foldit
Member
I'm thinking of buying this unit http://www.bulletdvr.com but i was wondering if anyone had some hands-on with it first? or heard anything about it?
It looks very promising, for someone like me who needs a solid-state recorder that can handle mpeg-2 in full D1 resolution. I want to use it to shoot onboard videos on a motocross bike, and need the highest quality i can get.
I have tried the bullet DVR and was not pleased... the jacks are cheap and don't lock with the connectors well at all.. plus video quality was lousy when I finally got it to work. The XM-DVR Pro is the way to go for me.. it records two full D1 video channels NTSC or Pal at up to 10mbps each, and the unit takes 2 CF cards so you can keep recording on the 2nd one after the first fills up or set it so each camera has its own CF card. I have used it for snowboarding and surfing videos and I can't really tell a difference between this and Mini-DV quality.. DataToys.com works with you to figure out everything you need and does all custom orders. They use shielded cables and screwing waterproof locking connectors.. IMHO this is the best product in the price range. I'd put my XM-DVR Pro up against any higher priced 'professional' unit any day. This thing is bulletproof.
steevg
Member
Hi Sethtyler,
I've been reading about the XM-DVR Pro, wonder if you could answer a few questions so I can make up my mind about buying?
1. I have an AppleMac (OSX), what file format is recorded to the Compact Flash card ? I'd like to know if I can drag and drop the files directly from the CF card onto my desktop (via a CF Card Reader) and burn straight to DVD without the need to do any other encoding?
2. I understand the XM-DVR Pro needs a Windows OS, is this just to set it up initially, or are there ongoing reasons why I might need Windows?
3. The unit records in full resolution PAL (720x576) and uses up to 9Mbps VBR, but how does this look once burned to DVD?
4. Does it use the Sandisk Extreme IV cards?
5. How big would a 30min video file (mpeg2?) be and how long to transfer this to the desktop.
6. Do the CF cards need formatting before each recording session?
Thanks for any info you may be able to provide.
Cheers,
Steve
GMK
Member
Hi Sethtyler, I've been reading about the XM-DVR Pro, wonder if you could answer a few questions so I can make up my mind about buying? 1. I have an AppleMac (OSX), what file format is recorded to the Compact Flash card ? I'd like to know if I can drag and drop the files directly from the CF card onto my desktop (via a CF Card Reader) and burn straight to DVD without the need to do any other encoding? 2. I understand the XM-DVR Pro needs a Windows OS, is this just to set it up initially, or are there ongoing reasons why I might need Windows? 3. The unit records in full resolution PAL (720x576) and uses up to 9Mbps VBR, but how does this look once burned to DVD? 4. Does it use the Sandisk Extreme IV cards? 5. How big would a 30min video file (mpeg2?) be and how long to transfer this to the desktop. 6. Do the CF cards need formatting before each recording session? Thanks for any info you may be able to provide. Cheers, Steve
Hi Steve,
1) FAT32
2) it comes with a Windows application for extracting MPEG2 PES RAW video & audio stored in "encrypted" files on the FAT32 filesystem and copying them over as either .m2v + .mp2 or .mpg files
3) full D1 NTSC or PAL (720 x 480 @ 29.97 fps *OR* 720 x 575 @ 25 fps) 1-10 MBPS VBR. Looks *very* nice on DVD.
4) uses Sandisk Extreme IV, Extreme Ducati, or 2.5" 44-pin IDE hdd or SSD (solid state disk) devices.
5) depends on your VBR and what you are filming. Lots of movement/changes in video = big files. A 1 min video file can be around 90Mb.
6) if the CF card is new, the DVR will "prep" it for use. If it was used by the DVR and is full of videos, it will not erase or format unless you change a menu setting (Auto Erase = On or Off) .
Cheers!
foldit
Member
I ended up buying the Bullet DVR, and have to say that Sethtyler you were wrong on this one. The jacks are great, you just don't know how to use them! They can only engage when aligned correctly, allowing you to make a "blind" connection, which is great when you're wearing a helmet and can't see what you're doing. You probably didn't know that and so you had a hard time mating the cables. But it's a simple "twist-and-lock 90-degree" type of connector, very secure and easy to use.
Regarding video quality, i can't compare with the XM-pro cause i never tried that one, but i did get to test it against a POV.1 and it was a clear winner. The picture quality is just amazing, and again i think you forgot to change the settings to a high-resolution, because if you think the video looks bad then you were probably using a lower quality setting. Also the mpeg-2 high res setting, looks stunning when output to a DVD disc and watched on a large tv. If you try and watch it on you PC it's not optimized for it.
I got the laptimer unit that plugs right into the side of the Bullet DVR. When i ride my bike on the track now, i can see my laptimes overlayed on the video recording, which i think is pretty freakin' cool! I've had it for almost one year now and really like it, best recording system i've seen so far.
Foldit, I was talking about the lousy snap-in connector on the Bullet DVR itself, which is loosely fit into the side panel and rotates when a torque is applied. The MPEG2 settings were at high res, but the encoding and bitrate were not impressive so the quality suffered significantly. The camera connectors are easy twist-on but not positive locking, something more suitable for a Mattel "My first video camera" toy but not a high vibration F1 car or something else with severe vibration or shock.
After trying out both, I found out the Bullet DVR is a reskinned CHINESE Pocket DVR --- see for yourself: http://zowietek.com/
I would rather buy something made in the USA.. or at least Taiwan!
foldit
Member
That's funny 'cause i recorded my entire season of track days aboard my GSXR-600, with all the shaking and rattling you can imagine going on at high speeds, and the thing never failed on me. That connector on the side is indeed a bit weird, and you have to be gentle with it, but the other connector works great for unplugging my cam, and never had bad connection problems.
The video has improved since the last firmware upgrade i received a while ago, and it's way better than anything else i've tried. So i don't really care where it's made, japan or USA, as long as it performs. BTW looking at that chinese knockoff, it looks absurdly cheap and nothing like the one i have, which is a very neat all aluminum CNC-machined housing, i'm a machinist by trade and can attest it's top notch.
videomaster
Member
Foldit,
Seth is right. look here: http://zowietek.com/google_sitemap.xml.gz
http://zowietek.com/support/Archive/BulletDVR.V201.zip
http://zowietek.com/support/Archive/BulletDVR.V202.zip
The bullet dvr is merely a repackaged Pocket DVR which means you spent about $250 too much. You can put a Ferrari body kit on Pontiac Fiero but its still a Fiero.I would try to get my money pack and find a pocket DVR or just a better dvr all together. I like the stats on the DataToys XM-DVR but its too pricey for me. Heck, for action sports I hear good things about Vio. Chinas DVRs are junk; Taiwan is hit or miss; Japan, UK, and US are great choices but pricey and most of the stuff you need clearance to get (military or police)...
Best of Luck,
VM
