For those still using tape-based cameras, this unit is perfect for you
11/25/08
By Heath McKnight
The
FS-5 Portable HD/SD DTE Recorder once again proves that Focus
Enhancements is a leader in external, live-capture hard drives. Hook
the FS-5 to your camera, and you'll have video files that are easily
accessible and editable. Plus, there are a few more tricks up the
FS-5's sleeve, including WiFi capability to log clips on devices such
as the iPod Touch.
Hardware, Set-Up and ShootingThe
FS-5 features a backlit screen to monitor timecodes, information, etc.,
and comes with either a 60GB or 100GB hard drive; plenty of space to
record DV (AVI types 1 and 2 / 2 24p, Canopus AVI, and Matrox AVI) and
HDV (720p24, 25, 30,50, 60; 1080i50/60.m2t, MXF, and QuickTime). If
you're recording in HDV 1080i 24p, the camera uses a pulldown to
package the 24p signal into a 60i stream, so it records to the FS-5 as
1080i60. You remove the pulldown in your nonlinear editor (NLE).
According
to Focus Enhancements, editing can be done in Final Cut Pro (QuickTime
files), Avid (Media Composer, News Cutter and Xpress Pro, native MXF
files), Adobe Premiere Pro, and other programs, without any capturing,
which is fantastic. For this review, I used the latest version of Final
Cut Pro 6. Working with the FS-5 was a breeze, but it did take a little
setting up.
I hooked the FS-5 Camera Mount Cradle to a Sony
V1u (in HDV 1080i60 mode), then I connected the FS-5 into the camera,
and set the drive into the Cradle. I was ready to work. When I'd start
and stop recording on the camera, it would trigger the FS-5, which
would also start and stop recording. I recommend recording to tape in
addition to the FS-5, and consider that you're back-up/archive option.
WirelessUsing a WiFi USB stick
plugged into the FS-5, you can send data to an iPhone, iPod Touch, or
any similar devices, including timecodes, metadata and more. This is
great for script supervisors (or an assistant) needing to log the
timecodes while shooting. This is a valuable feature, and I was able to
take advantage of it during a recent shoot. Especially since I was a
"one man band." Logging footage later on is very time consuming.
With
the iPod Touch, it was easy to log the clip (name it, add a scene and
take number, etc., just like in an NLE log-and-capture/digitize
window), which was saved as metadata. In Final Cut Pro, these notes
show up without a problem. You can also use other wireless devices,
including a Mac or PC laptop or desktop. You use Safari or Internet
Explorer to get the data.
EditingI hooked the FS-5 to my MacBook, and was able to import the video files and metadata ( XML)
onto my external FireWire drive without a problem. In Final Cut Pro 6,
editing was a cinch. With footage shot from an HDV or DV camera, it
takes much less time to transfer the footage to the drive and import
into Final Cut then if I captured from the tape. Plus, the logging
notes showed up, which told me which clips I wanted to use to edit.
ConclusionEven
as more pro-level tapeless cameras become available and their
popularity continues to rise, the FS-5 is an incredible asset to any
production shooting with or without tape. For those still using
tape-based cameras, this unit is perfect for you.
Many production
houses and TV news stations are shooting on HD and HDV tape, but
they're also using the FireStore as their primary recording device,
with tape as a back-up. It's also great for smaller crews or one man
bands that can't easily log timecodes in the field. I recommend taking
a good look at adding the FS-5 to your production and post-production
needs. Prices at reputable resellers start at around $1,600 for the
60GB option, around $2,000 for the 100GB option. Visit http://www.focusinfo.com for more information.
https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av ... note_e.htm