Survey-J30 users

[Debe]

Sorry, I realize I should have marked this “OT”.

I didn’t want to post it anywhere else, because I want to know how it works with FCP. I don’t have any use for information on how it works with Vegas on a PC, for example!

Thanks again!

debe

[Paul Dickin]

Hi
I use a J-30 SDI extensively, and its excellent. I am making a series of DVDs from archived newsreels which are on Beta SP or DigiBeta, editing in DV timelines, capturing via FireWire.
I ran a comparative check on the FW conversion that the deck does and it seems the best I’ve seen – better than the DSR-20/25 decks (S-Video in) that I also use.

Its a huge advantage having identical timecode on the captures from analogue tapes. Also the PAL/NTSC switchability is constantly getting used for USA/European footage.
One big disadvantage though with Beta SP is you can’t get audio off Tracks 3 & 4 with a J-30 🙁 (I keep another old BVW Beta player just for that.)

[Creative Animal jan]

What I suggest you do is this:

buy the deck, it’s great. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do. It rewinds kind of slowly and the display on the machine doesn’t show all of the embeded audio channels, but it’s great if you bear in mind that it does realtime Ilink conversion and plays both NTSC and PAL..

The other thing is, if you are running FCP already, why wouldnt you buy the cheapest of all decklinks?

https://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/sd/

think it starts at 295 US.

regards

Jan
Managing Director
http://www.creativeanimal.nl

[Debe]

Good to be reminded about Channels 3&4.

I’m looking into this deck because I occasionally get Digital Betacam and BetaSP sources that I normally have to send out to be dubbed to DVCam. I currently only own 2 different DVCam decks. I’m not looking for the I/O capacity, I’m looking for the ability to access these formats.

But thanks for the reviews, Jan & Paul!

[Walter Biscardi]

I’ve been running the J3/902 for three or four years now. Never a hiccup and it works as advertised. I run the SDI option on it and I have to say even BetaSP looks better coming off this deck than via Component.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com

Director, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.com

Now Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[Walter Biscardi]

[debe] “However, that’s only if this deck works as advertised. I currently do not have an I/O card. My theory has always been that if I’m going to be finishing in anything other than DV, I’ll rent a full-blown FCP suite. There’s no need for me to make that investment, since I have that suite available to me almost any time I need it.”

If all you need is the Capture Card why would you rent a “full blown suite?” A Kona 2 runs $2k so that should pay for itself in one or two jobs. I run two K2 suites here and am set up to do everything from SD to HD to upconvert / downconvert. Money never leaves this shop because I have to go out of house nor do I have to move a project to someone else’s room.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com

Director, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.com

Now Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[Debe]

Good point, Walter.

Part of it is because my mentor and a big reason I’m even still in the business after the recession owns that room downtown. If I ever have the budget to really finish in HD or even uncompressed SD, I’d like to share some of the bounty with him. If it wasn’t for him, I’d likely not have the clients I have.

Also, I work out of my home when I’m using my system. There is a limit to what I’d expect clients to “put up with” if we were finishing something really high end. My three cats come to mind. The atmosphere downtown is much more “professional”.

I’m low overhead, and I don’t make any excuses for that. I don’t want to compete with a full-blown suite/post house. Many of my clients come to me with budgets they couldn’t get done at the place downtown. Since I have lower overhead, I don’t have to charge as much. As long as they are comfortable with the fact that the resolution will never be better than DVCam, and my client services is limited, I’m happy to oblige. My nigh-on 14 years pro experience tells them I can give them a good-quality product for the money at my place. The only difference is the final format.

You make a very good point, though, Walter, and perhaps someday I’ll have to reconsider my position in the local market. But for now, my invoicing goes up and up and UP every year, and my projects keep me happy, creatively challenged, and I get enough free time to do things like go to NAB & MacWorld!

debe

[Misha Aranyshev]

The only really bad thing about J-series is transport response to remote commands. It is nowhere near the DSR-1500 and in some respects worse than DSR-45. Also its error corrector is weaker than those Sony puts in the big boys like 2000-series or DVW500. But it works as advertised and will fit the role you planned for it just right.

[Debe]

Thanks for the report, mishka! I figured it’s be like driving my miniDV camcorder. The mechanism is usually the first thing that goes cheap when trying to build a lower cost deck!

I appreciate the input!

debe

[Debe]

Again, thanks, all!

I ordered it, and it’s on it’s way!

Thanks to you all for helping me make my decision!

debe