OT: Anyone try the FS-4 HD disk recorder-any good?

ken c wrote on 2/5/2008, 7:03 AM
Hi, I'm thinking of buying this external recorder, the FS-4 HD; has anyone bought one? Are they any good, or a headache/problems?

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

Videoguys has them on sale, $100 less than B&H... what I need to be able to do, is more easily record footage in my basement greenscreen studio, and on location for interviews and seminars, and then take it to use in Vegas ... right now I'm tired of using vidcap; it works "ok" but this looks like a faster alternative - any feedback?

Or, other models/competitive products that are better, for 2-3 hour max storage, for use with camcorders?

thanks,

Ken

Comments

JohnnyRoy wrote on 2/5/2008, 7:54 AM
Ken, I saw that deal at VideoGuys too and so I just finished researching this topic. I searched a lot of forums and got the same answers. A quick search right here for FS-4 in these forums reveals a resounding NO, I wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot poll... in this tread: Camera-mounted hard drives and It was a total disaster... in this thread: Firestore FS-4 so I would say it’s not the product to buy.

I bough the Sony HVR-DR60 and it works great. I’m using it with my Sony Z1U capturing direct to m2t files. I have also heard really good things about the nNovia Quick-Capture A2D2 but I have not used one myself but accorting to this thread: Firestore or nNovia, those who have tried both prefer the nNovia over the Firestore.

The reason I bought the Sony over the nNovia is because it was a complete solution with nothing extra to buy. It came with the hotshoe mount and a short firewire cable. All I had to do was use one of my existing Sony batteries and I was up and running right out of the box.

~jr
ken c wrote on 2/5/2008, 12:07 PM
Thanks Johnny, I appreciate it - I didn't even know Sony produced a unit like this one... and it's great to see the other links too. Sounds like there's a few choices out there - it's interesting to see the alternatives.

Seems like it would save a lot of capture time, since the files are made in avi/mov format, instead of having to capture from tape to hard drive, so the time savings alone makes one of these worthwhile.

I appreciate your answering... it's helpful to see the alternatives!

regards,

-k
DJPadre wrote on 2/5/2008, 1:43 PM
ive personally returned 4, and lost count of how many have been returned back to us (I used to work for a supplier)

HDV is pretty flaky to say the least. Some people have been lucky, others have not...

Personally, im looking forward to the CF recording devices coming out with the new Sony HDV camcorders. These work on any HDV recording devce through firewire
I would really only need a small amount of backup with several CF cards would be perfectly fine with. ) as if i have a tape dropout its not that detrimental unless its during a critical time, such as a ceremony or a speech.
A tip though, with whatever you might use, make sure your runngin a tape backup
DJPadre wrote on 2/5/2008, 1:47 PM
"Seems like it would save a lot of capture time, since the files are made in avi/mov format, instead of having to capture from tape to hard drive, so the time savings alone makes one of these worthwhile."

One good thing abotu teh FS4, is that the po version gives Avid OMF files as well as pinnacle codecs
BUT if your shooting HDV, it wil be a clean cut M2t file.
UlfLaursen wrote on 2/5/2008, 11:28 PM
Personally, im looking forward to the CF recording devices coming out with the new Sony HDV camcorders

Hi Dj

Sounds very interesting - do you have any links to any preannouncements or alike?

Thanks.

/Ulf
DJPadre wrote on 2/6/2008, 2:23 AM
http://jp.youtube.com/user/colourguest14

its the S7 and S270 unit promo, but it does show the CF recorder...

heres the actual clip for the unit
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=CVHkJTKIOa4

I think its funny how they show a guy on a mac, then when they show ingestion in the NLe, theyre showing Vegas...