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Matching TC dubs (clones) only onto DVCam, not mini-DV?
Hello all,
I need to make clones, or dubs with matching time-code, of about 80 mini-DV camera originals. In setting up my DSR-11 for the dubs, I noticed that in DV SP, there’s no option for ‘external time-code’. The option does appear, however, when I switch the deck to DVCam.
I should mention that the camera originals are full (60 min) of footage, thereby precluding me from using mini-DV stock with DVCam settings (40 min) for the dubs. Since there’s no need for the additional quality of DVCam (not to mention the additional price of stock), is there any way to clone to mini-DV, complete with matching time-code? About a thousand dollars hang in the balance!!!
Thanks!
–cn
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5 Replies
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From Memory DVCAM is the only low-end tape type that can record a locked TC with direct firewire connection for TC duplication. I’m pretty sure its got to do with the SMPTE timecode, which DV SP doesn’t have.
Anyway, DVCAM recording doesn’t need to be on the bigger tapes, (but you can get longer tape lengths this way).
You can record a DVCAM signal to a miniDV tape using the DSR-11. I wouldn’t stray on the quality of that tape stock though. I only use Panasonic Tapes as they have never failed me, unlike Sony and all the others.
You will lose 1/3rd of the tape length with this process as the tape runs faster to record a more stable signal. A 60min miniDv tape will only give you 42mins of DVCAM recording.
Hope this helps with your costs as the DVCAM official tapes are way more expensive than the miniDV Panasonic minute for minute.
– Jon 😉How many editors does it take to change a light bulb?
http://www.jonbarrie.net -
Thanks Jon. Yes, that seems to be the consensus. Though occasionally I see someone posting that it can be done, it usually ends up that they’re misusing the term ‘cloning’, and just offering an exact dub without regard to timecode.
Hmmm, it poses an interesting dilemma: save money by splitting the clones onto mini-DV – thus possibly wrecking some encoded takes by splitting them onto two tapes, or doing it right – thus wrecking my budget… Guess that’s why they call it ‘pro-sumer’.
Thanks again.
–cn
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It’s a bit of a long shot, but would it be acceptable to have the “copied” timecode in the tape copy actually stored in the user bits?
It should be possible to copy the timecode with frame-accuracy into the user bits. But this would require capture to PC then back out to tape again, and the destination deck/camera would have to accept and record the user bits as input.
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double post removed.
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I know its a pain, but I would use an overlapping of about 30sec for end and start of a new miniDVCAM tape. This way you can always guarantee the footage you have is going to be kept. I know it makes like a pain in ain for recapture. But I don’t know if there is another way to keep your budget down? Unless you know of some tapes that can be broken down and then use a couple of bigger DVCAM tapes to cover the longer recordings?
– Jon 🙂How many editors does it take to change a light bulb?
http://www.jonbarrie.net
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