Hi there

Just a general question.. so far Iam always shooting tape and recording to Nano using HDX900.. when I first got the nano alot of people on this forum advised working this way on paying jobs.. as a peace of mind factor.

But now a few new firmware,s down the line.. would that advise still hold.. or Iam going through the trusting the nano stage..!! :)

So far no problems at all.. except not recording bars in 24p .. which was just a bit of a panic at the time..

Thanks

I'd say keep shooting to tape. The day you stop using tape will be the day the Nano fails on you!

Even if the Nano never fails, there's no harm in having an instant archive copy of your footage on tape.

I've had my Nano for about a year and I stopped running tape about 3 months ago as back-up. I couldn't be happier.

As a professional, my feeling is....I can't afford to take any chances when it comes to my clients. If I'm playing around on my own then that's another story.

It's always a good idea to have backup. I'd keep shooting to tape. I keep the SDHC files out of the EX3 as backup and record to nanoflash ... double recording is an important safety ability so that you feel confident that you can get and keep what you shoot.

As a professional, my feeling is....I can't afford to take any chances when it comes to my clients. If I'm playing around on my own then that's another story.

If it were another card camera I would probably do it,as easy to just wipe that card.. but tapes either I carry the cost,as the client doesn't want tapes in the first place,or endlessly rewind shot tapes.. which Iam not keen to do in camera.... maybe putting dirt on the heads risking tape jobs which are all longer for me..

Or do what Ernie has done and go through the paranoid barrier.. :)

Maybe a half way is bring tapes with you.. so in case of error message.. meltdown etc.. one could ofcourse record and do the job.. and then try to record from camera to nano later.. or some other arrangement..

Iam I right in thinking that basically if the nano is recording with flashing red light and no error messages then all is well.. ie the nano either works.. or doesn't.. I know there can be intermittent signal problems.. but an error message will show on the nano..

On paying jobs, if you (or the client) can't afford $20 for a couple of tapes then there is something wrong with your pricing structure.

If, as you say, the clients don't want to pay for tapes, then make sure you draw their attention to the clause in your service agreement which covers you against equipment failure. That might convince them to cough up a few extra dollars so you can both have some peace of mind.

As for the constant rewinding; well if all goes well hoepfully you'll never need to do that!

Hi John

By rewind I meant re using tapes.. not having to rewind to record to nano.. yes I could just put the tape cost into the day rate.. and sure a couple of tapes here or there is nothing.. but what if its 20 tapes.. or even over a year 150 tapes.. then it adds up..
TBH I guess its more about trusting the Nano .. and if not.. why not.... is it just people of my age who are a bit unsure of images being recorded to this little square card..and who dont feel safe without a back up..

Over a year it can add up... but it can never be more than about $3-5 an hour. If you can't cover that, you're underselling yourself.

Trust it or not, when it's a paid job, you should be able to afford it. And it's better to be safe than sorry.

I always bring tape along as mentioned for a safety backup. But, I've not had to use them in my HDX900. What's the difference between using the Nano or shooting on a P2 camera??? No backup there. I guess, if I get burned using the Nano, then I would go back to double recording. Tape stock is quite a bit more expensive for DVCProHD. And my projects would usually require 15-20 tapes per project.

I just take my time and make sure everything is connected and set correctly. Also, I always spot check shots. (Oh, I do bring along extra power cables for the Nano as I've had one power cable go bad, not the Nano's fault)

Good point Ernie. I forgot that not all tapes are as cheap as miniDV!

You were referring to mini dv tapes..? I think there are some in the Sony museum here.. :)

I have just used my Nano to archive 350 odd Digibeta/SX/SP tapes to SD-IMX format from Sony vtrs. The unit has worked without a hitch. This has given me the confidence to go completely tapeless using EX1 or HDCAM 730 in the new year.

Hi Bruce

Interesting.. yes all down to confidence in the box..

Thanks

Thats the only "shooting insurance" you have. And for free.
I work with the EX-1 and always record on the SxS cards.
rafael

Sure I would too with that camera.. but DVCpro HD tapes arent that cheap over a year..

Overall, the connected camcorder solution is more reliable than any attached media recorder simply because you are watching the camcorder nearly all of the time. I continue to record on my EX1 while using the Nano. Though, you will probably agree more when your primary camcorder uses flash memory recording and not tape.

Yes totally agree.If I was shooting EX3 or any card camera I would most likely record in camera at the same time.. then just format the cards when everything was in backed up..

Hello Everyone,

We suggest to all of our customers when possible record to tape, or if they can afford it have a backup or redundant nanoFlash when on important shoots. Granted the nanoFlash is excellent product, but it is impossible to predict failures, wether it be with the Camera, nanoFlash, or any part of the workflow.

So the better prepared you are, making backups via the tape in a camera, or P2 card's etc, even thou there might be some loss of quality depending on the camera, you will still have the shot, that is why we also suggest for customers to purchase a nexto backup drive. It is a small initial cost to backup your footage, compared to loosing footage. accidental formating, or Compact Flash Card failure, which is extremely rare but we have seen it, just like anything else nothing is ever full proof. Not to mention the speed, and ease of use in the field.

Best Regards

Hi Andy:
I want to add my voice to this chorus, and I strongly concur with simultaneous tape rolling as a backup. In fact, I will go as far as to say I value any production ready camera which also contains a fully operational recording VTR inside it. I always shoot an HDV cassette tape while recording to my Convergent Design Flash XDR, and would not even consider shooting a paying job without tape in the camera. Tape is cheap, and I consider my Flash XDR to be totally stable at this point (Other than current Beta Release disappearing LTC/TC Trigger with E to E Record Tally Engaged), but I still want to cover myself so I may still get the shot no matter what - even if it's in lower resolution - thick raster HD @ 25 Mbps.

Sure I would too with that camera.. but DVCpro HD tapes arent that cheap over a year..
You are right Robin, but if those tapes are used only for on the field back-up and are not used for editing, they can be reused MANY MANY times. Just keep in good shape the video heads and drum.
rafael

I spent the last year shooting flawlessly with the nano... until the last job. For some reason, the first 4 minutes of the first shot on the first day (interview) never made it on the nano... never did figure out why. Everything else over two days was perfect. I was very glad to have the tape. But new stock seems excessive. I try to get used stock when I can.

Dear Bob,

Were you triggering with System|Trigger TC > Last TC?

If so, and you recorded color bars or anything else, then reset the timecode in the camera, then the nanoFlash would not start recording unitl the timecode from the camera was higher than what was recorded previously on the nanoFlash.

If the nanoFlash is turned off, then the "Highest Previous Timecode" value is erased.

I spent the last year shooting flawlessly with the nano... until the last job. For some reason, the first 4 minutes of the first shot on the first day (interview) never made it on the nano... never did figure out why. Everything else over two days was perfect. I was very glad to have the tape. But new stock seems excessive. I try to get used stock when I can.

Sorry if obvious question.. but was the red light flashing.. but still no data on the card?

Dear Bob,

Were you triggering with System|Trigger TC > Last TC?

If so, and you recorded color bars or anything else, then reset the timecode in the camera, then the nanoFlash would not start recording unitl the timecode from the camera was higher than what was recorded previously on the nanoFlash.

If the nanoFlash is turned off, then the "Highest Previous Timecode" value is erased.

Re your last line.. If the nanoFlash is turned off, then the "Highest Previous Timecode" value is erased.[/QUOTE]

How does that effect recording,if the nano is then plugged in again,same setting TC last TC..and record button on camera is pressed..?

Dear Robin,

If you are using System|Trigger|TC > Last TC, and you power off the nanoFlash,

then, when the camera rolls timecode again, the nanoFlash will immediately start recording,

Then, after this recording stops, the nanoFlash will not start recording again until the timecode exceeds the highest timecode already received.

The purpose of this setting is to allow one to rewind and review, in-camera, without the nanoFlash recording the same clip again.

The only operational problem with this, is when someone powers on then nanoFlash, records anything, such as color bars, and then resets the timecode in the camera back to a lower value. In this case, just power cycle the nanoFlash.

so unplugging the nano and then plugging back in.. there by erasing the previously remembered highest TC .. makes no difference to TC-last TC recording?

Dear Robin,

I am sorry, but I do not understand your question.

If one is using System|Trigger|TC > Last TC,

Then when the nanoFlash first powers up, it will start recording no matter what the timecode value is.

Once this or any other file is recorded, it is on the CompactFlash card media and will not be lost or changed if the nanoFlash is powered off then back on again.


While the nanoFlash is powered up and in this "System|Trigger|TC > Last TC" mode, the only clips that will be recorded are those that have timecode higher than the highest timecode recevied since the nanoFlash wa powered up.

But, if one powers down the nanoFlash, then powers it up again, the nanoFlash will reset the "Highest Timecode Value" to zero, and thus every timecode that comes in will trigger the nanoFlash to record.

Subsequent clips will be recorded only if the timecode is higher than the saved "Highest Timecode Value".

I hope this helps.

Ah Ok I get it..

Thanks