I spoke too soon.

Even though each of these new units was purchased this month and has a xerox sheet mentioning 2.0 being installed, the actual units do not have this firmware installed. Talk about confusing. No CD is included in the boxes either.

After several phone tries, I reached FE and they explained the dealers were sent the update and obviously they put the sheet in the boxes, but forgot to update the HDRs. I needed to call my dealer to straighten it out.

I called my dealer. He had no knowledge of ever being sent any update disk from FE. So it's back to FE. I have to send in proof of purchase and a copy of the xerox.

I mention this, because others may run into a similar problem.

Dave Beaty

hay dave! email me gotta ask you somthing

thanks shawn

A question to Matt i think.
I bought the upgrade that allow the DRHD100 to rec 720p30 QT.
I said that since the support of 720p25 & 24 in FCP was out, the team began working on a maintenance release to allow these formats for being recorded by the DRHD100.

Any news?
Thanks in advance...

It is in Beta Testing right now.

Great news. Thanks!

i want to know what model is for pal europe, or if it is the same model for ntsc and pal. In jvc europe is DR-HD100E but in bhphotovideo.com it appears like DR-HD100 only without E. What is the diference?

Hi Javier,

The DR-HD100 model sold in Europe only works in PAL/50Hz mode and the model sold in the US only works in NTSC/60Hz mode. I believe JVC does list it as a DR-HD100E in Europe.

Matt

Yes Matt the DR-HD100E is model for europe dvpal, 50hz, the diference is in DV mode but in HDV mode is same 24, 25,and 30p.

I just finished my first job w/ the DR-HD100 and encountered two problems:

Two of the clips that I captured (out of 32) won't open in QT (I'm using the HD100, shooting HDV 720P and transferring to a Mac Pro & FCP. One clip is 1.3 GB, and the other is 370 MB)). They copied over to the Mac Pro, but when I click on them, the message says "Error opening movie - the movie could not be opened". I checked w/ the original clips from the DR-HD100 and those are ng as well. I also backed up to tape while I recorded, so I haven't lost anything. Could I have had the wrong setting on the DR-HD100? Is there a way to analyze the clip to see what the problem is?

Also, I noticed that the clips were split in the middle of interviews. Is there a time limit per clip? They sync up when I bump them together, but I'd rather not have to.

Has anyone else run into this? Aside from these issues, I love the convenience. I just need to get it right.

Thanks.

Hi Bill,

If the clips are still on the DR-HD100, have you tried the Repair Clip/Disk functions and then tried to re-import ? It is possible that some of the recordings may have been interrupted for some reason. Also, contact Focus tech support, they may have some suggestions.

Matt

I tried repairing the disk, but the problem didn't go away. I'll try support.

Thanks.

Hi Bill:

I just bought some DR-HD100's to use with the JVC HD110 and maybe you can answer a question for me:

I will also be using FCP and the only option I see under HDD format is M2T, which FCP doesn't recognize. Where do you set it to record MOV files?

I called Focus Tech support 3 days ago and left a message and also emailed them, and no one has responded.

I have a shoot this morning that has to be recorded direct to disk for immediate turn around, so if I can't get the DR-HD100 to work, I'll either have to use capture now with FCP (and lose all the TC information) or capture from the tape and have the client waiting an extra 2 hours.

Any insights you have would be much appreciated!

You'll need to get the firmware upgrade to capture mov. files:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=76795&highlight=update+dr-hd100

- but that won't do you much good today. Unless I'm mistaken.

Hi BT,

Saw your post and your PM. According to support, they have left messages with you. I also sent a PM with some thoughts on this issue.

Matt

Now that Focus has added HDV 24p Quicktime to its software, I am thinking of getting one for my JVC HD100a camera.

I have been looking online and the JVC version sells for around $1400 or so for the 40 gig version. I now see that Focus has a new model the FS4 HD that is cheaper. What is the difference? Can I only use the JVC version with the HD100?

Thanks,

Dan Weber

QuickTime HDV support is only on the DR-HD100, FS-4Pro HD and FS-C models...not the basic FS-4 HD. If you are using the JVC GY-HD100 series camera, the DR-HD100 is the way to go as it was designed around the camera. There is viewfinder feedback of FS status, several control modes, auto-power off etc.

Matt,

Thanks for the info!!

Dan Weber

Anyone know how long the standard Li-Ion battery lasts that comes with the DR-HD100? Thanks!

About one hour.

Is that one hour of shooting? Or mixed, shooting and stand-by.
And what about the other large cappacity batteries?
Thanks in advance.

Is that one hour of shooting? Or mixed, shooting and stand-by.
And what about the other large cappacity batteries?
Thanks in advance.

About one hour of shooting. There is a larger capacity battery, but you need a different Mount for it. Or you can buy two smaller batteries. Not sure how long the bigger one lasts though.

If you have a IDX or Anton Bauer Battery Setup you can get a mount in the back of the cam and have the DR-HD100 get powered by the battery setup.

Hey Guys, I have some staff for sale, almost brand new, just sold my XL H1 here in DvInfo, you can get feedback from the person who purchased it. Nick.
I still have Firestore FS4 HD 40 Gb for sale, its almost brand new, I just recorded once a wedding, thats about it.
Also I have Wireless Microphone clip for sale, and Luxmen 50w on camera light with Bescor Dual Batteries. Everything I have its like brand new.
I have a Tripod with Fluid head, Bogen I beleive, I will take a picture and have it in my computer, in case you interested let me know
you can contact me by phone or email papoyan@msn.com
or 956.333.5018 or my buisness 956.753.2020

Nerses Papoyan

I have a DR-HD100 that I just recently started using with a JVC HD110 camera. I've been having several problems when using it in the field, and wanted to see if anyone else has experienced anything similar:

The following happen at random intervals, anywhere from less than a minute to more than five minutes. It does not matter if the unit has just been turned on, or if it has been on for a while. In all cases, the longest continuous recording I've been able to make is less than ten minutes.

* When recording, the unit stops recording (drops back to pause).

* When recording, the unit LCD (and camera viewfinder) shows that recording is in progress, but the timer display has stopped (but not gone back to 0, as happens when you actually stop recording), and the unit is frozen.

* The unit freezes, usually when in stop or pause. Sometimes the unit LCD continues to display the usual info, and sometimes it goes blank (but the backlight is still on).

* The unit drops the firewire connection with the camera. It is not frozen, but won't re-connect without rebooting.

And, the following happen after the above problems have started occurring.

* The drive contains corrupt and zero-length files (along with good files).

* After using the "repair disk" option, the display shows zero minutes available on the drive. Only a reboot corrects this.

By "frozen", I mean that the front panel buttons stop working, and the unit doesn't respond to firewire commands. Rebooting the unit is a pain -- I have to disconnect it, remove it from the cradle, and pull out the battery (which takes two hands, due to the excessively tight fit).

I've gone through the manual carefully, and have checked every setting. Am I missing something? Has anyone else had problems like this? Any suggestions before I embark on the tech support route?

Thanks.

Hi!
I have a JVC HD100 with the IDX battery mount.
I'm seriously considering moving on to DTE, but since it's more than a few bucks, i'm reluctant, and seeking clarification... Can you help me out?

- If i get the dr-hd100/fs4, i can attach it to the idx plate, w/out any special adapters, right?
- Now, if I want to power the disk with the idx batteries, i need the O-FS100 adapter, right?... What does that adapter look like - any pictures?
- What would be the difference (%) in terms of battery life, if i have the firestore plugged to the idx battery?
- Can I easily replace the idx battery with the disk mounted on the plate, with the o-fs100?
- Can i power both the disk and an idx x3 led light, with the O-FS100?

I'd appreciate if someone could post a picture or two of a complete working setup, like i described - idx plate/firestore/o-fs100... all wired and everything.

Thank you so much for your time,
Sérgio.

the FD100 mounts on the right side of the IDX battery holder. When i bought the NP7 battery setup from IDX, it came with the bracket and power cable to fit my FS4-HD. The power cable also has an accessory plug if you want to run the IDX light at the same time as the FS4. The FS4 mount plate uses the standard plastic FS4 holder that comes with the FS4/FD100. The mounting location is nowhere near the battery compartment, so, there is no interference problem here. since the FS4 has its own battery, power consumption is really a non issue for at least the first hour of recording. running a light, FS4 and camera will significantly reduce your operating time. for my money, the LED light really doesn't have enough candlepower for realistic use. A 50w light will use more power than you care to pull from the IDX battery and will need its own 12v, 4 amp source.

Some suggestions:

* If in DV mode, make sure you are using an NTSC/60Hz DR-HD with an NTSC/60Hz camera or a PAL/50Hz DR-HD with a PAL/50Hz camera.
* Make sure the camera and DR-HD are set to the same record mode (HDV or DV)
* Make sure the switch on the side of the GY-HD110 camera is set to the correct record mode (DV or HDV)
* Make sure your DR-HD has the latest firmware (v1.1 or v2.1 if you have QuickTime support - this added 720p24 and 25 support)
* Make sure the camera is set to Synco mode (in the OTHERS menu).
* Make sure your DR-HD100 is set to JVC GY-HD control mode.
* Make sure the FireWire cable is connected to the DV I/O socket on DR-HD100

If all appears to be correct from the above, then please contact Focus tech support. Support contact options are available at: http://www.focusinfo.com/support/

Hope that helps.

Matt

I sent back my DR-HD100 to FE because it wasn't recording anything from my HD-100. They sent it back and said it was working fine, but I still can't get it to record. I'm wondering if the firewire port on my HD100 is faulty. I've tried swapping cables and it makes no difference. The DR-HD100 and the camera are showing no signs of communicating at all. Even when I record manually on the firestore, it indicated it's recording, but the time code doesn't move and no clip appears. I've got all the settings right (having been over them repeatedly on the phone and on this forum), so it isn't that.

Can anyone think about what the problem could be on the camera side (again, those settings are all right)? How could I check my firewire port to see if that's the problem?

I'd appreciate any ideas. Thanks.

If you push record on the firestore and it is not detecting a signal, then the time in fact won't move, until there is a signal present. I don't know what other people have suggested, but have you tried interfacing the firestore with your computer? It could very well be a camera problem, possibly your firewire port is bad. Will your camera interface with your computer?

I've hooked up the camera to my computer and it is recognized as an Unknown Device, but it does regognize it's JVC. Is that what you mean? It certainly doesn't turn up as an icon on my desk. How else can the camera interface with my computer?

Thanks.

The Firestore drive, if working correctly, should show up as a drive Icon on your computer.

As far as the camera goes, you'll probably have to open your NLE up and see if that recognizes your camera. For instance, if you're using Vegas, you can go to "capture" and it will pull up the capture screen. If your camera is on, you should see something coming through.

I know that in the menu on the camera, under "others", there are some options for the DR-HD100 to be able to enable certain fuctions on it, such as the trigger mode (Synchro, split, etc.), as well as control the unit from the camera. Make sure that your menu's on the firestore corespond to how you will be recording, and make sure that it is in the correct file format. If you're in HDV mode, it should be set to .m2t, but you need to make sure that it's set to HDV all the way across.....meaning your record settings on the camera, the switch above the firewire port, and on the firestore.

But if your computer recognizes the camera and the drive, then they should recognize each other. I would try another cable too. Beyond that, there is something majorly wrong if all of your settings are correct and the computer sees them, but is still not working.

I've just sent my camera off to JVC. It turned out to be the firewire port on the HD-100. I couldn't get the computer to recognize my camera as a playback deck. I'm not sure what happened. Everything was fine until I updated my firmware on the DR-HD100 to 2.1. I wouldn't be surprised if with all the swapping of cables, I did something that fried the firewire circuit. Who knows. Thanks for your help.

Bill, I hope everything works out for you. Good luck

I have a brand new FS-4HD and a JVC HD100 and a Panasonic HVX200, the FS4 will work but the DRHD100 is what it calls for...can the FS4 be upgraded??

I keep trying to upgrade my Firestore DR HD100 and keep getting the message "Error wrong product ID" I already have ver.2.0 installed. I just bought it brand new. Downloaded the update from...

http://www.focusinfo.com/rfi/confirmation.asp?id=86

Any thoughts?

Moderator note: This thread has been moved to the Firestore forum from the JVC HD-100 forum.

You don't "need" the DR-HD100. The only thing it will do is add a timer in the viewinder to be able to monitor it more easily and power it down with the camera in case your battery runs out. We considered this when we bought our FS-4 HD's, but thought we could live without it to save $600 per firestore. Since we needed 6 of them, that was a pretty big savings. The Firestore is mounted on the camera or close to the camera anyways, so it's not a big deal. You can still trigger it to start / stop recording no problem from your camera's vtr / record button, it just doesn't have the minutes remaining left on your HD-100 display.

As far as upgrading, I have never checked, but to go from the HD > pro version is around $300. It can probably be done, but you might as well have bought the DR-HD100 by then.

I keep trying to upgrade my Firestore DR HD100 and keep getting the message "Error wrong product ID" I already have ver.2.0 installed. I just bought it brand new. Downloaded the update from...

http://www.focusinfo.com/rfi/confirmation.asp?id=86

Any thoughts?


Hi Marc
I'm having the same problem, I've mailed support and they are trying to work out whats the story. As soon as I have more info I'll post it. At first I thought it might be because my DR-HD100 is the PAL version (Different software?), but I'm guessing that as your in California thats not it.

Thanks for the reply... yeah mine is NTSC. Let me know what happens I'm calling Focus tomorrow to see if they have a solution.

Hi Marc
I just got a new zip file from European tech support and it worked first time, At last my DR-HD100 and Final Cut talk to each other! I have sent on the files to support at Focus enhancements. So they should be able to sort you out.
Regards
Rupert Mac

What information in the viewfinder can you have with the DR-HD100 in the GY-HD100?

Battery, duration, etc...

I need to know that it is seen in the viewfinder of the GY-HD100, when these recording.

I wasn't happy with the FS-4 being on the "wrong" side so I found an adapter called a PRO-X GO-TS. (Try googling).
I will post a picture when the batteries in the camera charge!

This adds quite a lot of weight to the camera. I also run an IDX X3 light and a radio mic receiver which attaches with velcro to the battery. Changing batteries is a matter of resticking the receiver to the new battery - the cables have enough slack.

I got my camera supplier to fit a D-tap plug with 2 cables ending in DC plugs. Luckily the FS4 & radio mic have the same socket. I modified the light with a matching socket as well.

I don't run all three accessories at once, if I did I would have to use either the FS-4's battery or the Radio mic's (2x9V) batteries as there's no way 3 power cables could come out of the D-tap plug, but I regularly use the light and the radio mic together for long periods like wedding receptions and the battery life is great. I can fully charge a flat battery before the one in use runs out.

It is essential for me to see what the FS-4 is doing as it has given me a great deal of trouble. It keeps failing, displaying no disc detected. It is U/S at the moment after having its HDD and PCB replaced a second time.

Ninguna, no vas a tener ninguna información, vamos de hecho, cuando conectes el disco lo que grabes en cinta al mismo tiempo te saldrá en negro, es un bug de jvc que están estudiando a ver si le dan solucion, tan solo podrás vender tu vieja HD100 y pillarte una 201 jajajajajajajaja

mariconzon tu para animar eres el number one, joe yo ya no me fio ni de mi abuela tiene que verse algo. El folleto lo dice jajajaja

Well, since this a forum in English, all you see is the minutes remaining on the drive.

As promised, here are some images of the FS-4 mount on my HD111

On the Focus Enhancements' DR-HD100 product page, the accessories listed are the standard battery, the long life battery, a battery charger, a "wired remote control unit", and a camera mount kit. However, when I click on the "view the complete list of accessories", the only ones available are the two batteries.

I very much want the battery charger - does anyone know if the FS-4 equipment is interchangable with the DR-HD100? For example, could I get the charger listed under the FS-4 accessories and use it to charge my batteries? It would be great to be able to charge a battery while shooting.

Also, are the other accessories interchangeable? If I needed to purchase a replacement cradle (and if so, which one - the standard or the "high capacity") or a replacement AC adapter, would I purchase the FS-4 versions, since there are none listed for the DR-HD100?

As far as the battery goes, I would highly recommend just getting an external 12 volt battery pack (you can get them in singles and belt style) to power it. The stock batteries are really not great, and the replacement battery, chargers, etc. will be very expensive. We have a 12 volt 14 amp/hour pack that was around $100 and will power each of our FS-4 HD units for about 20+ hours.

As far as the other accessories, All of the FS-4 products are esentially the same thing other than Software. All accessories are interchangeable.

As far as the battery goes, I would highly recommend just getting an external 12 volt battery pack (you can get them in singles and belt style) to power it.

What do you get to get to go from 4 pin XLR to a normal plug? I assume you're just getting a Bescor or similar battery pack, and then using something to go from the standard 4 pin XLR to a "normal" plug. Sorry for the dumb question.


As far as the other accessories, All of the FS-4 products are esentially the same thing other than Software. All accessories are interchangeable.

Is the DR-HD100 considered a FS-4 product?

Thanks so much for your advice!

What do you get to get to go from 4 pin XLR to a normal plug? I assume you're just getting a Bescor or similar battery pack, and then using something to go from the standard 4 pin XLR to a "normal" plug. Sorry for the dumb question.



Not a dumb question at all. Our beltpacks / batteries don't use a 4 pin xlr, they use a cigeratte lighter adapter type plug. We got the adapters at radio shack for like $9 and the little end it needs (size "O" I think") for another couple bucks. It would be easy enough to convert a 4 pin xlr though, as the 4 pin I don't think uses all of the pins, it's simply so you don't mix it up with a standard XLR. But we went that way because the HD-100's and the FS-4's don't have a 4 pin connector. They have a normal 12 Volt connector.


Is the DR-HD100 considered a FS-4 product?

Thanks so much for your advice!

Yes, the FS-4 is the same thing. They are all identical in apearance except for the silk screening. What makes them different is their software. And you're welcome. If you have any other questions, no matter how dumb you may think they are, please ask. That's what this forum is for.

I use an IDX NP7 battery system. The battery mount has a connection and wire accessory that fits the FS4 series of DTE's without modification. Usage time with an NP7 is about 3 hours, including using the battery to drive the camera.