wilebill
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Feb 20, 2006, 8:15 PM
Post #7 of 9
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Re: [st3v1e] Helicoter setup - Help!
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Thanks guys,
but money isn't the main issue (for a change), we're trying to get the highest quality from the four Analogue camera's - directly onto a DVD Recorder, hence the A to D Switcher.
It's a common mistake to think that "digital=good, analog=bad". This is not always true. Up until very recently (as you've found out) every video switcher in existence was analog. Most still are. Camera signals still start off as analog and only get converted to digital when it passes through the DV codec chip. Even then most cameras' video outputs are in front of the codec, passing an analog signal through.
There are plenty of DVD recorders which have analog inputs. Take a look at the Sony DVDirect. As a test, record to one of them through the firewire input, then record the same material to it via the analog. Do a blind viewing with 10 people comparing the 2 and I bet you won't get more than a 6/4 vote either way. I did it and couldn't tell the difference between the 2.
The client used all analogue gear before, into a VHS machine - they remarked that the quality was "Not very good" - I checked it to find that the helicopter's Electrical gear was a factor in the video noise produced on the tapes - so for the new installation, I'm trying to alleviate as much analogue gear as possible, and concentrate on increasing the "screening" of all Video Equipment - including enclosing the Switcher/DVD Recorder etc, in it's own screened flight case - with it's own cooling.
I'm not surprised they didn't think VHS was very good - neither does the rest of the world. But that's because of a VHS limitation, not an analog limitation. You also run the possiblity of introducing all sorts of artifacts by going from analog CCD to DV codec chip, to A to D converter and then through an MPEG codec. Why not go straight analog from the CCD and let the final and only A to D conversion be the DVD recorder's codec?
I'm amazed that despite my attempts to find one - currently there appears to be no-one manufacturing an analogue to digital 4x1 switcher - could there be a market for such a beast???
I think it's because it's mostly pointless. The best way to preserve a good video signal is to leave it unaltered as long as possible, and to alter it the fewest times possible.
Regards,
Billy Horton
Video Image Productions
Studio & On-Location Video Production
2 NewTek VT[4.6] Editing Suites
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