I just got one of these off ebay, it looks like a pretty decent idea.

It is basically a mini-dv deck that fits in a 5.25" drive bay, it runs off your PC power supply, and it hooks up to your PC via a firewire output.
It has analog outputs on the back to hook up to a monitor as well.

Anybody used one of these?

Huh, that's cool. I always wondered why something like this didn't exist. How much did it cost you?

$600 with 2 day shipping.

Way less than the DSR-11 that I wanted. Hopefully it works good :)

I've been looking for one of those for a while, so please let us know how it works.

Not bad. It seems like DV decks are always getting discontinued really fast. I guess most people would rather just use a camcorder as a deck. I think professionals would like the convenience of something like this though.

I was really getting sick of having a camcorder sitting on my desk 24/7. Especially with it tethered to the PC with firewire and to the monitor with AV cables.

For some reason, Sony discontinued this line a few years ago. This is why they are so hard to find. I have heard they aren't that good, or had bugs, but ... you never know.

Doing a google search, I came across Skyline Broadcast Equipment. Their website said they had some, so I filled out the online form for a price. A couple weeks later, I get a call from a salesman asking if I needed anything. I said I wanted a quote for the DRV 1000 listed on the site. He had no clue, but would research it and let me know. It seems they haven't had one for some time, and had no idea what it sold for, or if they would get another one.

And about once a month, I get a new call from them, just like the first one. Everytime they get a new salesman, I get the same call. Still no DV drive... :(

Got the drive today and it captured the first tape I threw at it perfectly. Looks and functions perfectly so far.
Here are a couple of quick pics I snapped of it in my PC

http://www.digitaliso.ca/drv1000-1.jpg

http://www.digitaliso.ca/drv1000-2.jpg

Very cool. I might keep an eye out for one of those.

jeff,

if you want to SELL this unit - anytime in the future. PLEASE let me know. i'm in desperate need for this unit!

i am looking for it from some time and never had luck to buy it.

i am jealous! :)

all the best,

filip

And about once a month, I get a new call from them, just like the first one. Everytime they get a new salesman, I get the same call. Still no DV drive...

i am receiving the same mails. and all the times i am explaining the same story from the begining... i do not understand that...

Found one on ebay for you all...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7553822215

I was going to buy it and not tell you guys, but...oh yea...I'm seventeen and have absolutely no reason to spend $899 for aesthetical reasons of a cluttered desk when the camera works fine as a deck...

I love how they used my picture of my deck in their item description.

That was discontinued a few years ago, and they were selling for around $300 at the time.... I don't think the transport is as good as a dsr 20/11 etc...

That was discontinued a few years ago, and they were selling for around $300 at the time.... I don't think the transport is as good as a dsr 20/11 etc...

I seem to remember them going for even less than that. Now, they are $1,000 or more... used!

Way less than the DSR-11 that I wanted. Hopefully it works good :)

The DRV-1000 takes miniDV tape shells only, yes? Not full-size DVCAM tape shells (like the DSR-11)?

Incidentally, if you do a Google for SONY DRV-1000 , you get this thread listed first. Go Dvinfo.net.

The DRV-1000 takes miniDV tape shells only, yes? Not full-size DVCAM tape shells (like the DSR-11)?

Yes it only accepts the MiniDV tapes.
Since I got this, I have run about 80 tapes through it without any problems (knock on wood).

Jeff- Did you say you picked this thing up for 600.00? Where?
Thanks--nice qual stills of the unit, btw.

Jeff- Did you say you picked this thing up for 600.00? Where?
Thanks--nice qual stills of the unit, btw.


Got mine off ebay earlier this year.

Thanks. The only one I can find on ebay right now is used and going for 849.00. I'll have to keep searching.

Why don't they make these kind of drives anymore? I would get one if they were actually selling for $300-$400 somewhere. I noticed in the ebay auction that took Jeff's photo, they mentioned a list price of $1700.