BR-HD50...A solid reliable deck on all counts? at DVinfo.net

Mark Silva · October 5th, 2006, 05:50 PM

We're looking to get rid of a troublesome Sony DSR-50 dvcam deck.

I was thinking of replacing it with a BR-HD50.
I confirmed with a local rental house it will take the wide dv-cam tapes
and I understand it reads dvcam only but will read/write MiniDV and HDV
among other things.

I do recall reading a few threads about reliability issues.
Has this been addressed and nixed once and for all with the latest firmware?

I definitely don't want to buy one then find trouble with it. I'm not looking for any trouble, just a good solid deck that works and performs to specification.

Stephen L. Noe · October 5th, 2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Silva

We're looking to get rid of a troublesome Sony DSR-50 dvcam deck.

I was thinking of replacing it with a BR-HD50.
I confirmed with a local rental house it will take the wide dv-cam tapes
and I understand it reads dvcam only but will read/write MiniDV and HDV
among other things.

I do recall reading a few threads about reliability issues.
Has this been addressed and nixed once and for all with the latest firmware?

I definitely don't want to buy one then find trouble with it. I'm not looking for any trouble, just a good solid deck that works and performs to specification.

Mark,

The deck is worth it if you're going to use it day in and day out for regular production. It is a standard deck for DV/DVCam (a la Panasonic equivalent) and does HDV1 I/O without a hitch or hiccup in my experience. I think it's a little overpriced @ $3000 (which is what I paid). You can probably get it for less now.

Mark Silva · October 6th, 2006, 10:10 AM

Thanks Stephen.

Any idea where it could be had for less?

B&H has it for 3,100

Stephen L. Noe · October 6th, 2006, 10:28 AM

I think B&H's price is 2750 now.

Antony Michael Wilson · October 6th, 2006, 11:54 AM

I wouldn't say solid and reliable on all counts. It does not work particularly well via RS422/analogue for HDV1 Avid capture. Even with the correct Avid deck template and BRHD50 firmware version (1.04 upwards) it can take a lot of fiddling for the deck and Avid to communicate. More alarming is the lack of TC accuracy - the deck itself is only accurate to +/- 1 frame and the Avid RS422 implementation is also only accurate to +/- 1 frame, so you have to check those conforms thoroughly...

Mark Silva · October 6th, 2006, 02:30 PM

I'll be using it only with FCP 5.xx

as long as it plays back dvcam, minidv and the hdv tapes from our hd100 properly, thats all i care about. we'll likely never lay back to it.

Amos Kim · October 9th, 2006, 01:33 PM

I heard it can't play 24p for some reason.

Carl Hicks · October 9th, 2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amos Kim

I heard it can't play 24p for some reason.

This is not true. It would be kind of silly for us to build a camera with real 24p and then build a deck that did not support it. The BR-HD50U can record and play all of these formats:

720/24p, 720/25p, 720/30p, 720/50p, 720/60p, 576/50p, 480/60p, 480/24p, 480/60i, all on standard DV tape, large or small.

It can also play DVCam.

Regards, Carl

Amos Kim · October 10th, 2006, 01:47 PM

im sorry, it was the lower portable model that cant play 24p.

Mark Silva · October 10th, 2006, 03:48 PM

I'm really close to buying and have another question.

Can you insert edit with fcp onto an HDV tape with this deck?

you would have to black the tape first with timecode to get this to work wouldn't you?

Speaking of timecode, can you get a timecode window dub out of this deck?

Carl Hicks · October 10th, 2006, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Silva

I'm really close to buying and have another question.

Can you insert edit with fcp onto an HDV tape with this deck?

you would have to black the tape first with timecode to get this to work wouldn't you?

Speaking of timecode, can you get a timecode window dub out of this deck?

Hi Mark,

No, this deck will not do an insert edit on HDV. I don't know of any decks that do.

Regards, Carl

Mark Silva · October 11th, 2006, 09:51 AM

how does it output back to tape then?

and can it do a timecode window dub?

Carl Hicks · October 11th, 2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Silva

how does it output back to tape then?

and can it do a timecode window dub?

You just do a digital cut, in the assemble mode, from your NLE. Or, just hit play/record on the deck, and hit play on the NLE.

Yes, it will do a window dub.

Regards, Carl

Laszlo Horvath · October 13th, 2006, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl Hicks

This is not true. It would be kind of silly for us to build a camera with real 24p and then build a deck that did not support it. The BR-HD50U can record and play all of these formats:

720/24p, 720/25p, 720/30p, 720/50p, 720/60p, 576/50p, 480/60p, 480/24p, 480/60i, all on standard DV tape, large or small.

It can also play DVCam.

Regards, Carl

Carl please help me out here.
Q1: I can't control this VTR from Canopus Edius 3.62. I can capture and write back .m2t files trough firewire, but I need control the VTR manualy. Something wrong with the setup, or the VTR is not ready for Edius 3.62?

Q2: How can I reset the timecode. Right now I need unplug the powercable to reset TC. I thing that's redicoulus. Can you tell me the right way?

Q3: This is about my brand new 17" JVC HD monitor. I know this forum about the HD100, but I think this question is related to the camera)
I just bought the 17" JVC HD monitor and so far so good. But when I play back 720/30p with the BR-HD50 VTR (recorded with the HD100a) the monitor show 720/60p Also the book came with the monitor (B stock) show only play back 1080/24 I can't find nowhere about 720/24p display function. (i didn't tried 24p yet, but soon I need shoot 24p for my client) Can you give me some informations?

Thanks: Laszlo

Erik Walth · October 13th, 2006, 09:39 AM

Hi Laszlo

I´m using Edius and it works just fine for me. Generic HDV and MPEG capture with full control from the capture window. Must be your settings. Remember the deck is recognised as : Microsoft AV/C Tape subunit device NOT as JCV deck. The deck must also be turned on before you start Edius.

Regards Erik

October 5th, 2006, 05:50 PM	#1
Mark Silva Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 431	BR-HD50...A solid reliable deck on all counts? We're looking to get rid of a troublesome Sony DSR-50 dvcam deck. I was thinking of replacing it with a BR-HD50. I confirmed with a local rental house it will take the wide dv-cam tapes and I understand it reads dvcam only but will read/write MiniDV and HDV among other things. I do recall reading a few threads about reliability issues. Has this been addressed and nixed once and for all with the latest firmware? I definitely don't want to buy one then find trouble with it. I'm not looking for any trouble, just a good solid deck that works and performs to specification.

October 6th, 2006, 10:28 AM	#4
Stephen L. Noe Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,214	I think B&H's price is 2750 now. __________________ Advanced Avid Liquid Training found Here

October 13th, 2006, 09:39 AM	#15
Erik Walth Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hesselager - Denmark Posts: 27	Re: Edius Hi Laszlo I´m using Edius and it works just fine for me. Generic HDV and MPEG capture with full control from the capture window. Must be your settings. Remember the deck is recognised as : Microsoft AV/C Tape subunit device NOT as JCV deck. The deck must also be turned on before you start Edius. Regards Erik

October 6th, 2006, 10:10 AM	#3
Mark Silva Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 431	Thanks Stephen. Any idea where it could be had for less? B&H has it for 3,100

October 6th, 2006, 11:54 AM	#5
Antony Michael Wilson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 343	I wouldn't say solid and reliable on all counts. It does not work particularly well via RS422/analogue for HDV1 Avid capture. Even with the correct Avid deck template and BRHD50 firmware version (1.04 upwards) it can take a lot of fiddling for the deck and Avid to communicate. More alarming is the lack of TC accuracy - the deck itself is only accurate to +/- 1 frame and the Avid RS422 implementation is also only accurate to +/- 1 frame, so you have to check those conforms thoroughly...

October 6th, 2006, 02:30 PM	#6
Mark Silva Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 431	I'll be using it only with FCP 5.xx as long as it plays back dvcam, minidv and the hdv tapes from our hd100 properly, thats all i care about. we'll likely never lay back to it.

October 9th, 2006, 01:33 PM	#7
Amos Kim Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 335	I heard it can't play 24p for some reason.

October 10th, 2006, 01:47 PM	#9
Amos Kim Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 335	im sorry, it was the lower portable model that cant play 24p.

October 10th, 2006, 03:48 PM	#10
Mark Silva Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 431	I'm really close to buying and have another question. Can you insert edit with fcp onto an HDV tape with this deck? you would have to black the tape first with timecode to get this to work wouldn't you? Speaking of timecode, can you get a timecode window dub out of this deck?

October 11th, 2006, 09:51 AM	#12
Mark Silva Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 431	how does it output back to tape then? and can it do a timecode window dub?