RAID 0 setup for Workprinter-XP

[Geoff Rogers]

I am after advice for setting up a RAID 0 array in my PC. I therefore need 3 hard drives, 1 for the system and 2 for the RAID. The PC is about 5 years old and has only 2 drive bays for hard drives so has anyone else had a similar problem and how did they overcome it? I know I need an ATA 133 PCI RAID controller card but what is the minimum recommended specifications for the hard drives.

Thanks
Geoff

[MovieStuff]

I am after advice for setting up a RAID 0 array in my PC. I therefore need 3 hard drives, 1 for the system and 2 for the RAID. The PC is about 5 years old and has only 2 drive bays for hard drives so has anyone else had a similar problem and how did they overcome it? I know I need an ATA 133 PCI RAID controller card but what is the minimum recommended specifications for the hard drives.

Thanks
Geoff

I don't build computers but you can always strap a hard drive to the inside wall of the computer. As long as you have enough power in the power supply, then you should have any problems. The drives really don't care about their orientation. Most people would use the drive bays for the raid and strap the system drive to the wall. This is what I've been told by several customers.

Roger

[super8man]

You could also, after the computer is up and running on its system disk, remove the floppy drive and/or the CD/DVD drives...of course, you would need to have a second computer to network the captured files to for final processing to a DVD, etc. My Workprinter PC has no drives other than internal hard disks and I make due quite well.

Oh, you can also drill a hole in the side of the case and let the raid sit in an external box of some sort (with a fan I hope). Lot's of ideas...it's not like it has to be pretty or anything.

[granfer]

This is a mechanical problem. Have a look at this....

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?menuno=12131

since Maplin in the UK sell hardware "add-ons" to mount extra drives where no bays exist, you should be able to find them at computer stores world-wide
And not expensive.

Granfer

[Geoff Rogers]

Hi Granfer

Thanks for the link, I've already set the RAID up using exactly the kit you mention. It was a bit of a fiddle but it worked first time. Now trying to get the timing disk set up correctly. I can get it almost perfect but occasionally one capture starts streaking. If I stop the workprinter and re-start it it's OK. The other possible culprits are my Sony camcorder, my McAfee security software or the USB mouse trigger. Luckily I'm retired so I can experiment when I please.

Geoff

[super8man]

Try rotating the disc 180...I used to have that issue and while I cannot recall how I fixed it, I do recall that I did so by making BIG changes in the rotation and actually learned HOW the pulldown frames were appearing on the screen...it got to where I could tell what side of "0" I was on...obviously, I got right but that's the thought process I went through...

[Geoff Rogers]

Try rotating the disc 180...I used to have that issue and while I cannot recall how I fixed it, I do recall that I did so by making BIG changes in the rotation and actually learned HOW the pulldown frames were appearing on the screen...it got to where I could tell what side of "0" I was on...obviously, I got right but that's the thought process I went through...

Thanks super8man

I spent a long time trying and did a complete 360 degree turn in minute increments. There were a few spots where it would work 99% of the time and one where I've left it. I can edit the odd frames out if needed.

Roger suggested raising the shutter speed to 1/250 of a second but my Sony TRV 355 will not go that high as far as I can see. What cameras do other Workprinter owners use?

Geoff

[super8man]

Canon GL2 with a setting of anywhere from 1/70 through 1/120...haven't tried higher...f-stop about 3.7ish...0db boost...

[telesync]

Why use CineCap, and why use Raid? Why not simply do direct capture? That's how we transfer film for our customers and it's perfect.

[MovieStuff]

Why use CineCap, and why use Raid? Why not simply do direct capture? That's how we transfer film for our customers and it's perfect.

If you want to perform rapid stop motion capture at about 8.5fps, which is the speed of the WorkPrinter, then you really need an internal Raid-0 drive array to keep up with the transfer rate. You can capture without a Raid and you will not drop any frames but you may lose sync and that would result in blurred pulldown frames. But if you transfer at less than 5fps, then you don't really need a Raid.

Roger