Rating: 
Summary: Amazing, convenient, top quality.
Review: I own JVC camcorder, so know nothing about compatibility issues with Canon or Sony, but as for me this machine and at this price is a dream. I got mine from B&H and I can't be happier. Quality is amazing. The JVC equipment is very gooood! Everything works flawless no problems of any kind at all. I overall was very pleased with JVC quality and creativity. Well done device.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing, convenient, top quality.
Review: I own JVC camcorder, so know nothing about compatibility issues with Canon or Sony, but as for me this machine and at this price is a dream. I got mine from B&H and I can't be happier. Quality is amazing. The JVC equipment is very gooood! Everything works flawless no problems of any kind at all. I overall was very pleased with JVC quality and creativity. Well done device.
Rating: 
Summary: it just doesn't work w/Canon XL1 tapes
Review: i shoot miniDV on a CanonXL1, and this deck just won't play the tapes without introducing artifacts every 45 seconds or so.on the other hand, it makes a great parking block for my Audi, albeit an expensive one. i would NOT buy this product if you aquire images on Canon or Sony cameras, as (by all indications) it'll perform as well as President Bush articulates (ie: it won't).
Rating:
Summary: Wouldn't buy it again
Review: I would never buy this product again, and would never recommend it to anyone who desires a "professional" look from his or her work or who has a semi-professional workflow. • Importing video from the HR-DVS3U into Final Cut Pro produces video that is full of audio and video (especially video) artifacts that are definitely not present in the source tape. • The MiniDV deck will not take input from Final Cut Pro; i.e. there is no "printing to video," or even playback to video. After spending nearly $1000 on this deck, I still have to put my edited video on tape using the Canon XL-1 as my recording deck. • The deck does not serve as an analog-to-digital mediator between an external source, or even its SVHS deck, and Final Cut Pro. In order to capture video from an analog source, you have to 1) record it to SVHS, 2) dub the SVHS to MiniDV, and 3) capture from MiniDV using the FireWire out to your computer. This is a process, that, with most MiniDV decks, you can complete with only one step (step 3) because the FireWire output has a switch that allows you to deliver to the computer informatioin that it converts from an auxiliary input device. I understand that this product is far less expensive than most other DVD decks, but it is obviously capable of analog-to-digital conversion because it is possible to go directly from SVHS to MiniDV. How much of a stretch would it be to allow conversion from an auxiliary source, or to allow real-time data streaming from the analog-to-digital device through the FireWire to the computer, rather than to necessitate real-time duplication to MiniDV as a precursor? If I am wrong about how much this upgrade would cost, I'd say it's worth the extra expense to pay an extra $1000-$1500 to save yourself the headaches, if that is possible. • Two months after receiving this deck, I tried for the first time to dub from MiniDV to SVHS. The MiniDV would begin to play, and immediately stop and display a blue screen instructing me to use a cleaner cassette. I had used the deck less than six times prior to this. • The controls, the remote, and the display are hopelessly chintsy. It hurts to think that, for many of us, this deck is the only affordable option. I plan to send my deck back now that I have read the above reviews and realize that I have a good case to make. I've remained anonymous on this post 'cause you never know who reads.
Rating:
Summary: Wouldn't buy it again
Review: I would never buy this product again, and would never recommend it to anyone who desires a "professional" look from his or her work or who has a semi-professional workflow. * Importing video from the HR-DVS3U into Final Cut Pro produces video that is full of audio and video (especially video) artifacts that are definitely not present in the source tape. * The MiniDV deck will not take input from Final Cut Pro; i.e. there is no "printing to video," or even playback to video. After spending nearly $1000 on this deck, I still have to put my edited video on tape using the Canon XL-1 as my recording deck. * The deck does not serve as an analog-to-digital mediator between an external source, or even its SVHS deck, and Final Cut Pro. In order to capture video from an analog source, you have to 1) record it to SVHS, 2) dub the SVHS to MiniDV, and 3) capture from MiniDV using the FireWire out to your computer. This is a process, that, with most MiniDV decks, you can complete with only one step (step 3) because the FireWire output has a switch that allows you to deliver to the computer informatioin that it converts from an auxiliary input device. I understand that this product is far less expensive than most other DVD decks, but it is obviously capable of analog-to-digital conversion because it is possible to go directly from SVHS to MiniDV. How much of a stretch would it be to allow conversion from an auxiliary source, or to allow real-time data streaming from the analog-to-digital device through the FireWire to the computer, rather than to necessitate real-time duplication to MiniDV as a precursor? If I am wrong about how much this upgrade would cost, I'd say it's worth the extra expense to pay an extra $1000-$1500 to save yourself the headaches, if that is possible. * Two months after receiving this deck, I tried for the first time to dub from MiniDV to SVHS. The MiniDV would begin to play, and immediately stop and display a blue screen instructing me to use a cleaner cassette. I had used the deck less than six times prior to this. * The controls, the remote, and the display are hopelessly chintsy. It hurts to think that, for many of us, this deck is the only affordable option. I plan to send my deck back now that I have read the above reviews and realize that I have a good case to make. I've remained anonymous on this post 'cause you never know who reads.
Rating:
Summary: No Response from JVC Support
Review: Over a week ago I contacted JVC support through the JVC website about the previous reviewer's comment pertaining to a comptatibility issue between the Sony MiniDV format and the JVC MiniDV format. JVC has not responded to my inquiry so I will have to make two assumptions. JVC support is not very good and maybe the HR-DVS3U does have compatability issues. It may work just fine, but no response means that I am avoiding this product and will spend my $800 on something else.
Rating:
Summary: Analog Conversion Superstar
Review: The HRDVS3U is a dream to use - I have so far converted 30 old analog tapes to mini dv and then will go back and forth between my mac and the mini dvs to cut imovies. Dubbing back and forth between VHS and Mini DV is simple and works great. The documentation is adequate but not great - make sure you pull down the right hand door to find the "start" button, which I use everytime I dub a tape. The jog shuttle control is a little chincy but it has held up so far. Authorized resellers have this machine at 1100 and up - grey market can be had for 2-300 less, but be smart and pay for the peace of mind when using an authorized retailer.
Rating:
Summary: No Response from JVC Support
Review: There appears to be a comptatibility issue between the Sony MiniDV format and the JVC miniDV format. This is coming directly from the technicans at JVC. I purchased this JVC HR-DVS3U unit so I could edit the miniDV tapes from my Sony TRV-20 camcorder. But when I play a tape (which has been recorded on my Sony camcorder) on the JVC deck through the firewire output to either my computer or back to my camcorder, the JVC unit displays a error code U:01 and the video from the firewire output is all distorted.
Rating:
Summary: JVC HR-DVS3U not recommended for Sony Camcorder users
Review: There appears to be a comptatibility issue between the Sony MiniDV format and the JVC miniDV format. This is coming directly from the technicans at JVC. I purchased this JVC HR-DVS3U unit so I could edit the miniDV tapes from my Sony TRV-20 camcorder. But when I play a tape (which has been recorded on my Sony camcorder) on the JVC deck through the firewire output to either my computer or back to my camcorder, the JVC unit displays a error code U:01 and the video from the firewire output is all distorted.
Rating:
Summary: JVC tech admits product is not compatible with sony or canon
Review: They will however, blame it on sony and canon and insist they are right. I was told to go buy JVC camcorders to make it work right. I use a TRV 900 and a Canon XL1s , my tapes play fine out of cameras but i cant use JVC deck to do anything mini dv because it introduces glitches and dropped frames into video.
They know this is a problem and dont have any solutions for it. When I call they come up with ways to tell me Im using the product wrong. They have had my deck and sample tapes I provided them for over a month and havent decided what to do.
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