Capturing video straight from a switcher to hard drive???

Use the DSR45 to capture the feed through, and also roll tape in it for backup.

Capturing through DVI output? No.

tim

I am using the SE-500 as I write this at a live meeting!

I have three cameras and the output of a scan converter (for Excel spreadsheets).

I use a pair of JVC DV/VHS decks for tape backup, ping-ponging as each tape is about to end, I start recording on the next one. These decks have a FireWire jack on them (4 pin). I use a video distribution amp to feed full video signal out of the SE-500 into each deck, so the each get the same video signal. I simply connect one of the decks to the editing computer, my Mac, and it's outboard HDD.

Make sure to set the capture setting to 'un-controllable device'. This will grey out all the capture buttons except 'Capture Now'. Click that when you are ready to record. It's easy!

My signal path is this:
Analog out of switcher to JVC DV deck (recording to DV tape) - (I actually feed the signal through a chyron, then through a VDA and then into two matching DV decks so I can swap tapes without interruption).

FireWire out of (one) JVC deck to Mac (capturing in real time to HDD using 'Non-Controllable Device' setting

I have the 500GB external drive on FW800, while the video is coming in on the FW400. I do this on both my MacPro tower and MacBookPro (but you can NOT do this on the new MBPs, see below).

But even then, if I remember correctly, a single FW pipe can handle two-way DV streams (in from device AND out to HDD).

(ASIDE TO AUDIENCE:
This is exactly why I'll not be buying a new MacBookPro, because they removed every single feature that made it a Professional machine:

No full-size DVI out
No FW400
Glare-only screen (although I see that the 17" does have a non-glare option)
Disk drive on side instead of front

If I wanted a non-pro computer I would have bought a MacBook! In my line of work (Film, Video, Audio, Theater production, and projection using Catalyst) I MUST have a full size DVI; I still use many FW400 devices and I still need 2 FW ports anyway; I simply will never use a glare (glossy) screen; and on my cramped and crowded workspaces, I don't have room for side-loading optical disk drives (the front is always clear because I need the room for my hands).

It is NOT professional to have to carry around a DVI adapter and several PCI Express cards to get my computer to do what I need it to do.)

I've ben able to send DV and even HDV both in and out via firewire. I know one of the first things you'll be told here is not to do that, but I've had success. This is where a firewire 800 hard drive comes in hand because while yes, the FW 400 camera will slow down both FW jacks, the 800 drive just makes it easy to connect it via a 9 pin-9 pin cable and then unplug the camera and in theory gain that speed back without needing to swap out any cables. One last suggestion, and this is definitely NOT suggested so you didn't hear it from me 😉 but you could capture to the internal drive and then move it off afterwards when you go to edit. When I've captured straight to hard disk from my camera I've done as absolutely little as possible including quitting ALL other apps and either turning off my screen saver or putting it on Computer Name instead of Flurry just because the name is SO less processor and graphically utilizing. IF you do capture to the internal, make sure you have enough space before beginning, last thing you want to do is get to 10 minutes left and run our of space. Oops.

Good luck,
-Brian

It wouldn't be a bus dying problem as even the MacPro with 3 FW ports (1 on the front) still only has 1 bus. I'm not familiar with the connections of the Pros, not do I have experience working with one, but I would assume that if it works with a laptop, it would at least work the same with a MacPro. If it ends up not working on the MBP, then the fix is really simple, just get a Firewire or even eSATA ExpressCard. If none of your drive(s) have eSATA, then scratch that and just get a FW800 card (even if you don't have any 800 accessories just yet, 800 is adaptable to 400 via a simple Belkin cable available at any APple Store and it gives you that expanded speed for the future). With the ExpressCard, you just send the camera or deck in via the built-in 400 and the hard drive via the card's Firewire. Two busses solves the problem...as long as that error was indeed bus related and not drive speed related of media format (uncompressed SD, HD, etc.).

God luck,
-Brian

racerrob wrote:
Brian,
I understand that 2 will definately solve the problem, the question is rather is there a problem using 1.

It's usually a problem using a Firewire drive and camcorder/VTR on the same bus. You could try just recording to the internal drive. Then transfer that file to where ever you want afterwards.

tim