Direct to Disk recording - experience

PeterWright wrote on 5/30/2005, 7:13 PM

I just quoted for a same-day editing job next month, and if I get it, I'd really like to be prepared for the possibility of avoiding capture time.

I've heard about the Citidisk ( http://www.shining.com/ ) and the Firestore, and am wondering if anyone has given these a good test out.

Although the same day job will be done in DV to avoid rendering, I'd like the device to also be capable of HDV recording for future purposes.

Any experiences?

(DVRack on a laptop will not be any good - I need to be fully mobile)

Peter

Comments

farss wrote on 5/30/2005, 7:37 PM

Peter,
I've read some horror stories about Firestore stuff. Not all of them would be unique to their product. You are after relying on a firewire cable from the drive to the camera, not the sturdiest of connections as it was never designed for that purpose. In fact I wish at times they leave the damn things off cameras.
Then again the one one the Z1/FX1 does seem better placed than on most cameras, we've still had a client damage one though.
Bob.

PeterWright wrote on 5/30/2005, 7:46 PM

Thanks Bob - yes, it's early days with this technology, and I'd certainly record on Tape as back-up.

The Citidisk looks good - can be mounted on camera or belt (I prefer camera to avoid unnecessary flexing of the firewire cable), and I'm investigating availability in Oz ....

biggles wrote on 5/30/2005, 7:57 PM

Hi Peter,

I have been using a Quickstream unit. There are very mixed reports about it, but I've not had any trouble with mine.

I got it from Videoguys in Melbourne:
http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=78

Wayne

johnmeyer wrote on 5/30/2005, 9:01 PM

Do a search in these forums on "Firestore." There have been lots of discussions about this (mostly positive, as I remember).

Liam_Vegas wrote on 5/30/2005, 9:58 PM

I have the citidisk (actually the ADS version (same unit))... never once managed to use it without it failing me. You can have mine if you like.

I find the "flashing LED's" to be just about incomprehensible. The lights flash to tell you what state the thing is in... and it is not clear (to me anyway) what the specific methods of flashing actually represent.

I have had the thing just stop working while recording - the lights were blinking something or other but by that time... it's lost it's usefulness.

In the end... I just don't feel I can trust it.

Could be "user" troubles... but either way... I wished I did not waste my money on it. I would have prefered to get a unit (like the firestor) that has an LCD display that communicates more directly with you on what is going on.

PeterWright wrote on 5/30/2005, 10:22 PM

Thanks John - just had a good read. Experiences seem mixed, though the FS4 seems to be better than previous incarnations.

Wayne - the Quickstream also sounds ok, but I may as well wait for an HDV enabled unit rather than restrict myself to DV only. Since the data rates are similar, I'm hoping the HDV models won't be much more expensive!

And thanks for the cautionary tale on Citidisk Liam. It's hard being an early adopter, but it's also hard not going for one of these products simply because of the saving in processing time.

MUTTLEY wrote on 5/30/2005, 11:50 PM

I recently got the Firestore FS-4 Pro. While I havent gotten to use it a gotta say I love it.

- Ray

www.undergroundplanet.com

Stonefield wrote on 5/30/2005, 11:55 PM

Liam.....how much for the unit you have ? I might be interested...but not rich ( at all ) yet...heh.

Soon ( hopefully ) we'll all be recording to100 gig memory cards anyway.

I DO like the idea of capturing to the external unit AND a DV Tape in the camera. Like that sense of redundant back up....

Someday I'll be broadcasting my video shoots to teach you guys about glamour video production so some kind of broadcasting/capture method will be in order. We'll see. Looking forward to teaching that.

Lot's of cool stuff out there....

Stan ( Stonefield )

Spot|DSE wrote on 5/31/2005, 12:22 AM

I've used the ADS several times on reasonably longer shoots, and only a few dropped frames on starts/pause, so I got in the habit of pre-rolling by at least 10 seconds, same with post roll.
The Nnovia has been the greatest for me, I wish I had the Firestore, I've reviewed the FS2 and 3, loved both of them. But, the Nnovia is half the cost, and works every bit as good, and the Nnovia A2D has analog in, which is great when working with either the JVC 500 or the Thomson LDK 750, using Y/C out.

The Firestore, ADS, and Nnovia unit reviews are all available on both the DMN and VASST sites if you'd like to read my opinion on them.