Portable DV HDD Recorder
I was looking for a portable HDD Recorder that could record from an analogue signal (your standard Composite or S-VHS). Although there’s a wide range of neat products that can do exactly this, I wasn’t thrilled about the fact that they all compressed the video to Mpeg4. Furthermore, I wanted a device that would record in full DV.
In order to get one that could meet my demands, I would have to build one myself.
I figured such a device is roughly build of three parts:
Analogue to digital video converter.
I already had the Canopus ADVC-55, a really cool little device that takes all kinds of analogue signals and convert them into DV. You can also flip a little switch to gain 10-15 db on your sound levels which is needed for using a microphone without also needing to build in a pre-amp as well
The harddrive and its controller.
It took me quite some time on the web finding the Quickstream DV-HDD Recorder. It will record from just about any DV-signal-outlet such as cameras and of course my converter. And it can do it in all sorts of formats.
A battery pack.
This was by far the easiest bit - just a few batteries and a current regulator to level the voltage to fit the Quickstream DV-HDD Recorder.
My newly build Portable DV HDD Recorder works like a charm. I can record from any analogue PAL, NTSC and SECAM. And ‘though it is far bulkier than the other current portable HDD video recorders on the market, it’s still actually a bit smaller than other portable video recorders that can record in full DV, such as the Sony DV Video Walkman.
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Hi! Could you please elaborate on the “just a few batteries and a current regulator to level the voltage to fit the Quickstream DV-HDD Recorder” part?
Thanks a lot!
Sure…
The Canopus ADVC-55 uses 5v DC.
Use 4 x 1,5v DC AA-batteries together they deliver aprox 6v DC.
Between the batteri-pack and the Canopus ADVC-55 use a current regulator that’ll reduce all voltage to exactly 5v DC so you don’t fry the videoconverter…
Thats it.
Regards Jonas
When you mean current regulator, did you add two resistors with a resistance ratio of 5:1 ? Then you take the current out across the terminals of the bigger resistor.
Does this simple design work ??
also, the quickstream DV comes with its own LiON battery. Is there any reason why you didn’t use it ? Thanks for this idea though - its perfect for my needs..
$599 for the 90-min QuickStream, $99 for their battery pack (DIY AA’s for MUCH less!), another $230 for the ADVC-55 (if you’re not lucky enuff to already have one).
Pretty pricey, even with the DIY batt pack. Good mod, tho.