the PC Cube is $2400! Totally out of the ball park I think you will all agree.
The other (of many) problem I have is the battery power supply for the TX3. It needs to be 18 volts at 3 amps. The only manufactured batteries are for power tools and telescopes. I have my own theories on how to achieve a cheaper and more practical alternative, but I would love to have everybody else's ideas. I promise if everything goes mega I will give everybody there due moneywise.

FWIW...

I'm using an ADS API-820 with an NTSC Canon XL1s. I have the unit mounted to the MA-100 Canon XLR bracket. Fundamentally, it's very convenient because I can set the HD to "record" by pressing the button, and the disc begins capturing from the 1394 port as long as the camera is turned on. The disadvantage is that sometimes the HD takes a long time to initialize, otherwise, I'm happy with this solution. Since the stream is captured directly from the 1394 bus, and the drive allows selection of any number of formats, e.g. AVI, QT, I don't see whether it should care if it's PAL or NTSC.


I am thinking about buying a couple of the API-820s and am wondering how you mounted it to the MA-100. It does not look like it comes with a hot shoe mounttn bracket.

Finally sat down and really played with the Pyro drive. And my upgrade worked! I now have an API-820 with a 100GB HDD. Next is to tacke the battery

At last I have got pictures of my Frankenstore Sony DXC-3000AP.
In the pictures it is set up for MPEG2 capture via the Hauppauge WinTV PVR, but this can be substituted for a Hollywood Bridge for DV capture (this is on loan at the moment). Both these devices will be changed soon for ones that are powered from the Cappucino USB/firewire busses (Atlona MPEG2 and Canopus ADVC55 probably).
The biggest problem was providing all the portable power. The mini pc is powered by a Polarmate lithium pack velcro taped to the side of the camera as can be seen on D2D1.jpg. The LCD touchscreen is powered by a Tronic Powercube (7amp sealed lead acid battery) that can just be seen in the bottom left corner of D2D2.jpg. This also provides the 5 volts for the Hollywood Bridge or WinTV, but runs down quite quick hence the change to pc bus power. The camera is powered by an NP-25 Ni-Mh battery that can be accessed by hingeing out the mini-pc.
The external firewire 100gb hdd can be seen on D2D2.jpg in its own cradle made from angled plastic pop riveted together with foam rubber on the inner edges to help with vibration. Pop rivets must be the greatest invention known to man, I don't know what I would do without them!
Any questions, I will be pleased to answer them.

Hi Neil,

All I can say is fantastic! This set-up is true to the name of the thread.

You didn't use enough hot glue for my taste though. :')

There are lots of things I would like to ask you. (some of them quite philosophical) - but I will start with one practical question: how much did this set-up cost you (in money)?

Hi Hot Glue Daniel.
I'm intrigued by your philosophical questions. Probably the first would be how sad and geeky am I?
The camera was bought second hand so many years ago I've forgotten how much I paid. A tripod, special FX generator and TBC were thrown in which confused things. The Frankenstore part cost under £300 because everything came from ebay apart from the 6 inch firewire cable which came fom a company in the USA.
Do you have thoughts about my message 'D2D captures tape preroll'? You have great knowledge of all D2Ds on the market, and I value your opinions.

Hi Hot Glue Daniel.
I'm intrigued by your philosophical questions. Probably the first would be how sad and geeky am I?
The camera was bought second hand so many years ago I've forgotten how much I paid. A tripod, special FX generator and TBC were thrown in which confused things. The Frankenstore part cost under £300 because everything came from ebay apart from the 6 inch firewire cable which came fom a company in the USA.
Do you have thoughts about my message 'D2D captures tape preroll'? You have great knowledge of all D2Ds on the market, and I value your opinions.

Hi Neil,

Sorry for not responding very quickly, don't take it personally.

No,... philosophy has nothing to do with the sadness or geekyness of any individual - (other than it may be their very source).

I find your perseverance in building your D2D rig highly admirable.
One of the reasons for my dwindling interest in this forum has been the lack of such spirit.

The D2D forum has degenerated into a troubleshooting and complaint department of sorts. I don't want to complain as well, so I will leave it at that.

Back to philosophy:
My question about the cost of your rig, was a ploy. It doesn't matter how much money you put into buying the parts - you have spent at least three years working on this project - no one can't put a price on that.

The fact that you built the rig, and are using it, and are working on refining it, even when there are "working" (out of the box) products on the market that can do what your rig can do (better?).

Neil, you are afflicted with what I would call Retrofit Syndrome. I didn't invent the term - it it is a condition which has afflicted craftsman, technicians, artists, and inventors since the beginnings of mass-production. Ever since things started coming out of boxs, there have been a few brave people who have dared to drill holes in things where no hole was supposed to be, or have been connecting things together that where not planned to be connected to anything. Anyone who uses a tool to do their work, knows what I am talking about. No tool is perfect until it has been modified to fit the task. Your rig demonstrates that, and the need for that process.

It looks to me like your rig goes beyond (or perpendicular to) its technical purpose. Is it possible that you have been drawn into the sheer desire to see if what you were trying to do will work or not?

If this spirit were existed at the R&D levels of the companies that have created video mutations like HDV (even before DV has been fully exploited), then this forum would have more people writing about rigs like yours, then asking why they can't import mt2 files into their FCP. (I'm complaining again).

Neil,

I just want to thank you for working on your Frankenstore, and for posting your progress. Please, please continue.

You have sussed me out completely Daniel! Thank you, it is like having my own personal psychologist. I have not heard of retrofit syndrome before, but it is definitely what I have, and I don't see why anything should be made obsolete.
I like your reference to HDV, a format that I think is highly suspect, mainly because I can't afford it. I did some HDV camerawork (local college cameras) on a music video six months ago, and my friends are still editing what should have taken about three weeks maximum if it had been done on DVCAM.
Coming soon on Frankenstore:
1. A JVC KY-15 camera that records to an Archos AV500.
2. An AAEON PCM-6896 mini pc mounted in an unfeasibly small enclosure complete with keyboard and touchscreen. Again this is for capturing stuff or editing in the field.
There are loads of other bits and bobs I have developed that are connected with video production, but not D2D. Perhaps I could put them on a different forum.

I don't own an HVX200 myself,so I'm not quite sure how it all works, but has anyone ever thought of trying to make their own p2 card, instead of their own firestore? Perhaps even using something like this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47125&&source=14&doy=31m10

In conjunction with an 8gb SDcard, and seeing if the HVX recognises it as a p2 card.My guess would be no, but if I had an HVX200 I'd give it a go myself,since don't p2 cards have PCMCIA interfaces?