On Tue, 08 Dec 1998 16:57:06 +1100, Geoff Mann
>> >>I plan to use a SCSI hard drive for
>> >>MiniDV video capture.
>> >>
>> >>Question:
>> >>
>> >>Will a simple Ultra SCSI adapter provide
>> >>enough throughput for a 7200RPM Ultra SCSI
>> >>drive to capture and playback MiniDV at the
>> >>3.7MB/second rate?
>> >>
>> >>I don't see any reason to buy an Ultra Wide
>> >>adapter unless the 68 pin configuration really
>> >>is necessary over the 50 pin configuration.
>> >>
>> >>Anybody using an Ultra SCSI adapter with
>> >>good results for MiniDV???
>While the posts on this thread are interesting, they seem to have moved
>towards justifying SCSI, avoiding Tim's original question - which seems to be
>what many of us are more interested in - is anyone out there successfully
>using the new UDMA drives for high quality video capture ?? If so, what
>brands/models avtually work ??
>
>As a SCSI user myself, reports of actual "hands on" UDMA experiences would be
>very appreciated.
I refer you to my other post, above, but in addition:
There are four variations on the questions, I think...
1) Can you use UDMA drives for mini-DV?
--- Yes, (if you use function-dedicated drives of good quality),
since the mini-DV data rate is moderate and constant.
Since the UDMA feature is intended for increasing peak drive
speed, this feature is not needed (but drives that have
it also have other characteristics that are needed...).
2) Can you use SCSI drives for mini-DV?
--- Yes, but the drives should be "AV-rated", and the variants
aren't relevant ("narrow" vs. "UW", etc.) since they only
affect the peak data rate, which is not important for
mini-DV.
3) Can you use UDMA drives for high-quality video work with
analogue video input?
--- Yes, but the data rate capability may not be sufficient
when using a single dedicated drive, and RAID may be
adviseable (and the UDMA feature will probably be useful,
due to the non-constant nature of the data stream).
4) Can you use SCSI drives (all types) for high-quality video
work with analogue video input?
--- Yes, but the data rate capability may not be sufficient
when using a single dedicated drive unless the drive
has a particularly high minimum data transfer rate
("W", "UW" features can help, due to the non-constant
nature of the data stream).
Specifically, the IBM Deskstar series appear to work fine
(when properly set up...) for mini-DV work, as would other
good UDMA drives (with sufficient minimum data transfer rates
and freedom from "thermal calibration" hic-cups), and any good
AVI-rated SCSI drive of any type. (I've used the Deskstar
8 and IBM SCSI-II drives for mini-DV work successfully...).
For equally high-quality analogue video work, the drive
requirements are higher (and beyond my direct experience...).
Due to the easier drive requirements for mini-DV work, the
mini-DV format would seem to be the logical choice for
high-quality computer editing when on a tight budget (even
for analogue video sources), with lower-compression-rate
analogue-conversion work being reserved for the very highest
quality video work (with big equipment budgets available...;-).