Hey Zach, One other thing to consider between the two modes.... In NATIVE mode, you cannot record over what's already on the disk... so no accidentally blowing out an animation when you add something to the Fast-Forward after your initial load. Native just records to available disk space. BVW mode works just like a tape machine (granted, with what appears to be a 24 hour tape)... so with all the benefits we get from this mode, you MUST watch out for the gotcha... if you need to add material to the disk after the initial load...be very careful where you put it, as you can very easily record OVER previous work. (this is more of an issue in multi-day events....and.... when the client supplies the drives! ). Rich

Hi Zach, Here's a direct quote from the Omega Deck users manual: NATIVE MODE Native mode is the most natural state for the Omega Deck to operate in as it utilizes the random access capabilities of the hardware most effectively. As you record material to the Omega Deck it stores the material in the available space on the storage media. When it gets to the time comde point you have selected for the inserted material, it jumps to that point on the drive -- wherever that may be -- plays it, then returns to the original section. Note: Playlist functionality is only available in native mode. BVW-75 MODE Linear mode is a simulation of an existing VTR. The Omega Decd, in linear mode, is forced to adhere to strict record guidlines as if it actually were a tape deck. If you would like to operate the Omega Deck as a VTR, make sure you have selected BVW-75 mode fro the SETTINGS menu, PERSONALITY sub menu of the front panel. You can then record over existing material as you would witha VTR. The main feature of this mode is the ability to insert edit material over previously recorded material. The Omega Deck, in BVW-75 mode assumes that it has a 24 hour tape of "black" attached to itself which has time code assigned from 00:00:00:00. If you were to tell the Omega Deck to record a 10 second clip at 00:01:00:00 for 10 seconds, it would record this and the machine would then assume it had 1 minute of black, 10 seconds of video from the 1 minute time code mark, and then 23:58:50:00 of black after this. If you want to record over this clip and add new information, it will insert the video at the same points and overwrite the data on the drive in the same way, always maintaining the 24 hours of time code as the master reference. Note: playlist functionality is not available in BVW-75 mode. ---end of copy/paste Basically, Native mode gives you the ability to make clips and create playlists. This function is made easier using the software that Fast Forward Video makes available to Omega Deck users. It's kinda like a fake EVS. No transitions or anything, but what do you want for $11k? ;-) For TD use, I've never found the need to use Native mode. In fact, in the TDC-100 users manual, Bill Lance recommends we run the Omega in BVW-75 mode, since the loop command is supported in this mode as well as native. BVW-75 mode just keeps it simpler. See you on the road, Steve