Need to switch from SVHS to ?

[lavapen]

I shoot and stream a live 2+ hour show almost every Sunday night on our web station (http://www.luver.com). Tech wise, I use a minidv camera that is only used as the video input device ... it is connected by s-video to an SVHS tape deck and the audio is connected to a 16-channel mixing board that gets routed through a compressor and reverb/delay to the audio in of the SVHS tape deck. I then take the tapes and transfer them to my video computer to edit the show. We keep digital masters of each show on ESATA hard drives.

SVHS is quickly becoming obsolete and the tapes are beginning to be unavailable ... so I'm trying to figure out a simple, new way of shooting and recording the show that won't cost too much. The main hurdle is the 2+ hour time length as digital tape formats just don't record that long. Switching tapes is not a great option as it can be really tricky to pick the moment and interrupting the show while I switch tapes is a real problem.

Recording direct to a computer video editing station would work also but cost and space are a real issue.

Can anyone suggest any other solutions that might work?

Thanks!

[olyteddy]

DVD Recorder?

[lordsmurf]

Computer video editing system is the best option, for quality and time length.

[Daizer]

I second olyteddy on the DVD recorder. Try to get a model with a built-in HDD and capable of recording on Dual Layer Media. That way, you record on your HDD and then transfer the video to a DL DVD.
A DL DVD should be able to store 3,5h in SP mode (standard recording mode).

Prices are around 200€, which is OK I think.

[lordsmurf]

Being that this is a web stream -- meaning conversion to a streaming format -- DVD recorders will lose a lot of quality AND take more time than a direct-to-file recording/capture.

[edDV]

Not clear to me if the show is being aired live on Sunday (hence the audio compressor?), or is aired from the edited tape?

In either case, direct recording to the computer seems plausable. I'd double record to two machines for backup. Another option is a Firestore FS-4 or FS-H200.
http://www.focusinfo.com/solutions/catalog.asp?id=3
http://www.videoguys.com/Item/FS-H200+Portable+Compact+Flash+DTE+Recorder/030323843564.aspx

[vhelp]

Or, you could probably get away with a mini (or regular size) laptop, firewire ports (for dv cam) and external HDD, size'the limit :P

Obviously I haven't tried it but it is definately do'able.

You connect the cam to your firewire port and just save to a 160gig hdd. These days the smallest is 250g or 350g. I was lucky to at least a 250g at bestbuy. They seem to be going 350g as minimum, soon will be 500g, etc. etc. Anyway. This is your best lossless method imho. Later, you can edit to whatever fancy's your web stream endeavors.

-vhelp 5270

:P *~*!*~*!~* HaPpY HoLiDaYs *~*!*~*!~*