JVC Everio HD Share Station question... (HV20 ment'd)

I've been researching camcorders for a few weeks now. I've read alot here and I've talked with 4 different salespeople at 4 different stores with mixed recommendations--3 for HDD and 1 for MiniDV. I'm really torn between this camcorder and the Canon HV20 but leaning more toward the HV20. One issue with the HDD's is how do you store footage longterm in HD if you don't have an HD burner? The Share Station is suppose to create HD data discs but wondering exactly what that means? I can only find very limited information about this Share Station. I know it is not an HD burner.

Here's info from the JVC site--

"The HD Everio camcorder also connects to an optional JVC DVD burner, the HD Everio SHARE STATION CU-VD40, with a USB 2.0 cable and is controlled directly through the camcorder. The SHARE STATION can be used to create HD data discs to archive HD video clip files and writes to both DVD-R and DVD-RW discs. It also allows for the creation of digital stills in a JPEG format. Dual-layer DVD-R is also supported, which means that the combination of the HD Everio and the CU-VD40 provides a PC-less solution to the high-capacity archiving needs of HD content. HD and still files can be played back in ultra-high quality via the CU-VD40’s HDMI output without the use of a computer. The HD Everio SHARE STATION also allows easy playback of archived files, without having to use the camcorder. Separately from the HD Everio, the CU-VD40 can be used as a DVD burner for PCs."

So, if I burn a DVD w/ the HD Share Station and it creates my HD data disc can I then manipulate that data in the future when true HD burners are more affordable? I suppose the same question goes for the Canon HV20--at some point will I be able to take the HD MiniDV tapes and burn true HD DVD's from them? Thanks for any advice! I'm a novice at this and I'd like some expert advice!

Hmm....

CC has 250GB SATA HDs for sale at $59... Picked up a 500GB external eSATA drive for $149...

Stays digital, no problems with tapes being erased. How many tapes can a 250GB drive hold? How much is a single HD-DVD or Blue-ray disk?

SuziQC, just think of a DVD (regular, not HD) as a small disk drive. You can write any kind of file to it and use it as an archive. That's what the Share Station does with the video files from the cam. Of course, only about 4.5 GB of data will fit on a single layer disk but that should hold a reasonable amount of video. I'm guessing the software knows how to handle larger files by spiltting them across volumes but that's just a guess.

Just keep in mind that the disk you create will not play in any DVD player since they are not authored DVDs.

Later, when high def DVD burners become affordable and widespread, you'll just copy the files off those Share Station-made DVDs and treat them like any other video file--edit them, author DVDs and burn them.

Good luck.

Dennis

Just keep in mind that the disk you create will not play in any DVD player since they are not authored DVDs.


Thanks for your answer! I didn't realize when I started searching for a new camcorder to replace my 10 year old JVC that it would be so darn complicated! :confused:

So, this would just be a quick and convenient way to archive, and I can play back in HD through the Share Station's HDMI, but I would still have to download to my computer if I wanted to burn to a DVD that I can share with family?

Thanks for your answer! I didn't realize when I started searching for a new camcorder to replace my 10 year old JVC that it would be so darn complicated! :confused:

And it keeps getting more complicated. Sony just announced a replacement for a cam it just introduced last fall! Talk about your short product lives. Wow.

So, this would just be a quick and convenient way to archive, and I can play back in HD through the Share Station's HDMI, but I would still have to download to my computer if I wanted to burn to a DVD that I can share with family?
Yes, that's right. And you'll need software to convert the JVC high def video to standard def MPEG-2 for the DVD. I don't know if the JVC-supplied software will do that. It should but that's a different issue. If not, there are plenty of good editing programs on the market that will.

Good luck.

Dennis

And it keeps getting more complicated. Sony just announced a replacement for a cam it just introduced last fall! Talk about your short product lives. Wow.

Yes, that's right. And you'll need software to convert the JVC high def video to standard def MPEG-2 for the DVD. I don't know if the JVC-supplied software will do that. It should but that's a different issue. If not, there are plenty of good editing programs on the market that will.

Good luck.

Dennis

I've read some user reviews that said they had no problem with the HD7 and iMovie after loading the supplied JVC plug in for Apple. I plan on visiting the in store apple support and I'll report back what I find. I think I'll probably go with the Canon HV20, but I like to research everything and know exactly what I'm getting myself into! Thanks for all of your help!!

Personally I am going the hard drive backup route. The transfers are quicker and there aren't any coaster to be made. I have an external case with a rack for swapping drives. Since the TB HDD are starting to hit the market, you can get 100-250GB drive cheap. Plus there really isn't the spanning over multiple disk issue to deal with since I can dump a couple of complete camera fills on 1 HDD.

I thought I'd fill people in on what I do and my plans for the future regarding storing files.

I own an Infrant ReadyNas NV. This is a NAS(network access storage) box that can hold 4 hard drives and up to 3TB of disk space. I currently have 1TB(4x250GB drives) and 750GB is usable. I also have 2x250GB USB drives hooked to it.

I transfer all my master files to the NAS for storage and back up. I also put video that I've edited on the NAS and when I can find a cheap device that streams audio/video, I can run services on the NAS to stream the edited video to my HDTV.

FYI - the NAS is about ~$580 + $90 for each 250GB drive. So it's not the cheapest solution, but it will last me a long time to come. The hard drives are warrantied for 5 years and have a 24/7 uptime. They are Seagate Barracuda ES drives.

So this gives me massive backup storage, it's over a network so multiple clients can access the files, and eventually, I can stream the edited video to my HDTV.

One more thing, I am connected to a gigabit switch which supports jumbo frames and this gives me higher data transfer rates.