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Can you go HVX200 straight to Hard Drive?
Hello to all,
I am hired on as a P2 wrangler on a job.
2-HVX200 cameras
3-16gb cardsThe producer says that someone has gone HVX200 straight to Hard Drive (probably needs a mac somewhere in the middle)
Has anyone done this before? He is trying to find another option instead of buying another P2 card.
Thanks for your help.
Beau Brotherton
Macbook Pro 2.4GHz, Intel Core 2Duo, 4GB
FCP6
HVX200 -
15 Replies
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Pretty much like you said, you’ll need a computer in between, unless it’s a $1200 hardrive, as in the now almost obsolete P2 Store (sorry guys, but you’ve made your money back on the concept I’m sure).
Vince
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Focus Enhancements Firestore. FS-100 is what you are looking for. Direct connection to the camera. Very handy and proven device. Much safer than capturing thru a computer. I wouldn’t recommend that.
Shane
Littlefrog PostGETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD now for sale!
http://www.lfhd.net -
Thanks you Vincent and Shane, the Firestore100 is the only I could think of also. I just posted another question about syncing time code with the two HVX200 cameras.
Do you know the best way to sync time code?
Thanks again
Beau Brotherton
Macbook Pro 2.4GHz, Intel Core 2Duo, 4GB
FCP6
HVX200 -
Beau…
There are some advantages and disadvantages to using a Firestore. It’s probably listed elsewhere on the Cow. But here are some things to be aware of based on my own experiences:
— The Firestore is sensitive to vibrations. Others have reported failures while trying to shoot aerials from helicopters and I had a similar bad experience.
— While it does allow long record times you also need a separate battery to keep it running. It takes longer to boot up than the camera, so you can’t turn it off if you expect to be able to shoot at a moment’s notice. That means carrying another set of spare batteries. The larger capacity battery does run quite long, about five hours.
— The firewire connection can be delicate. Someone made an accessory that ties the firewire and 1/8″ audio jack together to make it a lot tougher.
— I’ve had situations where the camera either wouldn’t stop or wouldn’t start recording when I hit the “record” button. The camera had to be powered down and powered back up again to solve the problem.
— Make sure you follow the proper procedures when transferring footage from the Firestore to the edit system. It’s not a drag-and-drop process like the P2. Doing it wrong can result in losing footage.
— The Firestore outputs a significant amount of RF noise that can cause interference with some wireless receivers placed within two or three feet of the recorder. The culprit is the hard drive. So I’d expect any hard-drive recording system to have the same problem unless it’s heavily shielded.
So while P2 cards and the P2 Store was a much more expensive option, I place a very high value on reliability. And, in that sense, the P2 system has paid off nicely.
Dean Sensui — Imagination Media Hawaii
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Beau,
Yes you can…. Just test and retest the hard drives. I would suggest. burn them in.
I have had the HVX200 for about 6 weeks and just got the P2 card with Barry Gs’ book.
While waiting for the P2 card:
…. I hooked up the HVX200 > via 32foot firewire cable (Granite Digital) to our MacBook Pro 2.4 using VeescopeLive and Final Cut Pro software (capture now) recorded over 2 hours of 1080HD to > 2.5″ buss powered Firewire drives x 2 mirrored and just recently to 2 mirrored 2.5″ sata drives using the express sata card from Addonics. Over 2 hours on 2.5’mirrored 160g drives with no drop outs (FCP make new clip on drop out detect -on) Very cool…
I am doing this in our studio for green screen work. So everything is a very controled environment. I did discover that all HD2.5 enclosures are not the same. The three enclosures I purchased last summer will power just from the firewire cable of the Laptop buss. So I got 2 more enclosures same manufacturer same HD and it needs auxcillary power from the USB port to work.. Damn Manufactorer changed a couple chips on the bridge board. The Sata enclosures also need USB aux power. So I got a Powered USB hub that has 2 extra high powered 1,000 millamp (if I remember the math) USB ports.. Everything works great.Over 2 hours 1080HD – mirrored on 2 drives for safety. The drives fit in your pocket average cost about – 30 bucks enclosure / 110 bucks HD…. and then you get to recycle them with the next client…. forget tape..
or 1080HD location portable video recorder for under $5K… Macbook pro / Veescopelive / 2.5 HDs
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Pages 85 & 86 of the instruction manual describe how connect a hard drive to the HVX and copy over the contents of the P2 cards. You can then format your P2 cards and record new footage. No computer needed.
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Computer Plus 2.5″ HDs Divided by dollars times record minutes is still way cheaper per minute than P2 cards …. just not as mobile…
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It can be done, but it takes FOREVER!! Not ideal in a live shooting situation. Better off with the P2 Store or PowerBook. It would be nice to see higher capacity P2 Stores or the ability to swap out the drives now that we have 32GB cards.
RIOT Productions
G5, Kona LH, FCS2, CalDigit -
Nate,
How did you set this up? I just got a HVX200 and would like to try this out. I seem to only be able to record a few frames with capture now in FCP. Is there some camera settings I am missing?
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Jason,
Plug your Firewire into one side of the MacBook or Power book, use a firewire or sata express card or PCMCIA card on the other side to plug in your hard drive. Make sure your camera Time code is set to ‘free run’, set FCP to uncontrollable device and hit capture now…
Using my new Mac Pro with 2x 1TB hard drives stripped together I recorded 34 hours of straight 1080 HD video from my HPX500 with our any drop outs… Just to discover that quicktime will play the 34 hour file but FCP will not. FCP has a 12 hour limit on video and a 6 hour limit on video with audio… learn something everyday..
FCP, Mac Pro, Mac Book Pro, HPX500, HVX200, Betacam, Dvcam
Write for the Edit, Shoot for the Edit, Edit…..KISS Principle
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