Comments

Chienworks wrote on 12/18/2001, 6:26 PM
I've got the Sony DVMC-DA2. It's delightful! I really can't thing of
anything to complain about. I ordered it from B & H Photo-Video in
New York City for $300.
jtardiff wrote on 12/19/2001, 6:41 PM
Hmmmm. I sense another purchase brewing (my husband will be thrilled....).

I have a question about the Sony DVMC-DA2. I have a stack of Hi8 tapes that I made with my (still functioning) Canon Hi8 camcorder plus several VHS tapes of my daughter's ballet productions. I have been **dreading** the transfer of all of this material to my computer for archiving (and hopefully some fun with VV3 when the drudgery is over). I was going to use analog transfer via my Radeon 64 DDR VIVO which I have done in the past (hence my dread
;-)).

I now own a Sony TRV30 (so much fun!), but I really didn't want to use it for all of this conversion.

With the DVMC-DA2, can I just hook either the VCR or the Hi8 camcorder up to it and then hook the converter up to my firewire card on the PC and have everything end up in DV format on the PC? (Sounds too good to be true). Is the quality good? Could I then use the converter to send VV3 rendered video out to the VCR to be sent to eager grandparents who are computer technophobes?

If this is all true I think I will hop on the subway this week and pick one up at B&H.....

Thanks for the advice!

Jil
jimcho wrote on 12/19/2001, 7:10 PM
Your TRV30 should be able to do what the DVMC-DA2 can using the pass-through function. I use a Sony PC9 and it works flawlessly.
jtardiff wrote on 12/19/2001, 8:01 PM
Absolutely, I figured that was one option...but my husband (who is very protective of his new camcorder) is not exactly thrilled about the wear and tear issues of this imposing stack of Hi8 tapes.

I haven't looked too closely to see whether there are straight RCA inputs (for the VHS) either.

I must admit that that is a very nice feature of the Sony DV camcorders.

Thanks,

Jil
Chienworks wrote on 12/19/2001, 8:37 PM
The wear and tear should be incredibly minimal. If he's thinking that you
have to copy the Hi8 tapes to a DV tape first, then play the DV tape
back in the camera, then he shouldn't worry. If your camera has pass-
through, then you won't have to even load a tape into the camera. All
you need to do is have the camera on and set to accept input from the
analog A/V jacks. Without a tape loaded, the transport mechansim
won't even power up.
jtardiff wrote on 12/19/2001, 8:47 PM
You're right, he was under the impression that you had to use a DV tape as an intermediary in the process.
It seems like it would be a bit more cumbersome
than the standalone converter, though.

So, I assume this approach will also do digital to analog? Looks like I have to peruse that somewhat cryptic Sony manual a bit closer.

If there really is no difference then I agree, just using the TRV30 will be the way to go. I'll give it a shot over the weekend, I guess.

Thanks!

Jil