I would not consider a non FireWire or SDI for just the back-up fact alone.
The ability to switch resources between students with digital copying to
tape has radically changed the access to Online (DV) quality NLE. We have
not yet implemented the low rez feature of FireMax (45 minutes per Gig of
timecoded DV footage via FireWire), but will do so very soon.
>I would be happy to give you names so you can compare notes with other
>teachers as to how it works. The quality is excellent since it maintains
>original quality from start to finish and as many times as you want to
>recapture.
I am one of those schools who first chased a FireWire dream - it works! If
you have any questions I prefer to discuss them here in an open forum where
others can benefit and examine the facts. Since I have done demoes for
ProMax on the systems, I prefer to have all exchanges examined in public.
Ross "famous middle names" Jones