JVC600DV or IEEE-1394 converter like the ProMax

John_Beech wrote on 8/29/2002, 11:46 PM
I picked up a Laird LTM-ER4 4-source editing router. It does YUV component analog, Y/C, and RS-422 machine control . . . this lets me switch amongst existing decks to feed the VV3 edit bay. These include a Panasonic AJ-D850 DVCPRO deck, a Sony EVO-9800 8mm/Hi8 edit deck, and a Sony SVP-9000 VHS/S-VHS player.

The plan is to feed component analog from the Laird to either a Pro-Max YUV-IEEE-1394 converter, or instead to a JVC600DV deck (my genius friend David Devocoux's suggestion) since they both cost 2500-ish bucks - using the JVC deck as a converter.

I route audio via a Mackie 1604 and plan to continue using this.

I can't find anything wrong with the idea, but before I place the order I though to maybe toss it out for inspection - comments anybody?

BTW, progress on my new VV machine. Everything in its case and system drive formatted with W2000 Pro . . . they back ordered the XP Pro (imagine that!). I was lugging pieces upstairs and took a break and now realize it's well past midnight and I'm bushed - maybe I'll get VV3 installed by tomorrow. Lots else to do.

Comments

SonyEPM wrote on 8/30/2002, 8:35 AM
If you need serial deck control, the Promax will translate 1394 device control commands to serial, so you'll be able to do pretty much everything except frame accurate insert edits back to tape. I think I gave John a demo of this unit at NAB...
Tyler.Durden wrote on 8/30/2002, 10:11 PM
Hi John,

As you probably know, the ProMax will also transcode component analog to DV; so if you add Betacam or other component sources, you will be covered. I think it also has a SDI option for DigiBeta.

(Gets my vote.)

HTH, MPH
John_Beech wrote on 9/1/2002, 2:09 PM
Why won't it handle insert edits?
Active wrote on 9/2/2002, 5:16 AM
we just received promax box and it works a treat, the digital audio in and out plus sdi video are all included (no options!) it seems to work very well with vegas 3, just make sure your dv source machines are not connected to the promax as it causes problems (we turn out dsr11 off when editing and capture directly from dsr11 when capturing) - basically we just use the promax for analogue (i.e beta, svhs etc) to DV format.

glen
Tyler.Durden wrote on 9/2/2002, 8:32 AM
John wrote: "Why won't it handle insert edits?"

Vegas will not control the betacam or any deck (via the DA-MAX, or otherwise) such that the deck chases Vegas timeline TC... that would be a tall order for the DAMAX to manage the deck transport ballistics, report back the location to Vegas or the DA-Max to issue "bump" commands, etc.... let alone the issue of color-framing...

To keep life simple, print to tape is an all-or-nothing deal, basically a crash record and playback of source... system stability and constant 29.97 being paramount.

HTH, MPH
SonyDennis wrote on 9/2/2002, 11:03 PM
Yes, what Marty said (thanks). It boils down to the DV device commands not being designed to be frame accurate; they basically allow you to control a deck/camera in a similar fashion to the front panel controls, like a glorified remote control. It's my understanding (disclaimer: I'm not on the vidcap team <g>) that they are asynchronous with the frames coming in or going out, which is the key factor for doing frame accurate stuff. End resut, no insert edits.
///d@
SonyEPM wrote on 9/3/2002, 8:45 AM
Active- please let us know if you find any issues (pro or con) with the Promax. I messed around with it for about a month, but had to return it (loaner). I had been looking for a box like this for about 2 years and it seemed to do just about everything well with both a PVW and BVW deck.

What beta deck do you have? How in your opinion does the finished material look/sound once it gets back to beta?
John_Beech wrote on 9/3/2002, 6:34 PM
I just ordered the ProMax DA-MAX+ so I'll have one here soon and will be able to comment too - remember the "Anticipation" commerical from Heinz? That's what I feel like now . . . fortunately a job inCHicago keeps me gone until Saturday. Anyway, we also use component DVCPRO instead of Betacam SP because it allows up to three-hour masters to tape (Panasonic AJ-D850 edit recorders) while the full-size 126-min DVCPRO videotapes themselves take up so much less room than SP stock that this became an important factor in the decision to go to the format. Of course its handy that it can read DVCAM and, more importantly, DV too . . . which became a factor allowing heavy old-fashioned brick-powered 3-CCD pro-camcorders to become a higher-price line-item while knowledgeable clients opted for 3CCD miniDV like the Sony PD150s and TRV900s we added to the mix.
Active wrote on 9/4/2002, 3:50 AM
we are using a PAL UVW1800 betasp deck, all seems to be fine, apart from the colours are a bit down on the output, a fiddle in the promax da+ control software should sort that out though.

We have a composite feed in without 422 and the box has to be switched to 'local' otherwise it doesnt work properly.

we reported all errors etc to the promax company and they are excellent at getting back to us - we have already received 2 firmware updates in the last week!

hope you got on ok with yours

GLEN (activelight)
VideoArizona wrote on 9/4/2002, 9:04 PM
<- using the JVC deck as a converter>

Just to let everyone know. I use the JVC deck both as a source/recorder for Vegas, but also as a component/SVIDEO/Composite converter to 1394 so I can input these devices into Vegas by turning off deck control and using Vegas Capture as a "Live Player".

I have component Betacam, Component MII, HI8MM and VHS that occasionally needs to go into Vegas for some work. The JVC deck works great for that!

I'm just now experimenting with using it the other way around...outputting from Vegas timeline using "external Monitor" to record a sequence or composite layer direct to betacam SP...will report back on that when I've had more time to enjoy this idea !!!

David