Already did someone read the firmware from the A1? Perhaps it is easy to making a A1 from HC1...

See: http://www.fxsupport.de/hc1/index.html in the middle of this side - programming firmware (german).

http://www.schnellsuche.de/kostenlos/DV-IN/BauAnleitung.htm to making a programming adapter for lanc and free software.

<sigh> They tried doing the same thing to turn a TRV-950 into a PDX-10. But the real question is WHY would anyone go to all this trouble, and void their warranty.... instead of just buying an HVR-A1 or a PDX-10? :-)

In germany costs a Sony A1 2700,- Euro, the HC1 only 1400,- Euro. A little programming the byte is free ;-)

Being that it is all in German I could be looking at the information and not even know it.....

Danny Fye

In germany costs a Sony A1 2700,- Euro, the HC1 only 1400

Well here in the US there's an old saying, "You get what you pay for." ;-)

Seriously, you could ruin your camera by messing around with the firmware and it certainly would void the warranty. I'm not all that familiar with the A1 vs HC1, but I never thought those hacks made sense for the TRV-950 and doubt that many people ever tried them.

However, I know that Sony's newer low(er) cost cameras have moved almost all the functions away from dedicated controls to touch-screen menus. If that's the case then a firmware hack might be more practical I suppose.

But personally I think it makes little sense. If you need the pro version you should buy it. Aside from the additional features, the A1 is supported by Sony's broadcast division instead of their consumer division. This entitles you to a much higher level of service, and is something which is also reflected in the higher cost. And of course you also get the XLR box and shotgun mike which don't come with the HC1. For that matter, does the HC1 have an intelligent hot shoe that's even compatible with that box?

"You get what you pay for."

yes, that is always like that.

In Germany works on the firmware nothing unusual is because of customs regulations (Zoll) at the cameras for Europe the DV-In processing turned off therefore is to reprogram by firmware nothing unusual.

The HC1 is still new, perhaps but there is soon a code around also with films the exposure time and gainboost in the monitor to see.

I hope my english is understandable? Babelfish (http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr) is my friend.... ;-)

To me, the most important thing about the A1 vs the H1 is the standard shoe mount. The firmware differences are nice, but I could live with less features. Being able to mount a shotgun and a wireless mic are features I really need though and you need the standard shoe mount for that. Yeah, the shoe mount is kind of expensive, but you do what you've gotta do!

You get a really nice mount for the HC1 using a standard flash mount handle from Hama. The ones you normally use for still photography. It's $12. And it gives you really nice operating features.

Wolf, I love ya, but i can't understand a word you're saying and babelfish isnt helping.
I want to hack my HC1 to get some A1U features, but I need the instructions in detailed and concise english! Anyone have any luck with this?

Trust me, if i had the extra cash, i would have bought the A1U.

The HC1 will NEVER be the A1U. The firmware additions are minute compared to the XLR ability and normal shoe that the A1U has.

Wolf, I love ya, but i can't understand a word you're saying and babelfish isnt helping.
I want to hack my HC1 to get some A1U features, but I need the instructions in detailed and concise english! Anyone have any luck with this?

Trust me, if i had the extra cash, i would have bought the A1U.

I do what he does all the time to check out foreign sites, goto http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr and put in the URL for the site he was referencing with German to English for the translation, took about 2 minutes but the entire article is very readable this way.

ML

The HC1 will NEVER be the A1U. The firmware additions are minute compared to the XLR ability and normal shoe that the A1U has.

yea yea yea. so i wont have xlr ability and a normal shoe. im getting a beachtek and i already have rods support. im more concerned with the a1u features. such as black stretch and cinematone.

miguel, ill keep crackin' at it. btw, i bought the service manuals for both the a1u and the hc1 as a reference and a just incase.

Does Hvr-a1u Has Built In Mic If Don't Want To Shot With XLR FeaTures?

Wolfgang, we have just been talking about enabling black-stretch on the HC1, which apparently is done somewhere in northern Europe. Do you know anything about black-stretch feature, or independent aperture/shutter/
gain, or live status display of these?

For everybody: The HC1 is a very good camera for what it is, the only thing that really lets it down is HDV, given higher data rate (35Mb/s+) F1.2 lens (maybe 1/2inch sensor) for low light, true progressive modes, black-stretch, independent aperture, shutter and gain, and live display of the same it would be an ideal camera. But the only things we can really do about these is find a way to enable black-stretch, and independent aperture/shutter/gain and display.

http://www.fxsupport.de/hc1/daten/hc1.txt
that is my completely HC1E firmware (SecurityDump). And here: http://www.fxsupport.de/hc1/daten/hc1zoom.txt is the firmwaredata if the really smooth zoom (trans shot) activ. there 41 data differently..... Page 1 of firmware is not to reading with lremote...?

if i have mutch time, i testing writing in the firmware the smooth data...... if i have a A1 than i reading this firmware with black-stretch!

And if you're fooling around with firmware and your camera freezes up... don't come crying to us.

Proceed with caution, you're voiding your warranty not to mention running a risk of killing the camera.

And if my HC1 have black-stretch...... don't come crying to me ;-)

Wolfgang, Black Stretch is not that much of an improvement for you to risk killing your camcorder. Haven't you seen some of the comparison stills out there?

If you're risking all of this just for Black Stretch, then you're going to be really dissapointed.

The firmware in the hc1 have a write-protect (Page1 / data1=0), in this modus is to chance the data not dangerously. in the next camera boot is again the original data.....

Does Hvr-a1u Has Built In Mic If Don't Want To Shot With XLR FeaTures?


Yes it does. The XLR unit is removable, which makes it the same size and shape as the HC1

Yes it does. The XLR unit is removable, which makes it the same size and shape as the HC1

That makes me wonder if it would be possible to buy that paticular 'XLR' unit for the HC1?

Would it be equal in value to say the beachtek or similar items?

I wonder how much it would cost.

Just curious and sort of thinking out loud.

Danny Fye
www.dannyfye.com

at sony's parts site https://servicesplus.us.sony.biz/sony-parts.aspx

the XLR block assembly has no given price but gives you their 1800no to call for the price.
it's part no. is A-1133-621-A

When/if you find out the price post it here.

at sony's parts site https://servicesplus.us.sony.biz/sony-parts.aspx

the XLR block assembly has no given price but gives you their 1800no to call for the price.
it's part no. is A-1133-621-A

What is the 800 number?

Danny Fye
www.dannyfye.com

It looks like the XLR block on the PDX-10 (see the exploded view), and their site lists that for $260.95 (part #A7013029A).

Unfortunately you can't link to pages on that site, but for the A1 enter "hvra1" in the "model number" field in the Parts Finder section. Then choose your particular model. From the "Category" dropdown choose "Exploded Views" and then choose "XLR Block Assembly" from the other dropdown. Click on the document icon in the righthand column to see the exploded view. Instead of listing a price it says "Call 1-800-538-7550 for information".

FWIW, if you start all over again and enter "dsrpdx10" in the model number field you can follow the same steps to find its XLR block.

The A1 XLR block gives a bit-signal to the A1 if it is put on. You can see that in the camerafirmware.....the bit (firmware page 7, adress 09) goes from 00 to 09. I'm not shure that the hc1 firmware with this bit-signal the XLR block activated.

the audio level L+R cannot be regulated separately into the hc1!

The A1 XLR block gives a bit-signal to the A1 if it is put on. You can see that in the camerafirmware.....the bit (firmware page 7, adress 09) goes from 00 to 09. I'm not shure that the hc1 firmware with this bit-signal the XLR block activated.

the audio level L+R cannot be regulated separately into the hc1!

This is one of my concerns that even though if one gets the hardware, there is still the firmware issue which simply means that the hardware probably wouldn't be recognised and probably won't work right.

My suggestion to Sony would be to sell upgrade kits so that those who have cams like the HC1 and even the FX1 could upgrade them to be like their pro counterparts.

This way those who are stretching their budget super thin just to even get a HD cam could upgrade later on. Those who want/need to be at the consumer level for now and decide to go pro later on can make the upgrade without having to buy a whole new cam. And Sony could make some more aftermarket money.

Danny Fye
www.dannyfye.com

Hello, Anyone has a copy of Wolfgang A1/HC1website? I try find it on google...


BTW
Refer to this topic:
AIS to standard stero input (http://www.camerahacker.com/Forums/DisplayComments.php?file=Video%20Camera/Sony/AIS_to_standard_stero_input.html)

If You wonna use flex cable "Sony Part #183064611" with A1, you need connect two resistor "SHOE ID1 and ID2" to GND (22kohm from ID2 and 0kohm from ID1). Then camcorder recognize audio accessory, and activate AIS audio input. I think HC1 version should be the same response.
If not, should be check what resistor (for SHOE ID 1/2) is put in Sony ECM-HST1 or Pearstone Microphone Adapter for Sony Camcorder Hot Shoe:
Pearstone Microphone Adapter for Sony Camcorder Hot 9011300 B&H
That. all we need to activate audio inputs in AIS (line in L/R signal).

Look at part of attached schematic from service manual of SONY HVR-A1.
If You have this cable, tray it to use with accessory shoe in other camcorder then HVR-A1. I'm curious about this experiment.

Schematic:
http://www.camerahacker.com/Forums/Video%20Camera/Sony/AIS_to_standard_stero_input.files.hidden/ais_sony.gif

If AISHOE will be activate by resistor, on "SHOE_UNREG" apperas 8V (8,4.....5V directly from akku). This voltage could be multiplier by step-up converter do 48V phantom power (as in oryginal XLR adapter for A1).

In next week I would make experiment with HC1, Panasonic AG-MYA30g from DVC-30e, and Sony encapsulated cable #183064611.