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Need advice on a good minidv deck and way print to tape (vhs)
Hello everyone
I’ll try to give you all the relevant information so that hopefully some of you can point me in a good direction
Here is the situation
I run a small video department at my place of employment right now we have two mac systems both have seperate seats of final cut suite installed on them.
I have “employees” who work with me part time (they are students and not all of them are interested in video production),
My question is the following: we are starting our new budget year and I need to order a minidv deck (because we shoot on minidv) and I also need a way to output any projects to tape (most of my clients ask for vhs tapes and all the macs we have and will purchase have superdrives so that takes care of the dvd production end of the pipeline) so I need a good vhs deck.Here’s the kick…. I mentioned I have part time workers most of these students aren’t really interested in anything too technical but I have a few who are “ambitious” so ideally I’d like a minidv deck that is simple to use but it needs rca outs for video and audio (I have a feeling this may be standard on minidv decks but I’ll mention it anyway as you never know) and I would like a vhs deck that has stereo inputs
I am aware of minidv/vhs combo decks but I had a job back in 2001 and we bought one and I never did get it to work correctly when I wanted to printo to tape straight to vhs technology may have changed so if someone knows of a combo deck that works I’m open to it
thank you in advance for any help any of you can provide
take care
Todd George
Instructional Media Services
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH 44118 -
5 Replies
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Get a Sony DSR-11, that
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The dsr-11 is a good starter choice, it takes the larger tapes as well as mini-dv so you can record long programs using the full size tape (up to 184 minutes in DVCAM or 270 minutes in DV mode, the deck does both as well as pal) It has rca a/v as well as s-vhs and firewire. The biggest drawback is there is no timecode display or jog shuttle on the deck itself but the remote gives you ok control and you can see tc on screen. Of coarse FCP gives you nfull deck control with tc. If you have the buget get a DSR-25.
For vhs get a panasonic AG-6840/50 or sony 960 DUBBING DECK. These units record with a super wide track pitch (58Mc) and are what hollywood used to use. If you’ve ever wondered why your vhs tapes don’t look as good as the factory tapes, that’s why. Some of the higher end ones will also play back but most of em record only. You also need a controller to start them recording but if you check on ebay you can get a deck and controller cheap. ($30.00 – $300.00) New they are $2000.00. They have hour meters on them so you should find one without much use (don’t buy from a dubbing company, they are made to replace transport, loading mechanisms and heads easily, so after 5 or 6 of each type replacement, everything else could be shot.)
Otherwise for a regular deck I’d go to ebay and get a Panasonic AG-1970 or 1980 and make sure it has the remote as you need one with those decks. Anything better than these will not have rca jacks.
“everything is broken”
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I’ll second the DSR-11 for the deck. RCA and S-Video I/O and accepts both MiniDV and DVCAM. The DVCAM is nice because you get up to a 2 hour load so you can create a stack reel of your projects on longer tapes if you choose.
VHS? Just go down to your local electronics store and pick up the cheapest thing you can find. Unless you burn a LOT of VHS tapes, then go with a more professional unit, though I have no idea what to suggest there. I don’t do VHS’ anymore since I got the DVD Recorder for clients.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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[walter biscardi] ” The DVCAM is nice because you get up to a 2 hour load so you can create a stack reel of your projects on longer tapes if you choose.”
Actually, with DVCam you can get a 3 hour load!! I get these from a client all the time.
Arnie
https://www.arniepix.com -
[Arniepix] “Actually, with DVCam you can get a 3 hour load!! I get these from a client all the time.”
must be a pretty thin tape to fit in that cartridge. Not sure I would use that to archive a project, but then we rarely use DVCAM at our shop anymore.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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