Hello,

I have a gl2 and I would like to use it with a FireStore FS-4 Portable DTE Recorder. The firestore allows you to record directly to it's hard drive. My question is: Is it possible to record to a firewire attached device (firestore drive) w/o a tape being in the recorder? I'm asking this because when I try this it won't record unless a tape is in the camcorder. I didn't know whether there was an option on the camera to disable having to have a tape in the camcorder?

Thanks,
tdsilk

What won't record? You don't have to hit "record" on the GL2, right? The GL2 should put out a signal while in standby mode, the Firestore should receive it and record it.

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Fred

Is there a definitive answer to this questions now? I want to use the Firestore to record for several hours at a time to a GL2 (and if it requires a tape in the deck I assume the recording will stop once the tape ends).

Thanks...

So far as I know, most cameras have a continuous Firewire image feed, as long as the machine is powered and not in playback mode. I suspect the problem will be: how do you control the Firestore device.

I didn't bother digging up my xhA1 for this test (I need to go to work), but did connect my Optura 40 to my computer firewire cable. Opened Roxio Video capture. Turned on the O40, waited for WinXP to beep (device found), selected the O40 in the capture program, and voila -- live video feed with no tape in the camera. I could start capturing on my computer by hitting the capture program record "button".

If the Firestore attempts to record anytime there is a signal on the cable, it should record as long as the camera is powered in non-playback mode. Or it has a front panel to start/stop it by...



ADDENDUM:

Whoops; I forgot about the tendency for the units to go into 5-minute power-off when in "record standby" with a tape in the deck. The XH A1 has a "VCR Stop" function to shut down the tape deck and avoid the power-off. Assuming the Firewire output logic is the same, this would be the A1 way to operate if there is no override elsewhere. I've not tested if it times out or honors "vcr stop" when no tape is installed. (Ah, powersave mode OFF disables the five-minute inactivity -- which may not be related to any head protective "record pause" timeout). Don't recall what my Optura 40 has (obviously the analog=>digital passthrough mode works without a tape, but that mode also turns off the lens recording to pick up A/V in.)

So... I would expect a camera between the Optura and the A1 to have some feature that may be equivalent.

The specifications/DTE-Compatible Cameras chart indicate some of the FS-4 series will work with the GL2: http://www.focusinfo.com/dynassets/...-27Nov06-US.pdf

And I guess this confirms it:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=89154



Rich

__________________
FireWire Survey

I Have a GL2 and XH-A1 and have had great results recording on the FS-4 both with and without tape. I do video for a large number of stage productions and record directly to the FS-4 using tape as a backup.

Hey Doug, I also shoot a lot of stage events. I shoot with GL2, a VX2100 and a Pany GS200. So, do you use the XHA1 in SD mode and shoot with it and the GL2?

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Fred

Sorry Fred: Talk about taking awhile to post....how about almost a year!!

Anyway, I rarely use them together. I record in 16:9 in SD on the XH-A1 and I don't really like the 16:9 on the GL2. The GL2 has now become my "field" camera. I still like it but wish the 16:9 was better!

Doug