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JVC's DR-HD100

Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM, BY STEVE MULLEN

The 40GB hard disk recorder eliminates file transfer.

No file transfers

Focus promotes the Direct-To-Edit (DTE) capability of the DR-HD100 by claiming that no file transfer is required. This means that when using DTE, the user imports captured files as clips, and the files remain on the drive. While this sounds good, if the DR-HD100 is disconnected from your computer or if it or your computer is turned off, all imported clips will go offline and must be reconnected. While it takes time and requires space on your computer's disk, the more practical way to use DTE is to copy the files from the drive to your computer's hard disk.

DTE requires two capabilities to be in place. First, the DR-HD100's microprocessor and firmware must be able to generate a file wrapper around the data stream from the camcorder. In the case of ProHD, that means the HDV transport stream is demuxed to audio and video elementary streams. The elementary streams are then placed into a QuickTime file.

Second, the NLE must be able to import — not simply FireWire capture — the file format created by the unit. Apple's Final Cut Pro version 5.1.2, released in October, supports 720/24p, 720/25p and 720/30p QuickTime. (It cannot import M2T files.) The September release of enhanced DR-HD100 firmware supports QuickTime-based 720/30p. (For units without this firmware version, the update can be purchased.)

Issues

Despite the firmware enhancement, other open issues remain:

Will the DR-HD100 work with Apple's 720/24p and 720/25p FCP enhancement? Will another firmware update be required?
Will Apple support the release of JVC ProHD camcorders that record 50p and 60p?
When Apple releases support for 50p and 60p ProHD, will the DR-HD100 work with it? If so, will a firmware update be required?
How can M2T files from a DR-HD100 be used with FCP?
How can M2T files be FireWire "captured" from a DR-HD100?

Before looking at the last two questions, we need to examine the DR-HD100 as a recording device.

Setup menu

The unit's menu is linear and easy-to-use. Setup (e.g., time, date, UB set and DF/NDF) is performed using the setup menu. Use the control menu to select JVC GY-HD100 or syncro slave operation. Slave mode watches, via FireWire, a camcorder's record-pause mode. (Slave mode worked perfectly with my JVC GR-HD1.)

Next, use the HDD mode menu to choose between DV and HD recording. If you choose DV, use the DV formats menu to select the recording format, which includes raw DV (four-channel, 12-bit, 32kHz audio is supported), AVI Type 1, AVI Type 2, Canopus AVI, Matrox AVI, QuickTime, Avid OMF, QuickTime 24p, AVI Type 2 24p and Pinnacle. If you choose HD, you use the HD formats menu to select between M2T and QuickTime.

The record menu selects between normal and retro-cache (up to 10 seconds stored in a memory buffer) recording. In normal mode, your camcorder's trigger toggles the DR-HD100 between record and record-pause.