Inputting from composite deck

Hello,

Up to now, I've been inputting via my camera, which worked fine since my projects have been relatively small.

This time, my client brought in a project shot in 24p, and gave me 80 miniDV tapes to batch digitize; they also offered to lend me a deck. Turns out the deck is composite/ S-video out (really a consumer VHS dub deck., a JVC HR-DVS3U).

Is the best option to use a cable that's S-video to firewire?

Here's the Amazon page with the specs: [www.amazon.com]

Thanks, gurus.


j!

if the deck doesnt have FW out,
the best option is to return it to the client.
it's useless to you.

the s-video is an analoge video signal.

when you hook a DV deck or camera to your computer via FW, Digital video, digital audio, timecode, and machine controll all go down the line.

sorry, looks like it's time for "Plan C"

nick

Jewel,

I agree with nick:

...get your client to pay for rental of (at the very least) a DSR-11 (which should cost next to nothing daily). At least it's Firewire I/O. You do not want to use a composite signal for anything.

- Joey

I think that everyboby is over looking 2 things.
1st If the client was looking for high quality it would have had a professional shoot and edit the material.
2nd I have never heard of a MiniDV deck without FW.

Here are the specs for the JVC HRDVS3U Mini-DV/S-VHS Combo (Silver ) from another site.

[pcworld.pricegrabber.com]



God Bless,

Douglas Villalba
director/cinematographer/editor
Miami, Florida

[www.DouglasVillalba.info]
[www.youtube.com]
[vimeo.com]

That deck, according to the web site, will play the tapes down the FireWire cable, so give it a shot. Connect it and see if it plays one of your known good working tapes. Then go to town with the clients's tapes.

I think that deck was designed to copy MiniDV tapes over to VHS for delivery to Aunt Jane in Peoria.

Koz

Thanks for that link -

Tho it lacked a pic, it sent me back to the instruction book, which pointed to a door covering the firewire I/O. yay!

(Welcome to low-budgetland...)

My camera is breathing a sigh of relief...


j!

Hi again,

Also, since it's my 1st 24p project, I wondered if I were overlooking anything re: project set-up.

I understand once a DV tape is recorded, that's it as far as quality is concerned. Also, the tapes I have are dupes, not masters, if that matters at all.

So, I'm setting up the project as 24p, with a 2;3;3;2 pulldown. Yes?

Sorry to ask, since this seems like a handbook question, and my old book was vers. 3...

thankzzz!!!!!
J!

That deck is a peice of ****. We have two at school and I'm always running into problems with them. Of course try using it but if its giving you alot of trouble just use your camera.

Thanks --- I will definitely keep an eye on it...

good news about the deck having FW.

"Also, the tapes I have are dupes, not masters, if that matters at all."

my advice:
use the masters for log & capture,
the dupes are the back-up.

why?
because the masters will work with DV Start/stop detect.
the dupes wont.

it's a great feature, and it'd be a pity to lose it.

nick