Hi Folks,
Anybody out there with experience of the above unit.
(For those not familiar with the jargon it's the Sony solid state recording unit which records DV/DVCAM/HDV to Compact Flash cards and is compatible with the Z1/5/7 ranges, though it can apparently also be used as a replacent for an external disc recorder on any cam with an ilink output.)
The reason I ask is that I am thinking of getting one and I have read the specifications thoroughly but can't quite determine if it will do what I want. The specs are quite detailed in some areas but skirt over others.
I'm looking to be able to do the following:
1. Record simultaneously to tape and CF card
2. Record to CF card with no tape in the cam
3. Record to CF card (vid+audio) while changing tapes
I'm pretty sure it will do item one and in fact gives the options of DV/DV, HDV/HDV and HDV/DV to tape and CF card respectively.
However, items 2 and 3 are very important for me and these are the ones where the spec is less clear.
Hence my question, as there is nothing quite like an assurance from someone who has actually got one.
Regards.
I've been using one with my Sony Z5 for some time now and have had no problems with it. I've also tried it with my Z1 and it works OK.
What your asking is possible to all three questions but when recording to card and changing tapes I think there is a gap in the audio (could be wrong though) Search here for more info
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-hvr-mrc1k-cf-card-recorder/
I've been looking at the Datavideo DN60 as a cheaper alternative to the MRC1K and have asked Richard Payne on here for some answers but he doesn't seem to be about at the moment. See here http://forums.dvdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=51247
Peter
Hi Folks,
Anybody out there with experience of the above unit.
(For those not familiar with the jargon it's the Sony solid state recording unit which records DV/DVCAM/HDV to Compact Flash cards and is compatible with the Z1/5/7 ranges, though it can apparently also be used as a replacent for an external disc recorder on any cam with an ilink output.)
The reason I ask is that I am thinking of getting one and I have read the specifications thoroughly but can't quite determine if it will do what I want. The specs are quite detailed in some areas but skirt over others.
I'm looking to be able to do the following:
1. Record simultaneously to tape and CF card
It does this as a matter of course. You can:
- record HDV on both tape and CF card simultaneously
- record DV to both tape and CF card simultaneously
- record HDV to tape and DV to CF card.
you cannot record DV to tape and HDV to CF card.
The DV on the CF cards is avi type one to keep the files within the filesize limit of the FAT32 formatting of the CF cards.
Likewise the HDV files are broken up into 4GB chunks.
Sony provide a utility for stitching the files together on import to the computer.
2. Record to CF card with no tape in the cam
Yes, that's no problem.
3. Record to CF card (vid+audio) while changing tapes
Yes you can do this. In our experience, however, if you set the MRC1K up in synchro mode so that the camera's record button starts recording on tape and MRC1K simultaneously, then you have to wait until the tape has got to the end and stopped recording until you can eject it and put a new tape in. Then just pushing the camera's record button again starts the tape recording and the CF card carries on, having never stopped.
We have not figured out how, in Synchro mode, to stop the tape at a point of our choosing to change tapes and not also stop the MRC1K from recording. We like synchro mode as you only have to push one button to start / stop recording on both tape and card. You can also treat the camera and MRC1K as independent units, by turning synchro mode off, you just have to remember to push two record buttons when you start recording. Then you can stop the tape and change it at any time while the MRC1K carries on recording.
I've never experienced any gaps in audio....
HTH
Mark
to change tapes and keep recording to compact flash.
while recording as normal push the "cam link" button at the top left of the MRC1. That breaks the start/ stop signals between the tape and the recorder.
Then stop the tape and the MRC1K will continue on recording. Once you have the new tape and recording again push cam link "little lightning icon comes back on MRC1K display" Then both the tape deck and the MRC1K will start and stop together.
I would also strongly reccommend using the sony transfer utilty to bring files onto the computer. Otherwise you'll have breaks in the footage where the files should have been joined.
M.
Nice! Thank you Michael!!
if only we could keep recording through a battery change :(
Thanks for that info Michael, a nice little tip.
Peter
Hey Guys,
Thanks a bunch for taking the trouble to supply such detailed information.
I'm now convinced it's the one to go for.
I'll have to use the cradle to connect it to my FX1000 but I like the fact that it uses the same battery as the cam and even on a mid-size battery it will run for many hours.
I also looked at the Focus Enhancements Solid State Firestor but it seems much more expensive without much gain.
I also looked at the Datavideo DN-60 suggested by Peter which has the benefit of the NTFS file system and is cheaper, but you don't have the same range of controls and the real downside for me (as a Sony user) is that it works on AA batteries which only last about two hours.
That may sound good at the moment but when 128GB CF cards come out it's going to look pretty paltry.
Anyway, thanks again, and once again DV Doctor proves it's worth more than a tranche of manufacturers and retailers websites.
Best Regards,
Doug.
Now that I've decided to get an MRC1, I suppose the next obvious question to you guys using one already is "Where do you buy your CF cards and are there any types/makes to avoid?"
Regards.
transcend 32gb x133 jobs seem to be the most popular.
I have six of them and no problems so far. they are the best at the price in my opinion. I don't think there's any advantage to faster cards. It's certainly not worth paying extra.
I think I got them from amazon.
One of them wouldn't format when i recieved it. Sent an email to transcend and they sent a new one once I sent them the dodgy one.
On the MRC1 32gb will get you 144 minutes of dv or hdv (they're the same bit-rate)
M.
transcend 32gb x133 jobs seem to be the most popular.M.
They're what I use too. I have had problems with mine, though: the first couple I go,t when I formatted them in the MRC1K, it killed them. They wouldn't work and wouldn't reformat in Mac or PC or MRC1K. Amazon replaced them, and since then I've never formatted them again, only deleted files.
Michael, I'd be interested to know if you format yours regularly, and if so, which method you use.
Cheers
Mark
i probably have formatted them before but recently I just put them back in and use "delete all" in the menus.
If I remove the clips and tracks files manually then it will say format error and you have to format them on the recorder. One of those files must be a table of contents or something.
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the info on the cards you use.
You say ... "I don't think there's any advantage to faster cards. It's certainly not worth paying extra."
I know the MRC1 can't write any faster but might it not enable a faster transfer to the PC's hard drive?
Out of interest how long does it take to transfer a full card at x133, and do you connect the MRC1 to the PC or take out the CF card and use a seperate reader?
Many thanks,
Doug.
I recently transfered 16gig (70min) via a built into the PC card reader in about 23 minutes.
Now that I've decided to get an MRC1, I suppose the next obvious question to you guys using one already is "Where do you buy your CF cards and are there any types/makes to avoid?"
Regards.
I recently perchased A32 gb card from 7dayshop where i found them to be the cheapest that I could find at the moment I was originally going to by Transend but this make appears to have increased a huge amount in the recent weeks so i investigated and bought a Kingston x 133 which in use i see no difference in capture or downloading to the pc other chips i have are and compare against are the Transend x 300.
The kingston chip has been used since purchase for small 5 second clips to a +40 minute continuous record(x2) where on both occasions the files were automatially split into 3 to cover the time period without and loss of frames from one file to the other and when matched to a secod camera on tape matched perfectly over the period.
Hope that helps