Is a/v caturing from mini-dv deck directly to firewire HD...

[Starbuck777]

...Is it possible? Or will it need some kind of software?

I have a mini-dv deck and I would like to capture the video directly through the firewire port to a external firewire hard drive. My guess is that a program can do it, but I don't know how. I want to eliminate using the pc to capture...

Thanks

[redwudz]

Not sure exactly what you are asking. You need a controller to operate a drive, even an external one. The controller is in the computer.

You can use an external drive and feed the DV into the computer and out to the external drive, under control of the PC, but I don't think that's what you mean.

The PC is not capturing when you are inputing a DV file, just transferring the file from one device to another, same as any digital file.

[guns1inger]

There are professional decks designed to do just that, but as Redwudz stated, they are a lot more complicated than just a firewire HDD. I believe Sony have one such beast.

[Starbuck777]

I've captured through the pc to an external firewire HD, but I was hoping to be able to bypass the PC all together. I have a JVC MiniDV/SVHS deck I used the deck as a pass-through using the firewire port sending analog a/v to the pc. But wanted to find a "controller" program to mimic to OS for an external HD.

Thanks for your replies

[Capmaster]

I've captured through the pc to an external firewire HD, but I was hoping to be able to bypass the PC all together. I have a JVC MiniDV/SVHS deck I used the deck as a pass-through using the firewire port sending analog a/v to the pc. But wanted to find a "controller" program to mimic to OS for an external HD.

Thanks for your replies

If you ever find one, please post back here. There have been several posts from people wanting one

[ZAPPER]

I read the other day a post that said too bad that you can't hang an external drive off the side of your cam. It got me wondering as to why. I figured that the drive does need some kind of signal from the PC but just what or how is beyound my simple mind. I did a half assed search and read some about so called "one touch" external drives. It seems to me from what I read that you plug your cam directly into the external drive turn your cam on and push a button on the drive and begin the transfer. But the drive is still hooked to the PC. I don't know if someone could build some kind small external controler that would substitute as the PC or if there is any way to have your cam record straight to an external drive while in the field. I guess that using a laptop would give you the portability, but that is a big chunk of change. I can capture live feed from my Sony TRV330 while it is in the standby mode but I haven't tested to see how long before it shuts itself off if it even will shut off while capturing in stand by. And I haven't tested any of the on cam features to see if they work in the standby mode(except low light and night shot wich work and makes me hope for the best) My next question is, is there wireless 1394?

[guns1inger]

Here are a couple of options

http://www.adorama.com/VDVIFS3ABPAL.html
http://www.mcetech.com/quickstreamdv/

and and article on the Firestore from DIGIT magazine

http://www.digitmag.co.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=displaynews&NewsID=4336&Page=1&pagePos=1

None of these are cheap solutions though.

[gastorgrab]

Is this what your talking about?

http://www.videoguys.com/jvc.htm#dvs3

[ZAPPER]

guns1inger:

COOL! That is exactly what I want (I need it like a hole in my head)but I want it. Now if I can build one for under $300-$400 I would be in heaven. For the high dollar jobs I figure that a laptop would be better and do more for the money. Just hook up a external drive or two and have at it. And be able to play video games during the long drawn out wedding!