Yo Jay! . .here?

http://www.videoguys.com/seriousmagic.html

I'd be interested to hear if many "mobile" video shooters are using dv rack in the field with laptops, including outdoors.

My feelings? Not a lot! . . I'ev got enough trouble keeping outta the way of the Gospel Siongers or the Twirling Somali singers . .OR checking the other locked off camera OR making sure nobody is gonna trip upover the tripod . .OR .. you can think of all the normals . . Now, if DVRack could appear in screen, while shooting .. phhhoooarggh . . ! But this Community & Event Videographer hasn't the juggling abilities AND ironically, I'm the one Guy who maybe SHOULD be using such a terrific piece of s/w .. But then again, I think if I can't get it "right" then I should be doing something else . . but what do I know? . .and Peter I still can't get into DVinfo.net!

Grazie

I think you've hit the nail on the head there Grazie, it's a bit like contraception, those who've got the most to loose are the ones least likely to use it.
If you've got a camera with audio metering and zebras the DVRack is going to turn good into great or help you avoid the minor off the mark setups. But if you're already struggling using a camera without all the pro goodies then you sure will not have a PA to lug another box or most likley the space or time to set it up.
Or to look at it another way, factor in the cost of a good enough laptop to run the thing and you could have afforded a better / second camera.
Of course if you're already lugging all that DVRack has to offer to a shoot then the thing's going to be a godsend or maybe you've already got a full blown OB van so a few kilos is neither here nor there.
I tried to run it, but the not so old Vaio hasn't enough screen res or horsepower.
Bob.

Yeah! . . I'm trying, it maybe stupid on my part, but I'm trying to do what I want to achieve with less and less kit . . Oh, that must be blasphemous for a Hire-Out House .. but that is what I'm trying to achieve. I'm already designing the projects I want to take on with this in mind. So far, touch wood, I've got them.

Grazie

This software would be a truly great tool if it could recognise DV files from other sources. From what i have experimented it can't, so, for example, you can't use the split screen to compare your actual shooting with your own or other's past shooting. This is really a big minus for what is otherwise an excellent idea.

It was also vastly overpriced IMHO, so 295$ seems a little more comandable.

Having watched one of their presentations at a trade show, their real thrust was that DV Rack can replace several hundred pounds of equipment at about 10% of the cost (plus a laptop).

I'll leave that claim to the analysis of pros who drag along various monitors and test equipment to their shoots.

We've now used DV Rack on several training pieces, and also on an off-broadway shoot. Was terrific. I'm sold on what Rack does. There are those that go to a shoot and "spray and pray" by shooting with no monitor, no headphones, nada. We don't shoot like that. Monitors are critical for us. I've played with Rack on several VAIO's and a Toshiba. Worked great on all of them.
yeah, carrying a laptop might seem to be a PITA for some, but for those of us who shoot with a monitor as it should be done....DV Rack is a GODSEND. Plus, you can skip tape altogether if you wish. We've not done that, tape is ALWAYs a backup for us.

I'd have to review all of the features again but I know of at least one that would pay for the program and a laptop to run it.

Sometimes you shoot an all day event and need to turn around a batch of DVDs as soon as possible. With DVRack you can hook a 200GB hard drive and record all day. You completely eliminate 6 to 8 hours of capture time. That's taking a day off of post. If you are shooting all week that's another week of capture you've saved.

If you have two cameras you'll take two days off. Leaving you two days to work on other projects. Or two weeks.

It looks as though DV Rack can be triggered from the camera's record button and that it has a preroll buffer so that you can capture a few seconds before you even pull the trigger.

The other feature I think it has is a tool for logging as you shoot. We do a lot of this for a "repair manual" video we shoot every month or so. It would help our logger if a new entry was started with each new take and all she had to worry about was naming it.

Not everyone can use these features. You need to have a fixed setup since 1394 cable runs aren't very long. You also need to be able to tolerate computer noise during taping. But for some applications this is a great tool.

Rob Mack

Hmm. I can imagine for studio set-ups it is fantastic. Outdoors in slightly hostile locations such as a scrapyard I was shooting at the other day with intermittent rain etc, and it may be a burden, even though it's features are essential to getting fantastic shots.

Another drawback is if you are using a form of steadicam style device it would not be practical without some form of wireless connection.

For a lot of corporate work though it may well be exceptionally useful.

Spotsaid,"DV Rack is a GODSEND. Plus, you can skip tape altogether if you wish. We've not done that, tape is ALWAYs a backup for us. "

Intriguing. My question is what do you do if you have a moving shot or your laptop is far away from your camera? What is the longest firewire cable available out there?

Actually, what Douglas said was they used it "on several training pieces, and also on an off-broadway shoot." I could be wrong, but I didn't get that he was saying everything should be shot with it. The fact of the matter is, you couldn't use it on every shoot. For example, any type of "run and gun" situation would prove to be impossible. This accounts for 99.999% of the kinds of things we shoot. I see it more for "studio-like" shoots than anything else--places where you have total control. At times like that, I opt for the old-fashioned monitor and headphones routine.

Like Grazie, I'm doing everything within my power and ability to keep the equipment I lug around to a minimum. In my old age, I've grown to really appreciate simplicity! To begin with, I could not begin to afford to buy every gadget out there that would, allegedly, make my video better. Secondly, I seriously doubt it would provide any recognizable improvement. I know that sounds arrogant, but I don't mean it to. But after 35+ years of making images (moving and still), I have a certain amount of confidence in my abilities (presuming the equipment is functioning). Too, you need to remember that some of us "old farts" came from a land before the time of computers, video assist, DVRack, etc.. We had to know what we were doing without all the fancy paraphernalia some shooters are so dependent on today. My point being, could they shoot any footage without it???

Jay

Even though the spec says 16', we regularly use 50' firewire cables without a repeater.

We have used it in independent film production. It was a "god send". Now, every shot we couldnt use it, but for 85% of what we were shooting, it was great. If you are going to use the equipment it replaces, then this is a no brainer. If you would never use a video monitor on location, or monitoring your audio, then you probally wouldnt use it. We love the direct capture. We still alsways recoed to tape also, but havent yet had to use one of the tapes. A laptop is sure a lot lighter then a studio monitor. Aslo we use 50 foot cable also so we can use it on boom shots and on stedicam

Although I'm relatively new to video NLE work, I also bought DV Rack on it's first release and am very pleased with it -- it helps ensure I get great video IN so I don't have to @#$ fix it in post, which is a bigger PITA..... definitely a great buy at the 295 and highly recommended, as is ultra.

For me, a new do-it-yourself videographer (who creates a lot of six-figure selling videos/DVDS since 1999), my best recent $$ spent so far has been:

- Sony Vegas 4
- Spot's DVDs and Gary's DVDs on how to use it properly
- Bill Cooksey's videographer DVDs via ebay
- SeriousMagic.com's Ultra w/MSL2 + DVR
- Digital Juice jumpbacks and PTK
- Tsunami and Excalibur scripts
- Panasonic PV-GS120 3CCD camcorder
- Extra monitors for my PC
- Extra external HDs for my PC
- Lighting (5K flourescents)


Investing in a lot of great tools ensures high-quality products.
Next up is a better camera...


Ken

Good for you Ken!

You filmed a Gospel choir with about 200 people jumping around you? A highly charged night time Diwali Evening with about 3,000 people jumping around you? A Parade with trucks zooming past, crowds in your face, mixed lighting and "Now" once off shooting and the only security is your bright yellow "Video Crew" over-waistcoat - I think I'll be leaving my Dell notebook at home . . guess I'll have to fall back on my tiny camera skills . . and they are tiny . ..

Best regards,

Grazie

I guess the point is that DV rack can be usefl depending on the situation.

I wouldn't take my laptop with me if I had to film a big show with people running everywhere.
I would bring my laptop with DVrack if I had to film an interview or work on a feature film like we sometimes do. DVrack would integrate pretty well.
I guess it really depends on what you have to shoot...

SPOT : Where do you get those 50' cables ?


Nat

50' ft cables, extra shielding, with upgrade wire thickness, like 2+? cables would be a lot stiffer to handle.

My only major concern with moving around and capturing with firewire is I have yet to see a camera yet that keeps the firewire connection locked in there. Sometimes the slightest bump can knock the cable out.

I agree with Jay in that it is ideal in a studio where you have full control and doesnt require a good amount of movement.

I got a 125' cable from www.markertek.com. It works fine. It's 4pin FireWire 400 on each end. See http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=DV%2DDV%2D75&off=15

John.

Most of my shooting is around homes or schools, often crawling around following kids, so I'd hardly ever have a "fixed" camera position where I could use it.

And don't forget you can do direct to hard drive capture already using Vegas alone.