Hey Guys,

We are looking at replacing our old edit deck (JVC BR-DV3000 w/keyspan), as it doesn't play well with MC3, and could really use your feedback on the right option. We were looking at the Sony HVR-M15 (price is right), but it has no serial control. I'm seeing here that that is still much desired. The only serial option in this price range is the JVC BR-HD50. First choice for us would be Sony, but if the JVC is working (it is on the approved list) we could live with that. If the best option is the Sony HVR-1500, (my first choice barring budget restraints :-) I'd need some real ammo to make the case to my boss for the difference in price... we are a small, non-profit missionary agency.

Sooo, my question is: I know firewire is not the first choice, but are you who are using the HVR-M15 running smooth? Which deck are y'all recommending for HDV work (Shooting on XL H1)?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Do yourself a favor and save yourself a lot of grief and purchase the Sony HVR 1500A. I know it’s more expensive than the entry level HDV Deck but It has RS 422 control and HDSDI ins and outs. If you have a Mojo DX that alone will save you more time than you can imagine. Not having to capture HDV and then transcode it to something else is worth its weight in chocolate pudding. A lesser option would be the HVR M 35U. I has the HD SDI out but no in and now RS 422 control for about half the price.

Doc_Holiday:

It has RS 422 control and HDSDI ins and outs. If you have a Mojo DX that alone will save you more time than you can imagine.

In PAL I cannot use RS422 with the 1500 and HDV as most captures fail with TC errors. The same footage works with FW Control and TC. (RS 422 works for DVCAM and DV from the 1500)

Doc_Holiday:

HVR M 35U. I has the HD SDI out but no in and now RS 422 control

This deck has RS-422? I haven't been able to confirm that yet. That would be a help for the budget.

Most all our work is DV out to DVD. Looking at the HDV decks as future investment... want to start shooting HDV and continue editing DV until our base makes the move. We do get other formats in, usually consumer grade (VHS/Super/digital 8 etc...).

Others having trouble using RS-422 (NTSC) downconverting HDV into DV project??

If you are just doing DVDs. Get the cheapest deck and spend the money you save on backup media drives. If you lose a drive, you still have the media elsewhere. no need to worry about recapturing.

As for the JVC deck, there are two format of HDV, that's right, 2 "standards." One is the JVC (HDV 1" and the other is the Sony "HDV 2." (We could claim 3 since the Canon fake 24 will only play back in the Canon camera).

So you should determine which camera you are / will be using and buy accordingly.

TCurren:

Get the cheapest deck and spend the money you save on backup media drives.

Understand where you are coming from. We do back up the DVD media, and have not needed to recapture too often. My question from that is, if we go with the cheap Sony and firewire, will we be frustrated to death with batch capture and control problems?

TCurren:

2 "standards." One is the JVC (HDV 1" and the other is the Sony "HDV 2

We use the Canon XL H1... not in 24F... Which format likes the Canon cameras better?

Thanks for your input.

wcblack:

My question from that is, if we go with the cheap Sony and firewire, will we be frustrated to death with batch capture and control problems?

It can be, but not of line with your budget savings.

wcblack:

We use the Canon XL H1... not in 24F... Which format likes the Canon cameras better?

Sony.

STOP!

Consider a Convergent design compact flash recorder SDI in and 50mbs xdcam compression or better!

Price will be about the same as a hdv deck records onto CHEAP Flash cards and no digitizing to do and will work with your camera.

Terry,

Thanks for your input. I, and I know others on the forum here, really appreciate you guys at the top of the food chain taking the time to help us little fish keep swimming. Narrowing my options down to the HVR-M25 or the M15. Leaning towards the M25 as it has an HDMI out.

BTW, anyone know the difference between the M25 & M25a other than it appears to just be the current model year? Seems like a big price jump with no change to the specs...

Nick,

Hadn't seen that box yet, but it looks like it has a lot of potiential. Unfortunatly, if I read the info right, the input is SDI only, and we actually own the XL H1a, with no SDI out...

wcblack:

I, and I know others on the forum here, really appreciate you guys at the top of the food chain taking the time to help us little fish keep swimming.

We're all "little fish" compared to someone. Appreciate the recognition though, you're welcome. :-)