2006Video Assist and Video Accessories forum
Digital video recorders for on-set video review and monitoring as alternatives to tape-based decks
20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The Archos AV500 with 30GB capacity can store a full day of video recordings on a single charge when the display is set to turn off after 10 seconds of inactivity
- Battery runtime on the Archos AV500 drops significantly if the screen remains active, requiring a second battery to be practical for repeated playback reviews during a shoot day
- The Archos AV500 can record at 740x480 NTSC or 720x576 PAL resolution
- Chasecam recorders can be ordered with Lemo and BNC connectors and weigh approximately one pound
- A single-cable solution combining video input/output and power regulation for the Archos AV500 can be custom-made to integrate with camera rigs
- Archos 04 series models require a bulky tabletop cradle for video input and charging, making them unsuitable for rig-mounted monitoring compared to earlier models
- Archos Travel Kit accessories provide compact video input and output capability for around 20 dollars
- Video files recorded on the Archos AV500 are stored as AVI format that can be transferred to computers via drag-and-drop, though Mac computers require additional software to convert to Quicktime format
- An inline voltage regulator installed in a custom input cable can properly power and charge the Archos while receiving video from a sled
Depends on
- Archos 500 series units are from 2006 and may no longer be available or supported
- Custom cable solutions from certain manufacturers had recurring technical issues with video transmission in reported instances
- Newer Archos models have reduced flexibility for rig integration compared to older models
- Battery performance claims were made by different users with different operational patterns