Fostex DV824 forum?

I don't own one at the moment but I would be very interested in hearing
about more field experience with this machine, so count me in (if there
is room for non-owners), or failing that, if others would be willing to
contribute some of their experiences to the forum (thanks to Griffin
for sharing his).

nvt


Douglas Tourtelot wrote:
> I am interested in starting a forum that involves the users of the Fostex
> DV824 on-set and the post folks who either use the machine or another to
> transfer the tracks made on the DV824. Anyone else?
>
> Regards,
>
> D.
>
> Douglas Tourtelot, CAS
> Seattle, WA
> tourtelot.TakeThisOut@speakeasy.net
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

Sounds like a great idea, I've been looking for something like that.

Rick
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

Sounds Great Doug,

Eric

Douglas Tourtelot wrote:
> I am interested in starting a forum that involves the users of the Fostex
> DV824 on-set and the post folks who either use the machine or another to
> transfer the tracks made on the DV824. Anyone else?
>
> Regards,
>
> D.
>
> Douglas Tourtelot, CAS
> Seattle, WA
> tourtelot RemoveThis @speakeasy.net
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

On Mon, 29 May 2006 11:17:46 -0700, "Douglas Tourtelot"
<tourtelot.RemoveThis@nospanspeakeasy.net> schreef:

>I am interested in starting a forum that involves the users of the Fostex
>DV824 on-set and the post folks who either use the machine or another to
>transfer the tracks made on the DV824. Anyone else?
>

Of course, always curious how that machine is doing in the real world.


R






--
Http://www.xs4all.nl/~tuig/index.html
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

I've done two full length features and two TV shows with it. (as a third -
you know, the guy loading, slating, toning, meta data editing,
troubleshooting, etc.)
I like it a lot. I'm willing to elaborate. But, bottom line is: It's
conveniences out weigh it's annoyances, IMHO.

Paul Pouthier
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

Pouth wrote:
> I like it a lot. I'm willing to elaborate. But, bottom line is: It's
> conveniences out weigh it's annoyances, IMHO.

Please elaborate on both conveniences and annoyances, Pouth...thanks!

nvt
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

Ok, well I'll start with the annoyances. Which will read as a list of
things that "went wrong", so to speak.

There are software glitches that pop up from time to time. I can't recall
what each one said (a window pops up on screen and you have to address it
before moving on) but there was only one I can recall that really stops
progression.

On one job, we got a pop-up message that said the system was "unlocked" or
"unstable" (sorry, can't recall which) and the machine would freeze. the
only way to get it un froze was to turn it off, unplug its power cable(the
ususal 10 seconds) then reboot. No file errors or any indication as to why
the message came up. I believe those fix-it directions came from someone at
fostex, but again, I'm Ron Regan on that. It never happened while we were
rolling or getting ready to roll. Usually after a move and reboot (after
lunch, etc) Didn't happen a lot, but very perplexing.

Some people complain about the menu set-up. I come from the camp that
things are what they are and I adapt with no real gripes. It's got a lot of
sub menus to navigate. But once I got through the learning curve, I found
that I could edit files very quickly with ease. I mean, really, that's
usually saved for the time between doing the headless chicken dance, so no
biggie 4 me.
I prefer just using the face keys as opposed to the "indestructable
keyboard" (remember how breakable "unbreakable combs" were?) Tangent,
sorry...anyhoo.

The quick set features are good. Most of the things you would need to edit
on the fly are accessable there. But you have to be careful not to bump the
dial while your passing the "pull up/down" area or other setting.(just an
example, I bumped the frame rate setting without realizing it as I was going
to the "active tracks" setting and recorded the next track out of sync.)
The dial could be a little bigger and I think it should be a two key stroke
to "set" anything in the quick menu. Like it is when you do false starts.
(shift, false start, confirm)

You are monitoring the hard drive in real time.(basically the input, no
confidence I think there should be a way to choose to listen to the
mirroring DVD. ( maybe there is and I missed it) But my first days of
formatting had me missing the "mirror disk" setting and then sending a blank
DVD to post. But it wasn't the end of the world since we just copied the
days hard drive partition (there's eight of them) and sent it of as operator
error with a sorry. A feature that allowed you to toggle your monitoring
to a couple milliseconds behind on the DVD would be cool (like tevo)

the internal cooling fan is a little noticable when it's really quiet. But
you'll be debating whether it's your machine or the video guys monstrosity
for days.

And the only other thing I found annoying (and this could very well be a
STOCK issue) is sometimes it doesn't like the DVD's production bought for
you and you go through two or three times or "bad disc/ can't or won't
format" episodes. The maxells had the lowest percentage of trouble for me.
forget TDK, the machine hates 'em

Over all, I feel like this machine is like my sony pcm-7000 dat machine i
use in my studio. Just a work horse of a machine. reliable.

Now we all know that the equipment we use on location gets exposed to
conditions that are extreme from time to time and our gear is going to do
weird things from this, but this machine WILL work ten times more than it
WON'T in those conditions.
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

Pouth wrote:
> And the only other thing I found annoying (and this could very well be a
> STOCK issue) is sometimes it doesn't like the DVD's production bought for
> you and you go through two or three times or "bad disc/ can't or won't
> format" episodes. The maxells had the lowest percentage of trouble for me.
> forget TDK, the machine hates 'em

Were these the bare discs or cartridge style?
We did a reality show w/ 3 of these machines and formatted about 400
bare discs. The bare Maxells and Panasonics had about a 20%(ouch!)
failure rate on formatting and then we went over to the cartridges and
didn't have any failures in formatting for the next 200 or so.
The machines are very straight forward and you can get the metadata
stuff and certain keystrokes to enter metadata in very little time.
Just label your keyboard and you are set.

The one thing that will get me to go out and buy one is when Fostex
figures out how to allow access to the UDF formated HD. UDF is the
beauty and achilles heal of this design which allows simultaneous
recording on 2 formats in real time.

Scott Harber
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

Thanks for all of the first-person reactions...it's always nice to get
some feedback of pluses and minuses from the horse's mouth instead of
speculation.


Pouth wrote:

> But it wasn't the end of the world since we just copied the
> days hard drive partition (there's eight of them) and sent it of as operator
> error with a sorry. A feature that allowed you to toggle your monitoring
> to a couple milliseconds behind on the DVD would be cool (like tevo)

Only eight days' worth of partitions on the HD? That seems a bit
skimpy. I guess I got spoiled by the 744T's partition-less drive which
allowed me to keep at least half a show on the drive. I'm currently
having a larger HD installed on the 744T so now I can keep the whole
feature on -- really handy when we want to check back on whether or not
we got such and such a line, check for the other side of a phone call,
check something the editor has a question about, etc etc. I wonder if
A) the 824 HD, like the SD, can be swapped for a third-party larger
capacity drive, and B) if the partitions can be user-configurable
instead of set for one per DVD-RAM. That'd be great. Rick?

> Over all, I feel like this machine is like my sony pcm-7000 dat machine i
> use in my studio. Just a work horse of a machine. reliable.

Good to know...that, of course, is the most important thing. Many of
us had PD2 problems way back when, but even more of us experienced
nothing but solid, reliable behavior from the PD4 for show after show
and year after year. I'm glad that Fostex tradition seems to be
upheld.

Regards,

Noah Timan
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

Noah and group,

I have had success with the factory 80gb HD which enables 16
partitions. It's enough to keep me busy.

I've also had no problems with file xfer via ftp (LAN) to the
harddrive. I believe that my version of software is v1.33.

DV824 takes over an hour to burn a DVD-R copy of a partition - but it
works without a laptop in the field. Set yesterdays work to copy at
lunch for a backup hard copy, or LAN to an external HD (with a laptop
of course)

I've had power problems with my unit. It somehow dirties up my 12vdc
car power and bleeds harddrive and fan noise all over the audio tracks
of my mixer (AD147). Looks like the investment will have to include
some power conditioning solution!! Any help here Rick C.?

We are currently in an extremely moist environment! Daily high
temperatures and increasing to possible 40deg within a month. Seems
like an extremely solid recorder on location so far.

Eric


Noah Timan wrote:
> Thanks for all of the first-person reactions...it's always nice to get
> some feedback of pluses and minuses from the horse's mouth instead of
> speculation.
>
>
> Pouth wrote:
>
> > But it wasn't the end of the world since we just copied the
> > days hard drive partition (there's eight of them) and sent it of as operator
> > error with a sorry. A feature that allowed you to toggle your monitoring
> > to a couple milliseconds behind on the DVD would be cool (like tevo)
>
> Only eight days' worth of partitions on the HD? That seems a bit
> skimpy. I guess I got spoiled by the 744T's partition-less drive which
> allowed me to keep at least half a show on the drive. I'm currently
> having a larger HD installed on the 744T so now I can keep the whole
> feature on -- really handy when we want to check back on whether or not
> we got such and such a line, check for the other side of a phone call,
> check something the editor has a question about, etc etc. I wonder if
> A) the 824 HD, like the SD, can be swapped for a third-party larger
> capacity drive, and B) if the partitions can be user-configurable
> instead of set for one per DVD-RAM. That'd be great. Rick?
>
> > Over all, I feel like this machine is like my sony pcm-7000 dat machine i
> > use in my studio. Just a work horse of a machine. reliable.
>
> Good to know...that, of course, is the most important thing. Many of
> us had PD2 problems way back when, but even more of us experienced
> nothing but solid, reliable behavior from the PD4 for show after show
> and year after year. I'm glad that Fostex tradition seems to be
> upheld.
>
> Regards,
>
> Noah Timan
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

Rick C sez the USB access to the HDD "is coming soon."

D.


"S Harber" <dangmesh.DeleteThis@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:1150259479.823154.262870@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>
> Pouth wrote:
>> And the only other thing I found annoying (and this could very well be a
>> STOCK issue) is sometimes it doesn't like the DVD's production bought for
>> you and you go through two or three times or "bad disc/ can't or won't
>> format" episodes. The maxells had the lowest percentage of trouble for
>> me.
>> forget TDK, the machine hates 'em
>
> Were these the bare discs or cartridge style?
> We did a reality show w/ 3 of these machines and formatted about 400
> bare discs. The bare Maxells and Panasonics had about a 20%(ouch!)
> failure rate on formatting and then we went over to the cartridges and
> didn't have any failures in formatting for the next 200 or so.
> The machines are very straight forward and you can get the metadata
> stuff and certain keystrokes to enter metadata in very little time.
> Just label your keyboard and you are set.
>
> The one thing that will get me to go out and buy one is when Fostex
> figures out how to allow access to the UDF formated HD. UDF is the
> beauty and achilles heal of this design which allows simultaneous
> recording on 2 formats in real time.
>
> Scott Harber
>
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

>Were these the bare discs or cartridge style?

I've only used cartridge style discs. I think it's a little risky using
bare discs on location. It would be good if you could get production to pay
you for a day of pre-pro formatting discs, what fun.

> > Only eight days' worth of partitions on the HD? That seems a bit
> > skimpy.

> I have had success with the factory 80gb HD which enables 16
> partitions. It's enough to keep me busy.

That's cool. I know the PD-6 allows for 21? 24?, but really...everyone's
rolling back up with a dual system, right? These days, everythings getting
cut together as the day ends anyway. If a problem isn't noticed in eight
days, then someone's on vacation when they shouldn't be and, look, there's a
WHOLE crate of back ups on the top shelf of the camera truck. I'll pull the
days work and have the takes sent right away. Ok


> I've had power problems with my unit. It somehow dirties up my 12vdc
> car power and bleeds harddrive and fan noise all over the audio tracks
> of my mixer (AD147). Looks like the investment will have to include
> some power conditioning solution!! Any help here Rick C.?

Is that a recorder issue or connectivity/mixer issue?
Never heard any bleed on the cooper. Anyone else?

> We are currently in an extremely moist environment! Daily high
> temperatures and increasing to possible 40deg within a month. Seems
> like an extremely solid recorder on location so far.

That's what I'm saying...solid.

> I guess I got spoiled by the 744T's partition-less drive

I'm glad to hear this, I remember the frustrations shooting Night Listener.
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum? 

I have only noise issues on the headphone output, not on the track. That is
easily cured with a RS 1:1 tranformer with the ends replaced with 1/4"
TRS<g>.

D.

"Pouth" <pouth DeleteThis @optonline.net> wrote in message
news:IJUjg.210$%12.62@fe09.lga...
> >Were these the bare discs or cartridge style?
>
> I've only used cartridge style discs. I think it's a little risky using
> bare discs on location. It would be good if you could get production to
> pay
> you for a day of pre-pro formatting discs, what fun.
>
>> > Only eight days' worth of partitions on the HD? That seems a bit
>> > skimpy.
>
>> I have had success with the factory 80gb HD which enables 16
>> partitions. It's enough to keep me busy.
>
> That's cool. I know the PD-6 allows for 21? 24?, but really...everyone's
> rolling back up with a dual system, right? These days, everythings
> getting
> cut together as the day ends anyway. If a problem isn't noticed in eight
> days, then someone's on vacation when they shouldn't be and, look, there's
> a
> WHOLE crate of back ups on the top shelf of the camera truck. I'll pull
> the
> days work and have the takes sent right away. Ok
>
>
>> I've had power problems with my unit. It somehow dirties up my 12vdc
>> car power and bleeds harddrive and fan noise all over the audio tracks
>> of my mixer (AD147). Looks like the investment will have to include
>> some power conditioning solution!! Any help here Rick C.?
>
> Is that a recorder issue or connectivity/mixer issue?
> Never heard any bleed on the cooper. Anyone else?
>
>> We are currently in an extremely moist environment! Daily high
>> temperatures and increasing to possible 40deg within a month. Seems
>> like an extremely solid recorder on location so far.
>
> That's what I'm saying...solid.
>
>> I guess I got spoiled by the 744T's partition-less drive
>
> I'm glad to hear this, I remember the frustrations shooting Night
> Listener.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Fostex DV824 forum?