The Gigantic Mini DV Deck / Camcorder as Deck Thread

Gary Chavez · July 22nd, 2003, 10:10 AM

i dunno, im getting broadcast quality video from DV. that is my standard though.

Mark Argerake · July 23rd, 2003, 09:40 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Erik Selakoff : I don't know much about the 25 or the 1800 but I've had the DSR11 for 6 months now & it's great. Worth every penny. -->>>

ditto

Lyle Pendy · July 24th, 2003, 04:28 AM

Hello,

I also have the HR-DVS3U and have been having the same problem as Lorinda. What's the secret to getting this to work with XP Pro?

Lyle

Rob Wilson · July 24th, 2003, 05:43 AM

I'm using the same deck w XP-Pro and never knew there was a problem. I'm also using Premiere 6.5 so not sure if that makes any difference but I would be glad to share any settings you may be interested in. I do know that I did not load any drivers ect..

Nigel Moore · July 24th, 2003, 09:14 AM

Eric,

If your response to Lorinda is something that others could learn by, could you repeat it here?

Cheers!

Lorinda Norton · July 24th, 2003, 10:44 AM

Hi Guys,

Eric thought maybe my cheap firewire card could be causing a problem. I bought a Pyro card but it didn't help.

Back at the shop where I bought the deck, we conducted some tests. We ruled out XP as the problem, because it worked fine on two PCs there. Interestingly enough, tapes from other cameras looked great through the deck, including one shot with a GL1. We checked our tapes from those shot back when each of our cameras was new, to those shot recently--all had artifacts and audio drop-outs, ruling out dirty heads.

We then looked at our tapes in a Sony deck (cost around $2000; sorry, I didn't ask what model) and our stuff looked just fine.

All the dealer can figure is that our XL1s's--both of them--have misalignments and that the JVC deck can't handle the error correction as well as a higher-end deck.

My first camera is in California right now for service and repair. If they correct any misalignment, I might not be able to playback the old tapes with it. This could get interesting.

Hope this is of some help to you, Lyle, though not good news. We were able to return the deck and will just use the cameras till they wear out.

Eric Lian · July 24th, 2003, 10:46 AM

Hello, Nigel.

My e-mail to Lorinda suggested swapping out her capture card for a different model. My suggestion was based on her description of "taking the deck to a recording shop, they hooked it up to two different PC's using XP, and it captures "beautifully" , and trying the least expensive fix first.

The card she had, and the card she tried were both sub-$50.00 cards. The second card she tried was a "Pyro", but that didn't fix her problem.

Without actually being there, it's difficult to picture and troubleshoot exaclty what is going on. I have a similar deck that I connect to a Win 98 machine, and an XP machine, and neither machine has viewed the deck as a piece of hardware that required a driver. It works seamlessly - as it is suppose to.

It's a mystery to me....

Lorinda Norton · July 24th, 2003, 10:59 AM

Sorry Lyle--I forgot the original question about the error message with XP Pro. That one is an absolute mystery, because with the new firewire card, the first time I tested the machine I didn't get the error message, though the results on the monitor were the same. When we tried the new card in another PC, however, we still got the 'searching for A/V tuner' and subsequent error message! Talk about frustration...

Carlos Rego · September 3rd, 2003, 01:35 PM

Are there any consumer decks for Mini DV that wont cost you an arm and a leg (for the house)

Mike Rehmus · September 3rd, 2003, 03:06 PM

Not really. Depends on what your body parts are worth.

$1200 is about the minimum for a deck. Many people use a cheap minidv cam. Some chose one that will also transcode so they can capture and playback analog.

At $1200, they don't stand up to much heavy use. I've purchased a few of the JVC dual decks for the local college. They work OK and will transcode from VHS/S-VHS directly to the DV connector and vice-versa. But they are not nearly as rugged and reliable as my Sony DSR-20. Course I could buy 2 of the JVC consumer decks for the single Sony.

Dylan Couper · September 3rd, 2003, 08:03 PM

I lead the "Camcorder as a deck" camp. At around $350 for a basic one, which is all you need, you can throw them in the garbage and buy a new one every year or two, compared to the price you pay for the cheapest miniDV deck.
Plus, you can use them as portable miniDV TV/VCRs with the built in LCD, which is a great feature.

Oh, and guess what? They are also video cameras! :)

Mike Rehmus · September 3rd, 2003, 10:41 PM

Do understand that there is a world of difference between the tape transport functions of a pro deck and a miniDV camera. If time is not important and you don't need to record anything over 60 (83) minutes in SP, hten they may be right for you.

I need to be able to master 3 hours of video onto one tape and occasionally have to ship that length of tape off for duplication or to a broadcast customer. Being able to ship out DVCam tapes long or small is important to my business.

Beth Pielert · September 15th, 2003, 01:10 PM

Howdy ho,

Due to some recent problems with my Canon XL-1 I need to invest in a play deck to digitize from. I am one of many poor filmmakers so am not able or willing to spend thousands of dollars for a broadcast quality deck.

How viable are the Sony GV-D1000, GV-D300 and the GV-D300 Walkman series as options? I need to be able to connect the deck to my laptop via firewire and I need the deck to be able to read tapes that were recorded with either the SONY PD-150 or the Canon XL-1.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Beth

Matt Stahley · September 15th, 2003, 02:41 PM

I believe but am not totally sure that these DV walkmans have the same transports in them as the camcorders.A lot of folks here use inexspensive camcorders as decks to transfer footage to computer etc..

Beth Pielert · September 15th, 2003, 02:48 PM

Thanks, I think I'm attracted to getting a cheapy deck as I could then make dubs from my camera.

Just wanted to make sure the walkman could play tapes that were created from either a Canon OR a SONY.

Basa

July 24th, 2003, 10:44 AM	#186
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	Hi Guys, Eric thought maybe my cheap firewire card could be causing a problem. I bought a Pyro card but it didn't help. Back at the shop where I bought the deck, we conducted some tests. We ruled out XP as the problem, because it worked fine on two PCs there. Interestingly enough, tapes from other cameras looked great through the deck, including one shot with a GL1. We checked our tapes from those shot back when each of our cameras was new, to those shot recently--all had artifacts and audio drop-outs, ruling out dirty heads. We then looked at our tapes in a Sony deck (cost around $2000; sorry, I didn't ask what model) and our stuff looked just fine. All the dealer can figure is that our XL1s's--both of them--have misalignments and that the JVC deck can't handle the error correction as well as a higher-end deck. My first camera is in California right now for service and repair. If they correct any misalignment, I might not be able to playback the old tapes with it. This could get interesting. Hope this is of some help to you, Lyle, though not good news. We were able to return the deck and will just use the cameras till they wear out. __________________ Lorinda

July 24th, 2003, 10:59 AM	#188
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	Sorry Lyle--I forgot the original question about the error message with XP Pro. That one is an absolute mystery, because with the new firewire card, the first time I tested the machine I didn't get the error message, though the results on the monitor were the same. When we tried the new card in another PC, however, we still got the 'searching for A/V tuner' and subsequent error message! Talk about frustration... __________________ Lorinda

September 3rd, 2003, 01:35 PM	#189
Carlos Rego Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mulberry Posts: 37	Consumer Deck ? Are there any consumer decks for Mini DV that wont cost you an arm and a leg (for the house) __________________ PD150

September 3rd, 2003, 03:06 PM	#190
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Not really. Depends on what your body parts are worth. $1200 is about the minimum for a deck. Many people use a cheap minidv cam. Some chose one that will also transcode so they can capture and playback analog. At $1200, they don't stand up to much heavy use. I've purchased a few of the JVC dual decks for the local college. They work OK and will transcode from VHS/S-VHS directly to the DV connector and vice-versa. But they are not nearly as rugged and reliable as my Sony DSR-20. Course I could buy 2 of the JVC consumer decks for the single Sony. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 3rd, 2003, 08:03 PM	#191
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I lead the "Camcorder as a deck" camp. At around $350 for a basic one, which is all you need, you can throw them in the garbage and buy a new one every year or two, compared to the price you pay for the cheapest miniDV deck. Plus, you can use them as portable miniDV TV/VCRs with the built in LCD, which is a great feature. Oh, and guess what? They are also video cameras! :) __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

July 22nd, 2003, 10:10 AM	#181
Gary Chavez Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Antonio Posts: 355	i dunno, im getting broadcast quality video from DV. that is my standard though.

July 23rd, 2003, 09:40 AM	#182
Mark Argerake Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 227	<<<-- Originally posted by Erik Selakoff : I don't know much about the 25 or the 1800 but I've had the DSR11 for 6 months now & it's great. Worth every penny. -->>> ditto

July 24th, 2003, 04:28 AM	#183
Lyle Pendy New Boot Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 6	Hello, I also have the HR-DVS3U and have been having the same problem as Lorinda. What's the secret to getting this to work with XP Pro? Lyle

July 24th, 2003, 05:43 AM	#184
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	I'm using the same deck w XP-Pro and never knew there was a problem. I'm also using Premiere 6.5 so not sure if that makes any difference but I would be glad to share any settings you may be interested in. I do know that I did not load any drivers ect..

July 24th, 2003, 09:14 AM	#185
Nigel Moore Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Switzerland Posts: 358	Eric, If your response to Lorinda is something that others could learn by, could you repeat it here? Cheers!

July 24th, 2003, 10:46 AM	#187
Eric Lian Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 61	Hello, Nigel. My e-mail to Lorinda suggested swapping out her capture card for a different model. My suggestion was based on her description of "taking the deck to a recording shop, they hooked it up to two different PC's using XP, and it captures "beautifully" , and trying the least expensive fix first. The card she had, and the card she tried were both sub-$50.00 cards. The second card she tried was a "Pyro", but that didn't fix her problem. Without actually being there, it's difficult to picture and troubleshoot exaclty what is going on. I have a similar deck that I connect to a Win 98 machine, and an XP machine, and neither machine has viewed the deck as a piece of hardware that required a driver. It works seamlessly - as it is suppose to. It's a mystery to me....

September 3rd, 2003, 10:41 PM	#192
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Do understand that there is a world of difference between the tape transport functions of a pro deck and a miniDV camera. If time is not important and you don't need to record anything over 60 (83) minutes in SP, hten they may be right for you. I need to be able to master 3 hours of video onto one tape and occasionally have to ship that length of tape off for duplication or to a broadcast customer. Being able to ship out DVCam tapes long or small is important to my business. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 15th, 2003, 01:10 PM	#193
Beth Pielert New Boot Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 16	SONY Mini-DV Walkman Reliable Deck Option? Howdy ho, Due to some recent problems with my Canon XL-1 I need to invest in a play deck to digitize from. I am one of many poor filmmakers so am not able or willing to spend thousands of dollars for a broadcast quality deck. How viable are the Sony GV-D1000, GV-D300 and the GV-D300 Walkman series as options? I need to be able to connect the deck to my laptop via firewire and I need the deck to be able to read tapes that were recorded with either the SONY PD-150 or the Canon XL-1. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks, Beth __________________ Basa

September 15th, 2003, 02:41 PM	#194
Matt Stahley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Waynesboro, PA Posts: 648	I believe but am not totally sure that these DV walkmans have the same transports in them as the camcorders.A lot of folks here use inexspensive camcorders as decks to transfer footage to computer etc..

September 15th, 2003, 02:48 PM	#195
Beth Pielert New Boot Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 16	Thanks, I think I'm attracted to getting a cheapy deck as I could then make dubs from my camera. Just wanted to make sure the walkman could play tapes that were created from either a Canon OR a SONY. Basa __________________ Basa