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Final Cut Pro and MiniDV Decks
Hello,
I recently got Final Cut Pro Suite 2. I had the Academic version of Final Cut Pro and I was able to log and capture using my Canon XL2 camera.
Now I’m looking into getting a MiniDV deck for my computer. I wanted to know what are the best decks out there that are capable of doing HD and regular mini DV tapes. I was also wondering how to get one used or fairly cheap since I’m on a budget.
Thank you.
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5 Replies
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A reliable deck isn’t really a low-budget purchase. If you’re going to give it enough use that it makes sense for you to buy it, you should probably invest in a new deck with some sort of service plan.
That said, for the low budget route, i’m fond of the Sony GV-D900. I’ve used a lot of them, and you should be able to find them used for around 500-750 bucks.
Another low budget option is using a cheaper camcorder as a deck. The Canon HV30 will do both DV and HDV.
While you can look into HDV decks, which will play both HDV and DV footage, I wouldn’t recommend them, as they would be out of your budget.
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Thanks for the info.
I guess going for a walkman player type deck was what I was thinking of. In particular the Sony GV-HD700 High Definition Walkman. I’m not sure if this product, or anyone similar to it, would be compatible for playing HDV and SD mini DV tapes.
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[Jennifer Marshall] “Sony GV-HD700 High Definition Walkman”
Right on. Had no idea that that came out. Looks perfect for you.
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That’s good to hear. How can one tell if it can play both HDV and SD footage? I figure if it could play HDV it could naturally play SD. Just wanted to make sure before I buy it.
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Just checked the specs at B&H, which affirms that it plays DV and HDV.
One possible gotcha – there are compatibility issues between some Canon HDV modes and some Sony decks. I’d do a test before, say, shooting a lot of progressive 1080 with a a Canon.
There have been detailed threads about this issue before – read up on it in the HDV forum.
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