Mobile Television Group

EVS XFiles with Removable Hard Drives

XFile units and their removable hard drives significantly decrease "loading" time for the EVS systems during pre-production, improve portability of pre-recorded production elements and event melts, and provide an archive base of Hi Def or Std Def melts.

The Mobile Group recommends using external Firewire drives rather than installing drives in the EVS provided trays.

These "off-the-shelf" external Firewire hard drives are very user friendly and easy to carry from event to event and they plug in to the EVS XFile Firewire connection ports rather than needing a special tray. They are available in virtually any local computer store or on-line computer supply web site ~~ current costs average from $170 to $225 each.

These drives utilize the Firewire ports (IEEE 1394) on the back of the EVS Xfile and do not require 3rd party Windows drivers.

Additional Notes:

  1. There are known compatibility issues with LaCie External Firewire Hard Drives and the Xfile. It is best that you **not** connect LaCie external drives to the Xfile at all.

    These same compatability issues are also known to occur on the USB bus with the Chyron Duet Lex and LaCie drive and LaCie drivers/software.
  2. Recording Formats via the XFile are NOT convertable within an EVS at this time. For example:
    1. Xfile records done in Hi Def can not be be played back on a Std Def machine. Xfile records done on a Std Def machine can not be played back on a Hi Def system.
    2. Xfile records done in HD 1080i can not be played back on an EVS System set up as 720p. Xfile records done in HD 720p can not be played back on an EVS System set up as 1080i.

It is recommended that elements be recorded and carried on Xfiles in all three common formats for road game use: Std Def; HD 720p; HD 1080i

Specific XFile or removable hard-drive questions can be answered by EVS tech support at 973-575-7813 or support@evs.tv

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