Finally a Digital Onboard Recorder that Works!

[Larry McConkey]

Depending upon the recording format, disk or card based recorders can be every bit as good as Mini-DV. The Panasonic D-Snap I am using gives me no noticeable drop in quality from the live image, and I am very critical as I am trying to preserve the ability to see focus from my Vidiflex video tap. It must be on the highest quality setting for MPEG2. Most of the devices on the market are MPEG4 and all of these that I have seen do have noticeably lower quality.

 

Larry

[RobVanGelder]

That is my concern too, Larry, to many of these new -non-tape- recorders have a less then preferred image quality and you are the first to say (to my knowledge) that the Mpg-2 is better then the Mpg-4.

 

I came to my statement because of my editing computer (Pinnacle AV/DV) that allows me to record analog video to either DV, MJPG or MPG-2 and I can see a noticible lower resolution in the last 2, where MPG-2 is the lowest, specially in moving objects. And this is going direct to disk, so no distortion of tape involved.

 

 

I will try one of these days that new Maxian media player (see Brackets, widgets) and compare it with direct line-out from a DV cam.

But it is Mpg-4 so I am not too optimistic.

 

However, the company that makes it says it is firmware upgradable so maybe they can make a mpg-2 setting as well, not that I will hold my breath for that....

[Benjamin Treplin]

That is my concern too, Larry, to many of these new -non-tape-  recorders have a less then preferred image quality and you are the first to say (to my knowledge) that the Mpg-2 is better then the Mpg-4.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

MPG-2 is better then MPG-4. MPG-2 has a smaller compression ratio and a higher bit rate. MPG-2 is for DVD etc. and MPG-4 for internet streaming. The D-snap has a bit rate of 3 or 6 Mbit which is an average DVD bit rate.

D-snap

 

Hope this makes sense :-)

[Thomas English]

Mpeg4 offers better compression at lower bitrates, hence manufacturers incorporating mpeg4 keep the bitrate low for "acceptable" image quality.

 

There is very little difference between mpeg2 and mpeg4 at the same bitrate. However the hardware mpeg2 encoders have been around for a while so so are better developed for the price. The mpeg4 is still a bit new .

 

So mpeg4 will not always be second best, check the bitrates possible with your unit. I find mpeg4 to be more flexible. It ended up as my weapon of choice for encoding digital time lapses in the jungle with limited hard drive space. all be it at infinately higher resolutions and bitrates, and these have been broadcast since.

[JimBartell]

Yes David you are correct, it is the same DVR Eric was offering at practically 3 times the price.

  I do have a product that I am currently building.

    spectrabei@sbcglobal.net

    Steve Byro

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

First, who the hell is David? I've been through this thread repeatedly and can't find any posts from anyone named David. Just curious. Perhaps a medication adjustment is in order.

 

Secondly, great to hear about your new product. Perhaps you could give one to John Hankammer as repayment for holding his sled hostage for four years.

 

Lest any new members unfamiliar with the situation wonder what the hell I am talking about, please peruse the following threads to get an idea of who Mr. Byro is:

 

http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...owtopic=449&hl=

 

http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=461

 

And while we are at it, what happened to your last new product, the "Monster", that, and I quote you here " I've been working on has real potential,and nothing, I MEAN NOTHING, will make me stop and give up."? As I recall, you said (and again I quote) " I will call this The "Monster" because it will change the way you operate your Steadicam Forever. SEE IT IN 2003."

 

Still waiting....

 

Again, for more background:

 

http://steadicamforum.com:8081/~steadicam2002/read?43462,448

 

 

Jim "long memory" Bartell

[RonBaldwin]

I was wondering who David was also...I looked back through the posts too, hmmm.

I wonder if the reason for such a mark-up is because there is some complicated mod Eric has done (in addition to adding a pro lemo), or maybe it comes with a large CF card? If not than it's a very CP thing to do.

 

Ron B

[David Allen Grove]

It was me and I EMAILED him. I was simply curious about the system he gave a link to.

 

Not sure why he posted that (actually I do) but whatever.. I should have known better.. :rolleyes:

 

I have no intention of buying another recorder at this time.

 

I have the Archos and am happy with that.

 

A year prior to that I bought a digital 8 recorder to replace my EVO-220 which died. I can't see buying yet another system. Although... that 7" archos is pretty sweet looking. (just kidding)

[LeighWanstead]

How this digital recorder compare to a a notebook? A notebook normally has 15inch lcd screen with 80G or more hard disk depends on your choice which can record DV avi input from firewire 1394 connection which is good quality than mpeg2.

 

Regards

Leigh

[jay kilroy]

How this digital recorder compare to a a notebook? A notebook normally has 15inch lcd screen with 80G or more hard disk depends on your choice which can record DV avi input from firewire 1394 connection which is good quality than mpeg2.

 

Regards

Leigh

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Please post a pic of you with your onboard notebook!?! LOL :P

[LeighWanstead]

How this digital recorder compare to a a notebook? A notebook normally has 15inch lcd screen with 80G or more hard disk depends on your choice which can record DV avi input from firewire 1394 connection which is good quality than mpeg2.

 

Regards

Leigh

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Please post a pic of you with your onboard notebook!?! LOL :P

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't own a notebook. :(

 

Regards

Leigh

[jay kilroy]

Leigh,

 

You're missing the whole point of this thread! Look at the title "Finally a digital ONBOARD Recorder that works". It's obvious you have no idea what you are talking about. I'm sorry if this is harsh, but things like this are exactly what is driving seasoned well informed operators away from this site. I for one enjoy reading and learning from these guys and miss the ones who left. Steadicam operators come here to cummunicate with other operators. I would hate to see more leave. We share ideas and information, I am not trying to chase you away (infact in the beginning I tried to help you) but you really need to stick to what you know. Running around your back yard with your Dad and a cat with something you made in your basement doesn't make you an operator.

[LeighWanstead]

Leigh,

 

You're missing the whole point of this thread!  Look at the title "Finally a digital ONBOARD Recorder that works".  It's obvious you have no idea what you are talking about.  I'm sorry if this is harsh, but things like this are exactly what is driving seasoned well informed operators away from this site.  I for one enjoy reading and learning from these guys and miss the ones who left.  Steadicam operators come here to cummunicate with other operators.  I would hate to see more leave.  We share ideas and information, I am not trying to chase you away (infact in the beginning I tried to help you)  but you really need to stick to what you know.  Running around your back yard with your Dad and a cat with something you made in your basement doesn't make you an operator.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sorry for asking that question

 

Regards

Leigh

[Marc Abernathy]

Leigh,

 

You're missing the whole point of this thread!  Look at the title "Finally a digital ONBOARD Recorder that works".  It's obvious you have no idea what you are talking about.  I'm sorry if this is harsh, but things like this are exactly what is driving seasoned well informed operators away from this site.  I for one enjoy reading and learning from these guys and miss the ones who left.  Steadicam operators come here to cummunicate with other operators.  I would hate to see more leave.  We share ideas and information, I am not trying to chase you away (infact in the beginning I tried to help you)  but you really need to stick to what you know.  Running around your back yard with your Dad and a cat with something you made in your basement doesn't make you an operator.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

this is THE reason i really dont come here much... and this post sums up the MAIN problem with this site. its become a "common" and there is little value left here. im grateful that eric, chas, mitch, david,...(there are others) still stop by and post on occasion, but we have lost a LOT.. i mean a LOT, of veterans in the past year due to useless posts, fighting, backstabbing, making an operator look bad in front of his peers, name calling.... this was not the case on the old forum.

 

again great post by jkilroy....

[jay kilroy]

Marc,

 

Don't let this kind of stuff chase you away. I know it's hard, but if anything just ignore the "useless" posts. (I try, sometimes I get sucked in though) We need to get this forum back to where it was. I am not sure exactly how to do this, but I do know that leaving isn't the way. If more of us stay and try to maintain the quality I am hoping some of the others who left will comeback. Thier knowledge is needed and missed.

 

jay

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

At one point I was going to leave as well, but it is too much of my morning ritual over coffee to just bolt. Besides, there have been some very good exchanges over the years. Now, I just scan the topics and ignore a lot of the stuff. Too bad because now I post significantly less. Once upon a time, new operators read and watched for a LONG time, soaking up information, and now and then asking intelligent questions. Alas, by being linked to the Cinematography Forum, we've opened the floodgates to consumers that have bogged down the boat. I have no problems with newbies who are seriously training to become professional Steadicam operators (as long as they do some basic reading first). Sorry, but this place was not designed for the enthusiest/consumer/prosumer operator - there are better forums for that. This forum was designed for professional Steadicam Operators working in the field, day in & day out and the challenges/triumphs we face. We are not being elitist, etc. - IT IS MERELY THE PURPOSE OF US GATHERING IN THIS FORUM. It may be too late, but perhaps we ought to suggest that Tim remove the link from the Cinematography Forum and create a folder there for amateurs/enthusiests.

 

 

Ah, look, now you've got me going... and my coffee is cold.....