Using HV10 as a deck

[rhubarbe]

I've been thinking of getting an HV20 to use as a deck. An Hv20 because it has HDMI, rather than the YUV only of the HV10.

Then it occurred to me that if I connect an HV10 to the HTPC using Firewire, and then get one of those little utilities that enables you to control the HV10's VCR capabilities over the Firewire cable, that I could display my archive footage on my HDTV and not need to get the HV20 with its HDMI output.

Does that sound reasonable?

Yes, I know I had an HV10 and sent it back but now I need the cheapest possible NTSC HV10.

[senu]

There really is nothing wrong with component you know.

One of my camcorders has both and apart from needing to cable audio separately the video is equally great on both HDMI and Component both on a 37" Philips Cineos and a cheap BenQ DLP jobby throwing a 60 foot projection

[rhubarbe]

Cheers, senu. I'm quite happy that the quality of component is as good as HDMI but my problem is that all of my sources go through a scaler and this scaler has no YUV inputs. I don't want to have to get the TV remote out of the cupboard now because my wife has just got used to setting the source with the zapper for the scaler and I have no desire to go back to the anguish and gnashing of teeth that occurred if I had forgotten to move the source back to Sky in the days before the scaler brought order and simplicity to our lives.

[senu]

The joys of modern technology!

I imagine what you want to do may be possible but only if you use capture software which can display in full res to the graphics card or external monitor

Wouldn't the hassle just be worth getting an HV 20 for..!??

[rhubarbe]

I'm sure it would except that I read (everywhere) that motor noise on the HV20 is worse than on the HV10. And I sent back my HV10 for motor noise.

I have read that I can get a third party mic which might obviate much of this noise but I dunno.

Plus, I have 2 x 2000mAH batteries and a charger brand new and unused for the HV10 going spare right now.

[senu]

I must say I havent really used a HV 20 . I have seen one or 2 in use though and the owners swore by them

I have to admit to being puzzled by "reports" of excessive motor noise from a £750-800 camcorder which is Canons prosumer flagship.. Are you sure that this is widespread or are folk simply repeating what they have heard elsewhere without personal experience?.
There is a lot of that on the "faceless" community that the internet, forums and web bulletins are
Canons XM2 and other gems of old had no such problems

Besides motor noise is often only an issue on very quiet scenes.. As such it is kind of present in all camcorders . if it is that big a deal .. Both the HV 10 and 20 have jacks for external mics which will ( should ) not pick up motor noise

[rhubarbe]

Ah, but that was the dealbreaker for the HV10 - it doesn't have a mic jack.

[senu]

Naughty Naughty Canon

[rhubarbe]

Tell me about it.

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by senu

There really is nothing wrong with component you know.

One of my camcorders has both and apart from needing to cable audio separately the video is equally great on both HDMI and Component both on a 37" Philips Cineos and a cheap BenQ DLP jobby throwing a 60 foot projection

i agree senu i cant see any difference between component and hdmi,what way did you throw your 60 foot projection ie screen,how did hdv look projected large,i would love to see some of my films projected big.chris

[rhubarbe]

But, can anybody answer my original question?

[senu]

Originally Posted by chrishull3

i agree senu i cant see any difference between component and hdmi,what way did you throw your 60 foot projection ie screen,how did hdv look projected large,i would love to see some of my films projected big.chris

I used a BenQ W100 and the costlier W500; the actual screen was a make shift screen : the largest off-white drop down fabric window blind i could get at ikea .. just to test the setup
Needlees to say it worked well

We used 3 sources : the HDV output from the FX1 and HC1 and the PS3
The output was stunning.. although it was only as good as the footage ( operator dependent) itself from the camcorders but it is well worth seeing

[rhubarbe]

Something like this but with a detachable control box that you can hide and be able to watch the HDV from the cam in fullscreen:

http://www.riverpast.com/en/prod/playdv/

[senu]

Originally Posted by rhubarbe

But, can anybody answer my original question?

I thought I tried to in post 4 albeit briefly

If you connect to HTPC by firewire: you need to be in "capture " mode
It will work if your capture software will allow full resolution of the source in capture mode, and if this is "outputable " via your graphics card
I have a pro breakout box for Avid liquid 7 which can easily do it but I dont have an HTPC as such . I do however output to a secondary monitor using Vegas Capture utility but that is via an DVI output on the graphics card
The answer is. it seems possible but it is only worth trying if you dont have to actually buy the camcorder only to find out it may not work on your own settup
Good luck!

[rhubarbe]

Originally Posted by senu

The joys of modern technology!

I imagine what you want to do may be possible but only if you use capture software which can display in full res to the graphics card or external monitor

Wouldn't the hassle just be worth getting an HV 20 for..!??

Well, you thought I might need capture software, but as it happens I don't. I was hoping that somebody could point me to a software that would do what I wanted. When nobody did I posted an example of what I am looking for above.

I'd like to be able to find one that has a detachable toolbar so I can watch in fullscreen. Then an HV10 would give me a computer controlled VCR, and save me a hundred notes on an HV20 (plus I already have the spare batteries and a charger for an HV10).