[Jerry Waters]

For recording video directly to hard drive using a laptop (as with DV Rack – now only $300) you need firewire and this is becoming more popular. Rack is soon to add HDV. However, you don’t chain them. You need a separate firewire card so the camera input and the drive output are on separate IRQs.

[Jerry Waters]

I’ve used the Mobile Pre for several months. It will turn any computer with a USB port into a good recording machine as long as you have a decent mic. There are a lot of good ones like the ones listed above. But on the subject of mics, I bought an Audio Technica 897 – a short boom mic for my new camera — and I can’t believe how good it is. Of course it is more ($247) but a great mic for all uses.

[Jerry Waters]

Thanks. I’ll be at NAB and soaking up all I can take in. Could you drop me a link to the forum you are speaking of? I’d like the brain to start working on it.