2007Journals forum
Using Archos portable recorders with stabilized camera rigs for on-location video capture
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- An Archos AV 500 can be connected to a camera rig via a custom cable to capture video during filming, though the cable does not automatically start recording in sync with the camera.
- The Archos AV 500 uses a proprietary codec that requires transcoding with open-source software to repurpose footage, while newer Archos models use H.264 codec which may integrate better with standard video software.
- Interference problems between a camera deck and Archos recorder may originate from the camera sled rather than the connection cable, and can potentially be resolved by adding a Video DA (distribution amplifier) to the sled.
- Ferrite cores or toroids on video cables do not reliably eliminate interference issues in this setup.
- An Archos recorder can be flown on a stabilized rig with four battery canisters, though additional motors may exceed the weight limit of the mounting system.
Depends on
- The setup described uses older Archos hardware from the mid-2000s with proprietary codecs and may not reflect current recorder capabilities.
- The effectiveness of adding a Video DA to resolve interference was mentioned as a solution but no confirmation of success was provided in the discussion.
- Weight and power limitations depend on the specific gimbal and motor configuration used.