Hello all.
I have a workflow question that I hope one of you could answer.

Last weekend, I filmed a ballroom dance competition. There were 1000+ heats, and in every heat, there were anywhere from 2 - 10 couples dancing on the floor. The men worn numbers on the back of their shirts.

My workflow thus far is each DV camera runs FireWire out (4-pin) to a Sony DVDirect, while simultaneously recording to a DV tape for backup. The DVDirect machine allows me to record each heat onto the DVD like a DV tape; I can hit record, pause, stop, and even eject it before finalizing the DVD at the end of the day.

My problem is this: The Sony DVDirect drives take about 30 - 40 seconds to eject a DVD and load a new DVD. This is far too long when I have to record two different couples in heats one right after another.
Does someone have an idea to help me with this issue?

I was thinking, if it was possible, to have a FireWire Splitter/Switcher, this way I could have 2 Sony DVDirect drives per camera, and have the cameramen just switch between the two machines. This would allow him to insert and prep a DVD before the couple is on the floor.

Do they make such a thing? I saw some amplified FireWire hubs; would this work?

Thanks in advance for your responses and insight - I'm a first time poster, long time reader of dvinfo.net

John,

I have looked at this workflow and it is tricky.

My first thought is to ask if the Sony deck has a Firewire output? Maybe you could daisy chain the units?

Or, this setup might be more secure by using a Firewire switcher and have the switcher feed the two DVD recorders.

As much as they sound like the perfect solution, I gave up on recording live events with DVD recorders. Events are just too unpredictable to deal with the rigid approach of the DVD recorders. Plus if you get a bum disc you are toast.

But the thought of sorting through 1000 heats after the fact does not sound good either!