Best configuration? OS CF, video storage, firmware, network

[stever_]

Hi!
I need some help with storage options on my new system. I just purchased my first OSD. After looking though the posts here, I see that there are lots of options I need to consider.

CF - I'm hoping Neuros will send me the proper CF card so I can upgrade the software.

As for Video storage... Is there a preferred media? I was planning on a USB external harddrive (preformated NTFS).  Now I see I will need to reformat it to FAT32. I also see that OSD only supports USB 1.1, which is slow.

Is there a better media to record video to?
Perhaps NAS?, Memory card?, Thumbdrive?

Any other configuration options I should consider?

Thanks!   

[greyback]

Hey,
regarding what's better to record to, I cannot really say. I think recording to any device works pretty well. Some people have reported USB recording can be problematic however, but I can't reproduce it. I can play back from USB successfully too. USB1.1 is slow, but the transfer speed is sufficient for most videos.

My setup is a small server under the stairs with 2 HDDs, which is connected to my OSD via a network cable. With this setup, I have no concerns about the speed of my media, nor buzzy noise from HDD on my telly. I'd imagine a NAS would have similar advantages.
-G

[stever_]

Great.  Thanks for the tips. I'll try it out. 
 

[j_a_muller]

Here's my 2 cents.

Configuration:

2 OSD's in two rooms.
Storage on an externalharddisk that can plug in to ethernet. (Mybookworld from WD is what I ended up with.). This harddisk has a Samba-server built in (OS=Linux based).  PC, Laptop and OSD's can simply connect to the windows-share.

Backups on DVD and 2nd external harddisk.

I use ethernet over homeplug (Devolo). I used to have cables rnning through the house, but this is more pleasing to the eye. I have found the devolo's reliable and fun (at a price.).

I will alo use SD-cards for displaying batches of pictures from camera etc.. 

Our Tom-and-Jerry DVD's last a lot longer when the originals are ripped to HD using the osd. If needs be the originals can be ripped again but they have been moved to a box in the loft.

Ripping tape-based home-video from camcorder was done using the OSD. They are watched a lot more when they are so easily accessible. AVIDEMUX is the most used tool here for some editing (mainly rotating and chopping off bits at beginning and end?, etc..).  With the latest beta's for OSD you can use subtitles. It is a lot easier to download subtitles to movies from sites like allsubs and opensubtitles, than to try and rip them from your disk yourself.

Converting video from cameras works well. FF-Win, MP4cam2avi and Super have been used to create xvid.avi and mp4. The results can come close to camcorder.

I used to play MP3 music collection from mp3-cd's or mp3-dvd's (60 albums on  one disk) on an affordable philips-dvd-player, but I have found I have started using the OSD for   
music as well. MP3TAG and MP3GAIN were used there to label and normalize (i.e. make mp3's sound at same volume).

 I hope this will benefit/help you in your choice. I arrived at the current setup by compiling what seemed to be good ideas from others as well.

Good Luck