Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Forget about Home Movies: Two Software packages render camcorders into a 15 GB Data Storage Device
By ,
1. A Professional Tape Drive For $60?

A few weeks ago DV Streamer launched a software package designed to transform just about any DV camcorder into a tape drive for data storage. The overall concept sounded so intriguing that we decided to run a test straight away. In principle, it comes in two software versions: DV Streamer Lite and DV Streamer PRO. While the Lite version can save one file only on a DV tape without directory structure, the PRO version lets you store up to 10,000 files with a matching directory depth.

Our Test Basis: DV camera Sony DCR-PC100E. A list shows all models compatible with the software

The interface: Sony calls it an I-Link - but there's nothing more to it than a FireWire (IEEE1394)
2. A Professional Tape Drive For $60? Continued

The functional principle looks like this: The camcorder is connected by FireWire (IEEE1394) to a PC or notebook of your choice. The software controls the DV camcorder to record (backup) and play (restore) - similar to a traditional video-editing program. The DV video format merely serves as a sort of container, since any number of files and directories can be written to tape. In any case, from a purely technical point of view, it doesn't make any difference what sort of data is written to DV. When saving, DV Streamer PRO writes a special header on the tape that contains data size, start and end time and directory structure.

The software takes over complete control of the camera

The manufacturer claims that up to 15 GB of data can fit on one 60-minute tape. That does not hold true in practice, however

You need a PC system with FireWire interface before you can transfer any data
3. A Professional Tape Drive For $60? Continued

FireWire cable carries the current

Interface to the DV camera

Connecting a PC system or notebook to the DV camcorder

According to the maker DV Streamer, it's possible to store up to 15 GB of data on a regular 60-minute DV tape. That's not too bad if the interested user reflects that a tape can be had for less than $3 and constant data transmission is 3.52 MB/s. Mid-range tape drives can't do any better, after all. The 15 GB bit should be treated with caution, however, since in this case there's no error correction running and the camera's long-play mode (80 minutes recording time on a 60-minute tape) is active. Only 8.7 GB can be saved at normal tape speed and active error correction; 13.1 GB in long-play mode.

4. A Professional Tape Drive For $60? Continued

Many modern notebooks have a FireWire interface

DV Streamer PRO Version 1.1.2 - the manufacturer still hasn't updated the ad pictured here (Version 1.1.1)

The menu, meanwhile, passes itself off as Version 1.0 - whatever
5. A Professional Tape Drive For $60? Continued

We tested the PAL version 1.1.2 that despite the PRO tag still has a timestamp (trial version). After installation, all functions become available and, if your DV camera's connected, things can get going. First, the entire project must be given a name and the RAW switch activated in the submenu. Use drag and drop to move the files to be saved, even though it's a bit fiddly. The files have to be selected in the Explorer first. Depending on your PC's or notebook's performance, adding files and directories can take ages. Our test system, a 1 GHz Pentium III with 512 MB memory, was busy for five minutes adding the data we wanted to save (about 6,000 separate files totaling just under 8 GB). And once the DV camcorder did get going, an error usually occurred after 10 to 15 minutes' recording. The DVStreamer PRO program ended even though the data transfer wasn't complete. At the same time, the DV camcorder kept right on going. The manufacturer should rectify these shortcomings.


Once the files you want have been copied from Explorer, saving to the DV tape can begin


This is an attempt to record a total of 5.6 GB of data with the DV camcorder - the software bowed out after about 10 minutes while the recorder kept going


The RAW switch must be activated in this submenu


Reading the data stored on the DV tape: the data was only available to the PC system after three attempts
6. Conclusion: Innovative Software - Still Not Error-Free

With a DV camcorder, DV Streamer PRO software lets you save any data from your PC or notebook on a DV tape. Basically, it transforms a DV camera into a tape drive. That said, you can save up to 8.7 GB on a 60-minute tape costing not much more than $3. The manufacturer promises max data storage of 15 GB if long-play mode is switched on and the error correction deactivated.

This feature was not without its glitches in our test. The program's sporadic crashes were also a problem, forcing us to repeat the save process. Once DV Streamer rectifies these shortcomings, users will get a powerful tool for a price of $50. The following table shows which cameras are compatible with the software. The software can be downloaded from: DV Streamer.

Supported DV-Camcorders
Canon MV150i
Canon MV30(i)
Canon MV300i
Canon MV430
Canon MV500i
Canon MV600i
Canon ZR70MC
JVC DVL100
JVC GR DVM-50
JVC GR-DV2000E
JVC GR-DVL157
JVC HR-DVS3
Panasonic NV DX 100
Panasonic NV-DS88(a)
Sony DCR PC100
Sony DCR PC110
Sony DCR TRV-340E
Sony DCR-PC120E
Sony DCR-PC1E
Sony DCR-TRV230E
Sony DCR-TRV820
Sony TR 7000 (Digital 8)
Sony TRV19E
Sony TRV240 (Digital8)
Sony TRV25
Sony TRV27E
Sony TRV30
Sony TRV-345
Sony TRV730E
Sony TRV-900