JVC's DR-HD100
Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM, BY STEVE MULLEN
The 40GB hard disk recorder eliminates file transfer.
Accessing material
To access M2T and DV recorded files, connect your computer via FireWire to the computer I/O port, and use the HDD mode menu to select DD drive. When operating in DD mode, the unit's hard disk mounts on your computer's desktop. Each recorded video segment appears as a file within a folder. Assuming the file is other than M2T, DTE operation is possible.
After recording DV clips, I used DTE mode with FCP (QuickTime), Premiere Pro (AVI Type 2), EDIUS 3 (Canopus AVI), iMovie HD (RawDV), and Avid's FreeDV (OMF). I also used DTE mode with FCP and QuickTime 720/30p. During all my tests, the DR-HD100 performed properly.
M2T files are directly accessible on the unit using DD mode. Because Avid's Xpress Pro provides a faster-than-real-time import of M2T with OMF, this is the recommended way of working with HDV.
Avid's Liquid 7.1 can directly import M2T files, so I was able to use Liquid in DD mode. Liquid provides three options when opening an M2T file: link (which uses the DR-HD100's drive), copy (which automatically copies the file to your computer's disk), and move (which moves the file and deletes it from the DR-HD100). Liquid supports ProHD 720/24p and 480/60p. Using Liquid, I was able to edit HDV at 24fps, 30fps and 60fps.
Should there be a delay in the support of ProHD 720/24p, 720/25p, 720/50p and 480/60p, there are two non-DTE options that can be used with FCP. First, with the drive disk mounted on the desktop, use the MPEG Streamclip (www.squared5.com) application to process M2T files. Streamclip will convert HDV to linked M2V and AIFF files. (You can also transcode to AIC.) Unfortunately, time code will be lost during conversion. Then in FCP, define the sequence's HDV or AIC time base to match the frame rate.
Second, you can connect the DR-HD100 to your computer using the DV I/O port. Now, use the control menu to select AV/C mode. Next, use the play menu to select play all. Use FCP to FireWire capture all clips by pressing the DR-HD100's back index button to move to the first clip. If the clip doesn't begin playing, press the play button; immediately click FCP's capture now button to capture all clips. Each recorded video segment will be placed into its own clip.
The verdict
The DR-HD100 works very well considering the delays imposed by Apple's lack of support for other than 720/30p. Looking over all the new media solutions, one option stands out for me: a camcorder that would use 70GB REV cartridges that can support a 100Mb/s to 125Mb/s data rate. A 70GB REV cartridge can hold nearly eight hours of ProHD video yielding a per-hour cost of less than $10, making it about equal to a DV cassette. This option would support recording, playback and long-term storage, without the need for long-term storage.
For those working with ProHD, the DR-HD100 comes reasonably close to providing the shooting convenience and playback performance of a HD-based camcorder.
Steve Mullen is owner of Digital Video Consulting, which provides consulting and conducts seminars on digital video technology.
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
