MCE QuickStream DV - Tapeless Recording

[David]

I just noticed that MCE is shipping QuickStream DV http://www.mcetech.com/quickstreamdv.html, its direct DV camera to hard drive portable solution.

It provides both tapeless and tape options.

A 90 minute solution runs about $600.00.

Interestingly, it is hot shoe mountable, "you can now use with the QuickStream DV. And included with the QuickStream DV is a hot shoe adapter for mounting it directly to your camera's accessory/hot shoe where, at 9 ounces you probably wouldn't even notice were it not for its LED indicator lights."

[elskeptico]

This version looks better, but it still doesn't allow you to go tapeless without pushing the REC button on the unit. Not exactly convenient. I wouldn't mind this for extended recordings, and in this case it would be ideal since you would no longer have the 90 minute standard tape limitation. I think this is more a limitation of DV cams than the Quickstream. The DV cam probably doesn't want anything to do with the record button if there's no tape.

When will DV cams have a removable hard disk built right in?

[David]

By this you mean you have push the record on the MCE unit, not the camcorder.

On the other issue of built in hard drives, Toshiba just announced a 1 inch drive at 2-3 Gbs. Not a lot of recording time, but at least the technology is advancing.

[Pete]

this is cool

[Ned_Soltz]

I would be much more excited about this whole genre of products if there were such a thing as a crash-proof hard drive, one which can survive being bumped around in a Jeep in the desert, jostled in crowds, etc etc. If I were to use such a device, it would only be as back up to rolling tape simultaneously. Nothing would thrill me more than avoiding my least favorite activity-- capture.

What really has promise, I believe, is Panasonic's PC card technology which they announced last year at NAB. The PC card offers greater durability than a fragile hard drive.

Just being a grumpy old man today...

Ned Soltz
2-pop Guide

[elskeptico]

I'm not familiar with the Pana PC card stuff, but it does sound nice.

What was that I heard a while back about IBM's new "punch card" memory technology? I don't remember specifics, but it had video storage implications.

[David]

Maybe Toshiba's new 1 inch drive might change things.

At least using a hard drive as an acquisition device would greatly improve transfer times to your computer.

[Studvio]

Hi there, I just registered to warn you about MCE Quickstream DV/HDV Firewire harddisk. I've got mine about 2 months ago. I've ordered th belt clip as well, but never got that. I've tried to contact them by email a few times, but no answer. Their customer support is inexistent. About three weeks ago, while I was recording, the recording process stopped suddenly (the red Recording LED was off, the Green LED was on). When I pressed the REC button on the harddrive to start recording again - nothing happened. I've tried switching off and on the camcorder and the harddrive, but with no success. When I got home I've connected the harddrive to my computer. No problem there, and the video files up to the moment the recording process stopped were there and in good condition. I've copied those files onto my computer, connected the harddrive to my camcorder, but still no recording function - the green LED was on and not blinking, so the hdd was in sync with the camcorder. I've connected it back to the computer, and replaced the file named "project" (from Movie folder) with a backup copy I've saved on my computer harddisk (I've copied everything from the Quickstream into my computer the day I've got it). When I've reconnected it to the camcorder the recording function started to work again. And it did so until few days ago when back to my computer again, all the video files I thought I had on my Quickstream were corrupted and with some funny names. And no way it would allow me to copy them onto my computer harddisk. Connected back to the camcorder, did a few recording tests, and when connected back to my computer, there they are - the last video with tests that is, not the videos I needed, that were still corrupted. Tried a few harddrive recovery software, with no success, only at some stage I remember one recovery program found a lot of JPEG files that could have been recovered. WHAT? JPEGs? I've never used the Quickstream for anything else other than recording AVI files with my camcorder. So, there I am now, the owner of a 1000 euro brand new piece of garbage, with a corrupted harddrive, and with no support from the manufacturer. I've tried to repair the harddisk, of course, I even tried to connect another harddisk, and guess what - no success. So, after a short period of life in heaven - I must agree that when the Quickstream used to work, my workflow was considerably easier - now there's nothing I can really think I could do with it, rather than put it in the bin and give you a warning. There would be more short unplesant stories I could share with you in relation to this piece of crap, but this last one (above) would be the cherry on the top. Good luck to you all!