JVC SR-VS30U versus HR-DVS3U

Is anyone using either of these decks with a RTX100 system? I
understand the primary difference is that the SR-VS30U plays Mini
DVCAM and plays the VHS side through the Firewire. The DVCAM could
come in handy, but is certainly not necessary. (I'm more likely to use
DVCPRO, but not likely enough to sink $3000-$5000 on a deck.) And
since the RTX100 already converts from analog (and probably does a
better job), I don't need that feature either.

Any compelling reason to spend the extra $100 or so on the SR-VS30U.
Better TBC? Can you use MediaTools to control the VHS deck through
Firewire on the HR-DVS3U, even if the output is analog?

The only internet review I could find of either one said that the
SR-VS30U wouldn't play tapes from his VX-2000 through the Firewire.
Since that's what most people will use it for, I find it hard to
believe this is a widespread problem, just a defective deck.

As a point of reference, I will use this most often to capture tapes
from a VX-2000 and a TRV-900. I will also often make VHS copies of DV
master tapes (exported directly to the JVC deck from Premiere Pro).
And I will occasionally have to capture video from VHS and S-VHS
tapes, possibly of poor quality (which is why I asked about the TBC.)
There COULD be a DVCAM in my future, but I would also likely want to
record out to DVCAM (and use full size tapes) so the playback feature
on the SR-VS30U would just be a bonus, not a deciding factor.

If anyone from JVC is reading this...why the heck isn't there a
Firewire port on the BACK of the decks. These type of decks are by no
means a necessity- we just want an affordable, permanant DV deck and a
neater workspace. Having to open a panel and plug a firewire into the
front defeats both "permanant" and "neat"

Marc Sparks
www.creativesparksproductions.com

Maybe not the exact answer you're seeking, but I'll relate that I have the
VX2000, TRV900 and JVS HR-DVS3U all working together nicely with Adobe
Premiere 6.5.
I also hate the front panel 1394 port... why couldn't they put that in back?
But for $680 I paid for it, I am not complaining, and I got two decks in
one. The impetus to buy this was a series of ComCast public access programs
I was producing and since ComCast only accepts S-VHS format, I bought this
deck with an eye for the multiple benefits. I save wear on my cameras and
the deck is now dedicated to my editing setup.
The TBC in the JVC deck seems to work well indeed.
I have some footage my wife shot on a malfunctioning VHS-C camcorder in the
Philippines. My Dazzle DVC-II would not capture it. It refused to
acknowledge that ANY video signal was even present at the input jacks!
Years later, I captured the entire tape and was amazed at how it stablized
the vertical jitter to negligable levels. This tape was unwatchable on a TV
because the picture would roll and when it wasn't rolling, it was jumping up
and down constantly. But the DVS3U captured it just as easily as it captures
from the VX2000 tapes and I was able to salvage the video quite nicely.
It makes darned nice VHS copies from DV source material too.
LP vs SP: Some folks have reported problems playing LP-mode 90 minute tapes
on different video cameras than the one that recorded the tape. I did some
experiments with the DVS3U and fund it played all speeds just fine.
Nowadays, I shoot in LP all the time and edit/capture those LP tapes without
major problems on the DVS3U.
The deck works as advertised and performs well. That's my experience with
it. I think the command structure is pretty standard, so it may work with
other NLE editors besides Premiere.


--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

VIDEO PRODUCTION . FILM SCANNING . AUDIO RESTORATION
Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
Business sites at:
www.dv-clips.com
www.mwcomms.com
www.adventuresinanimemusic.com
-



"Marc and/or Teresa Sparks" <> wrote in message
news: s.com...
> Is anyone using either of these decks with a RTX100 system? I
> understand the primary difference is that the SR-VS30U plays Mini
> DVCAM and plays the VHS side through the Firewire. The DVCAM could
> come in handy, but is certainly not necessary. (I'm more likely to use
> DVCPRO, but not likely enough to sink $3000-$5000 on a deck.) And
> since the RTX100 already converts from analog (and probably does a
> better job), I don't need that feature either.
>
> Any compelling reason to spend the extra $100 or so on the SR-VS30U.
> Better TBC? Can you use MediaTools to control the VHS deck through
> Firewire on the HR-DVS3U, even if the output is analog?
>
> The only internet review I could find of either one said that the
> SR-VS30U wouldn't play tapes from his VX-2000 through the Firewire.
> Since that's what most people will use it for, I find it hard to
> believe this is a widespread problem, just a defective deck.
>
> As a point of reference, I will use this most often to capture tapes
> from a VX-2000 and a TRV-900. I will also often make VHS copies of DV
> master tapes (exported directly to the JVC deck from Premiere Pro).
> And I will occasionally have to capture video from VHS and S-VHS
> tapes, possibly of poor quality (which is why I asked about the TBC.)
> There COULD be a DVCAM in my future, but I would also likely want to
> record out to DVCAM (and use full size tapes) so the playback feature
> on the SR-VS30U would just be a bonus, not a deciding factor.
>
> If anyone from JVC is reading this...why the heck isn't there a
> Firewire port on the BACK of the decks. These type of decks are by no
> means a necessity- we just want an affordable, permanant DV deck and a
> neater workspace. Having to open a panel and plug a firewire into the
> front defeats both "permanant" and "neat"
>
> Marc Sparks
> www.creativesparksproductions.com