Sony DSR-30 Deck Reviewby Mike KnowlesPublished on Jun 22, 2001 12:00 AM 
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This machine has a lot of bang for the buck. I would reccommend it for use as a feeder / recorder in a linear or nonlinear system, but not as the master editing machine. Reason-- LANC is too slow for heavy editing. Add the IF-FXE 2 "IF-BOX" and you get RS-422 control, but an even slower response time. Use the IF box for batch digitizing and it works great. Just go out to lunch while you're digitizing. If you must have faster response, it's time to get the DSR 60/80 series. Editing via firewire is a neat trick, when using the VX1000 as your source (or any other consumer DV source with unlocked audio). Hold down the record and pause buttons simultaneously while powering up the DSR-30. This defeats the audio lock mode and permits recording. Just make sure your firewire is connected and source is turned on first. I seem to be getting accuracy at about plus or minus 2 frames on the edit. I'm using the DSR-30 with the Radius EditDV system with great results. No frame accurate print to tape, though. I cue the deck up where I want it to start recording and print to tape from there, plus or minus about 5 frames. If you have to have frame accuracy get the DSR-60/80 series.
Don't just use cleaning tapes. Get chamois swabs and asahiklin cleaning solution and manually clean the heads every 10-15 hours of use. Use only Sony tape, I've seen other brands jam in the cassette elevator mechanism. Sony tape also has the right oxide formula for the heads, I've heard about premature head wear with other brands of tape.