Posted by AnthonyR on 09/25/05 17:08

"Toby" <zdftokyo@gool.com> wrote in message
news:433673bf$0$189$bb4e3ad8@newscene.com...
>
> "Richard Crowley" <rcrowley@xpr7t.net> wrote in message
> news:11jbcii718seg73@corp.supernews.com...
>> 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.
>
> Panasonic is going the flash memory route with P2, but it's not really
> economical yet. However Samsung just announced single 4Gb flash memory
> chips using a 50nm (I believe) technology, so it is on the way.
>
> Toby
>

Hey Toby,
That's good to hear. I wonder why they are going for flash memory over tiny
hard drives?
I would think a small 20gb or 40gb unit the size of an ipod would be better
but I guess
from a manufacturing perspective, flash memory should have less repair
issues than hard drives
which are mechanical parts as opposed to purely electronic components.

All we really need is enough space to be comparable to a tape, if the flash
is removable or
enough to do about 4-5 hours if it's not. Maybe it can be uploaded to a
bigger unit on the field
and free up the camera flash to capture more?

But I still think leaving the miniDV tape also is a good idea as a backup
source.
I wouldn't want all my capture work just on flash memory alone. One static
discharge
from walking on the carpet and touching your chip and all your work could be
gone. :)

AnthonyR.

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