Sony EVO-9700 vs 3/4"
6 messages in this thread
Does anyone have any experience with the Sony EVO 9700 Editing system?
I'm trying to decide between that and a used 3/4" 5800/5850 system. About
the same prices except the 9700 would be new. I hear the 9700 offers
features like a built in TBC, Time code etc. I am shooting with a Canon L1
and will also be editing video provided to me on 3/4" format. The final
product will be copied onto 3/4" for cablecast on a public access cable
channel. Any Ideas???
…Joel
Joel, I've used the 9700 with good results. It is a remarkable little
editor for the money and produces good pictures form Hi8, especially with
the built in ChChroma noise reduction. The main thing that makes editing
difficult on the 9700 is audio. On Hi8 there is no linear audio tracks, so
you can't hear intelligible audio except at play speed. Also, the AFM
tracks are not too useful in editing because they must be recorded with
video (actually it is mono on the 9700). The PCM tracks are excellent
quality, but cannot be recorded separately as CH1 and CH2, but both at once
only. So in reality, you only have one insert audio channel. Many people
who I know using the machine actually drop their video down an extra
generation, recording the PCM audio over to the AFM, so they can insert
another PCM track. Like any of these color-under formats, video does not
hold up too well after a couple of generations. Comparing to 3/4", if you
are going to start with 3/4" and have to end up there, I'd probably go with
the 5850 system – real reliable work horse, but no bells and whistles. You
do have alot of standard edit capabilities like two insert tracks, hear
audio in shuttle, etc. You will be disappointed in bringing your L1 video
down to regular 3/4 though. If you wait to April, Sony is introducing the
EVO9850. A pair of these will give you a real solid Hi8 editing system
(with a controller also needed). These machines have substantially improved
tape handling over the 9800s, true frame accurate timecode, built in TBCs,
etc. – fixing all of the problems of the 9800s (which we use to edit Hi8
to 3/4 and Betacam. Anyway, good luck with your ventures.
Thanks for the info… I have a few questions if you don't mind… The
time code on the 9700, can it be recorded onto a tape that currently
doesn't have TC? without making a dub? Also I noted in the sales brochure
it says "To execute video insertion, the tape being inserted must be
recorded by the same machine." What does that mean? If I have Hi8 video on
a tape can I insert it over video that was recorded somewhere else? I don't
understand, to me video is video… The only other question is a subjective
one, Can Hi-8 stand up to multiple generations as not as good/as
well/better than standard 3/4"? I've heard as many different questions as
people I've asked. It doesn't matter to me if the "Edit master" is 3/4" or
Hi8, since it will go through one more copy before its cablecast. (I've
learned not to trust public access centers with edit masters.) I'll no
doubt get a VO9600 or similar to make the final dub. Any help/info would be
appreciated. Most people I've talked to seem to be format snobs, and have a
preference for a particular format etc.
Joel, From my experience, Hi8 can hold up for one or two generations, and
then degrades noticeably. If you're planning to use the 9700 for editing
and then dumping it to 3/4", you should be okay. I wouldn't use it for
much more. Chris
Although I am new to the field (25 years as a still photog), I
use a Sony EVS 9700 to edit my Hi-8, with Sony's RME 700 edit
controller. I take my second generation tape and dub to a high
quality VHS and then show it on a 42 inch panasonic. If I'm happy
with the quality on a 42 inch screen, I know my customers are on
virtually any other size. However, just one more generation and
things fall apart misearbly.
One problem I have with the EVS 9700 is that in audio dub
mode, there is no audio line output of the AFM. Consequently, I can't
remix the AFM through my mixer and record it on the PCM channel. I
need the ability to cross fade between music and voice, and
unfortunately I can't do it with this set up. I don't really want to
go to the extreme of creating a time coded audio master and attempt
to key it with the edit master. Any suggestions?
gary
gary, I don't think that the 9700 has the features necessary to do that.
Have you tried calling Sony? They're usually pretty good… Chris