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DVD at the depo
I know a lot of you are already using a DVD recorder in your depo kit but for those of you about to jump off that cliff let me loan you a bungee.
The first major issue is disc-media. Some discs will work in one machine but not another. I bought a 100 stack of generics just like I have done with CD's for years, but about 50% were bad. They would record for a minute or two and then stop. After a long reset period the machine gave me the message "CHECK DISC" but it really means "CHUCK DISK". They work fine in the computer. The only brand I found that works in all my machines is Ritek RiData. I have only made 2 coasters in several hundred discs used
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Next problem. I knew something was going very wrong at a depo when I looked at the elapsed time on DVD Recorder and it was showing just over 3 minutes. I knew we had been on the record for at least half an hour. It turned out that the original DVD was playable but the file was damaged on the disc and couldn't be imported into a computer for editing. I had to make a DVD copy of the original VHS to edit for trial. I have since discovered that making a copy by going analog will fix many problem files.
Despite the compatibility issues I think every videographer should have a DVD recorder in her depo kit, but never in place of separate VHS recorder. My depo box contains the Emerson EWR20V4. It has VHS and DVD-R in one unit. That saves space but unfortunately not much weight. They record simultaneously and there is a switch to let you monitor them individually (audio, video and running time). After about a year of daily depo use, it is still hanging tough. Click "find" for more info or buy.
The only problem I have found with the unit is if you plan to make MPG files from the DVD be sure to hit pause rather than stop when going off the record. That will prevent lip-sync issues.
The one I use at the office Panasonic DMR-E55
| Panasonic DMR E-50 reset
On two occasions after failing, the disc
would not eject at all even after a very cold reset (turn off
machine and unplug it for several hours). The first time I returned
it to the manufacturer. The second time a clever tech support person
taught me the secret ritual:
1-TURN OFF MACHINE
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