The Gigantic Mini DV Deck / Camcorder as Deck Thread

Jimi Colteryahn · December 1st, 2005, 12:03 AM

My cheap JVC miniDV cam won't play miniDV tapes from a Sony TRV or a Sony Z1.
I just tried it and the JVC doesn't pick up the tape information.

Jimi

Jimi Colteryahn · December 3rd, 2005, 12:22 AM

I got it to work. I put a new tape in the JVC. Then i recorded a bit. Played back the tape (it did ok).
From there it played back all the tapes I had.
Jimi

Jim Gunn · December 4th, 2005, 04:57 PM

I love my DSR-11. It is a great workhorse for mini-DV or DVCam capture in either NTSC or PAL. I use it to capture many mini-DV tapes each week, and also to back up my footage to mini-DV tapes and also to make DVCam masters on 3 hr. DVCam tapes for my movies. It can also be used for analog video pass through and I also use it to pass along the singal from the window of my editing app to the tv I use as a monitor.

Sean McHenry · December 4th, 2005, 06:02 PM

I throw in another vote for the DSR-11. Even better, but discontinued, the DSR-20. It had meters on the front. Actual timecode display is a great thing on the front of ther deck. I really miss that, and the character or moniotr outpu. You could do TC window dubs to VHS for producers to pre-edit with.

Sean

Mike Butler · December 10th, 2005, 10:42 AM

Hey, it just needed some encouragement! :)

For what it's worth, I have used a cheapo (Canon old Elura) as a deck and it's fine. The only thing was it doesn't read tapes recorded in DV-CAM (I had to borrow a Sony TRV)...obviously it's not deigned to do that. Stephen may want to move up one model or two up the food chain simply for quality/reliability issues and not get the cheeziest-built loss-leader they make. if I were using the deck everyday, I'd want at least a DSR-11. But it's still nice having an "expendable" piece to knockaround that I wouldn't cry if someting happened to it.

Roger Rosales · December 21st, 2005, 12:36 PM

Hi,

I own the XL2 and I was wondering if I played back video I shot on the XL2 with a Canon ZR200 miniDV camcorder, will it play smoothly and without any dropouts or any other glitches?

I remember when I was in college and I had shot a Music Video using a Sony camcorder. I can't remember the model name, but it was one of those HUGE cameras that you see news broadcasters using. It was something along the lines of DSR250 I do believe that was the name. Yes, yes it was that camcorder. I just did a search on B&H photo.

It's this one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

Anyway, when I shot the music video using that sony camcorder, I tried capturing the footage with my brother in laws Canon ZR-60 (I do believe they changed the numbers to 100-400, because I can clearly recall my old camcorder only having 2 digits).

Anyway, when I tried capturing that footage, I would get dropouts (if that's the proper term). The video would move slow, desycned audio and just didn't playback right.

It mainly just playedback and captured really slow. The video jumped around too.

My main question is, has anyone tried capturing video shot on an XL2 with the ZR-200? It's a cheap camera and I'd like to buy it as a capture deck, but I want to be assured that I wont get the same problems.

Thank you in advance.

-Roger

Dan Keaton · December 21st, 2005, 09:10 PM

I think that you will find that the ZR-200 will work fine.

From what I have read, some lower end cameras do not handle all of the audio that the XL2 can provide, but the ZR-200 should not have this problem.

What you are wanting to do is fairly common. Those who can afford a dedicated deck may perfer the more expensive option.

You should not experience a loss of quality by using the ZR-200 as a capture deck, as long as you are using firewire as your input to your capture program.

I would, however, never record in LP mode. If you do, you may have to capture using the original camera that recorded it.

John Astad · February 6th, 2006, 11:42 PM

Can anyone here in the editing crew point me in the right direction in acquiring a mini DV deck? I understand that digitizing to the computer from my camcorder on a regular basis puts exccesive wear on the transport head of the camcorder.

I've heard of using a cheapy mini Dv camcorder with the firewire interface as one solution.

What about just having a plain min Dv deck? What outfits offer this unit? Any ideas or experience with models, brands, pricing, etc.

Any input from the forum would be most helpful in my search.

Regards,

John

Chris Barcellos · February 6th, 2006, 11:48 PM

Mini Dv decks are more expensive than most cheap DV cameras. I have been using a cheap WD 250 Sharp for 3 years to capture from my VX 2000, and have had no problems. All the cheap camera has to do is transfer the 1's and 0's. And you might have a good little family camera to boot...

John Astad · February 6th, 2006, 11:54 PM

Thanks Chris, Yes I did notice that the decks were very expensive. Okay, I'll just search for a handy camera for the transfer to my pc. I appreciate your input.

Sheila Ward · February 7th, 2006, 12:00 AM

I used a cheaper camera as a deck for quite a while with no problems. I just recently bit the bullet and purchased the Sony DSR-11. If you go through a bunch of tapes, it makes things so much easier. Yes, it's expensive compared to camcorders, but the fast rw/ff times, plus the ability to use full size DV and DVCAM tapes are a definite plus. I'm able to use 184 min DVCAM to do big project archiving if needed.

If you only use a few tapes a week, a camcorder should be fine. But if you do any type of volume, a deck is the way to go (IMO).

Alden Miller · February 7th, 2006, 01:45 AM

k, this is gonna be a REAL Dumb question. If the camera (Camera A) I am using to capture onto my computer is inferior to the camera (Camera B) I am shooting with, Am I going to be getting any loss of quality when it arrives in my computer?

Mike Teutsch · February 7th, 2006, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alden Miller

k, this is gonna be a REAL Dumb question. If the camera (Camera A) I am using to capture onto my computer is inferior to the camera (Camera B) I am shooting with, Am I going to be getting any loss of quality when it arrives in my computer?

No loss at all, it is just reading 1s & 0s.

Mike

K. Forman · February 7th, 2006, 08:23 AM

In theory, no. The recording is already done, all you are doing is transferring the data. However, there may be other issues, as some folk have had issues playing tapes in other cameras.

Wade Spencer · February 7th, 2006, 09:02 AM

If you're only using minidv tapes, Sony's GV-D1000 is a nice little portable unit.

December 1st, 2005, 12:03 AM	#466
Jimi Colteryahn Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rep. of Panama Posts: 34	Hii My cheap JVC miniDV cam won't play miniDV tapes from a Sony TRV or a Sony Z1. I just tried it and the JVC doesn't pick up the tape information. Jimi

December 3rd, 2005, 12:22 AM	#467
Jimi Colteryahn Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rep. of Panama Posts: 34	hii I got it to work. I put a new tape in the JVC. Then i recorded a bit. Played back the tape (it did ok). From there it played back all the tapes I had. Jimi

December 4th, 2005, 06:02 PM	#469
Sean McHenry Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,193	I throw in another vote for the DSR-11. Even better, but discontinued, the DSR-20. It had meters on the front. Actual timecode display is a great thing on the front of ther deck. I really miss that, and the character or moniotr outpu. You could do TC window dubs to VHS for producers to pre-edit with. Sean __________________ ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m shooting on D.V.’ - my hero - David Lynch http://www.DeepBlueEdit.com

December 10th, 2005, 10:42 AM	#470
Mike Butler Machinist Mate Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 644	Hey, it just needed some encouragement! :) For what it's worth, I have used a cheapo (Canon old Elura) as a deck and it's fine. The only thing was it doesn't read tapes recorded in DV-CAM (I had to borrow a Sony TRV)...obviously it's not deigned to do that. Stephen may want to move up one model or two up the food chain simply for quality/reliability issues and not get the cheeziest-built loss-leader they make. if I were using the deck everyday, I'd want at least a DSR-11. But it's still nice having an "expendable" piece to knockaround that I wouldn't cry if someting happened to it. __________________ I ain't straight outta Compton, I'm straight out the trailer. Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mc. My only words of wisdom are just, "Radio Edit."

December 21st, 2005, 12:36 PM	#471
Roger Rosales Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 254	Using the Canon ZR-200 as a capture/ playback deck Hi, I own the XL2 and I was wondering if I played back video I shot on the XL2 with a Canon ZR200 miniDV camcorder, will it play smoothly and without any dropouts or any other glitches? I remember when I was in college and I had shot a Music Video using a Sony camcorder. I can't remember the model name, but it was one of those HUGE cameras that you see news broadcasters using. It was something along the lines of DSR250 I do believe that was the name. Yes, yes it was that camcorder. I just did a search on B&H photo. It's this one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search Anyway, when I shot the music video using that sony camcorder, I tried capturing the footage with my brother in laws Canon ZR-60 (I do believe they changed the numbers to 100-400, because I can clearly recall my old camcorder only having 2 digits). Anyway, when I tried capturing that footage, I would get dropouts (if that's the proper term). The video would move slow, desycned audio and just didn't playback right. It mainly just playedback and captured really slow. The video jumped around too. My main question is, has anyone tried capturing video shot on an XL2 with the ZR-200? It's a cheap camera and I'd like to buy it as a capture deck, but I want to be assured that I wont get the same problems. Thank you in advance. -Roger

December 4th, 2005, 04:57 PM	#468
Jim Gunn Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 151	I love my DSR-11. It is a great workhorse for mini-DV or DVCam capture in either NTSC or PAL. I use it to capture many mini-DV tapes each week, and also to back up my footage to mini-DV tapes and also to make DVCam masters on 3 hr. DVCam tapes for my movies. It can also be used for analog video pass through and I also use it to pass along the singal from the window of my editing app to the tv I use as a monitor.

December 21st, 2005, 09:10 PM	#472
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	I think that you will find that the ZR-200 will work fine. From what I have read, some lower end cameras do not handle all of the audio that the XL2 can provide, but the ZR-200 should not have this problem. What you are wanting to do is fairly common. Those who can afford a dedicated deck may perfer the more expensive option. You should not experience a loss of quality by using the ZR-200 as a capture deck, as long as you are using firewire as your input to your capture program. I would, however, never record in LP mode. If you do, you may have to capture using the original camera that recorded it. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

February 6th, 2006, 11:42 PM	#473
John Astad Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Santa Fe, Texas Posts: 26	Mini DV Deck Can anyone here in the editing crew point me in the right direction in acquiring a mini DV deck? I understand that digitizing to the computer from my camcorder on a regular basis puts exccesive wear on the transport head of the camcorder. I've heard of using a cheapy mini Dv camcorder with the firewire interface as one solution. What about just having a plain min Dv deck? What outfits offer this unit? Any ideas or experience with models, brands, pricing, etc. Any input from the forum would be most helpful in my search. Regards, John __________________ John

February 6th, 2006, 11:48 PM	#474
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Mini Divi Decks = $$$$$$ Mini Dv decks are more expensive than most cheap DV cameras. I have been using a cheap WD 250 Sharp for 3 years to capture from my VX 2000, and have had no problems. All the cheap camera has to do is transfer the 1's and 0's. And you might have a good little family camera to boot... __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

February 6th, 2006, 11:54 PM	#475
John Astad Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Santa Fe, Texas Posts: 26	Use cheaper camera Thanks Chris, Yes I did notice that the decks were very expensive. Okay, I'll just search for a handy camera for the transfer to my pc. I appreciate your input. __________________ John

February 7th, 2006, 12:00 AM	#476
Sheila Ward Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 107	I used a cheaper camera as a deck for quite a while with no problems. I just recently bit the bullet and purchased the Sony DSR-11. If you go through a bunch of tapes, it makes things so much easier. Yes, it's expensive compared to camcorders, but the fast rw/ff times, plus the ability to use full size DV and DVCAM tapes are a definite plus. I'm able to use 184 min DVCAM to do big project archiving if needed. If you only use a few tapes a week, a camcorder should be fine. But if you do any type of volume, a deck is the way to go (IMO).

February 7th, 2006, 01:45 AM	#477
Alden Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 92	k, this is gonna be a REAL Dumb question. If the camera (Camera A) I am using to capture onto my computer is inferior to the camera (Camera B) I am shooting with, Am I going to be getting any loss of quality when it arrives in my computer?

February 7th, 2006, 08:23 AM	#479
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	In theory, no. The recording is already done, all you are doing is transferring the data. However, there may be other issues, as some folk have had issues playing tapes in other cameras. __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

February 7th, 2006, 09:02 AM	#480
Wade Spencer Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Wellsboro, Pa Posts: 285	If you're only using minidv tapes, Sony's GV-D1000 is a nice little portable unit.