Posted by Richard Crowley on 12/23/27 11:27

blackburst wrote ...
>I run an access studio. The Board of Directors is making overtures
> about going tapeless. This is workable in some ways: Playout will be
> on
> server. "Live to tape" shows will be ingested straight to server.
> Shows
> edited on NLEs will be dumped straight to server. Stuff in the remote
> truck can be recorded on a hard drive and dumped to server. (Archiving
> of all shows will be on DVD.)
>
> The problem is acquisition. I can get cheap, easy to use and great
> quality DV cameras for $300 apiece. Is there a cheap, easy to use
> tapeless camcorder? Not DVD camcorders- they are write once, aren't
> they?
>
> Of course we'll have tapeless pro camcorders for staff and experienced
> volunteers, but what about non-techies who want a mini camera?

IMHO, at this particular point in the life-cycle of digital video,
the economies of scale have not reached the point where we can
expect to see hard-drive camcorders at a consumer level.

I can't think of any good technical reason why Sony or Panny or
somebody couldn't make a camcorder with a place to plug in a
laptop hard-drive (in lieu of a mini-DV tape transport). But they
apparently think there isn't a large enough market to develop a
product like that. Too bad, IMHO.

I would not think that the DVD camcorders are suitable for any
but the most low-end access use.

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