Equip-1 is a dedicated, compact solution for ingesting Digital Video (DV) footage using the FireWire protocol. It is a self-contained capture device that connects to any FireWire-equipped camcorder and saves footage directly to a microSD card, no laptop required.

The Equip-1 also controls the tape deck on supported cameras, making it easy to automatically digitize an entire tape. The connection works both ways too. Pressing record on the camera will trigger the Equip-1 to start capturing.

For builders who want more flexibility, we will offer the Equip-1 Firehat. It is the FireWire interface at the heart of the Equip-1, and it works as a standalone HAT for the Raspberry Pi 5 and other single-board computers.

FireWire Your Passion

Equip-1 gives your favorite camcorder a second life. Mount it, connect the cables, and you’re ready to go.

About two years ago, one of us bought a Sony VX2100, a dream camera since childhood. Growing up in skate culture, the VX is legendary. But when it came time to actually capture footage from it, there was no easy way to do it. No dedicated device existed, not even for professional use. That is how this project started.

The Equip-1 is built for camera enthusiasts, videographers, film schools, and archivists — anyone who wants to digitize footage from a camcorder with a FireWire port. Mount it to your camera, connect the cable, and press one button. Your footage records directly to microSD. Power it from any USB Type-C battery and you are good to go.

Features & Specifications

Equip-1

• Based on Radxa ROCK 2F (Rockchip RK3528A, quad-core ARM Cortex-A53)
• MicroSD storage
• HDMI 4K output
• Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4
• 2x USB 2.0 Type-A
• Physical buttons for standalone operation
• Tape deck control with supported cameras
• Supports MiniDV, DVCAM, DVCPRO, Digital8, and HDV file ingest
• Runs a custom Armbian build with FireWire drivers integrated
• USB Type-C power input, 5 V
• Dimensions: 60 x 70 x 25 mm (2.36 x 2.76 x 0.98 in)
• Weight: 100 g (3.5 oz)

Equip-1 Firehat

• 40-pin 2.54 mm GPIO header
• Compatible with Radxa ROCK 2F, Raspberry Pi 5 and other SBCs
• 6-pin FireWire (IEEE 1394) port
• OLED display
• 3x SMD buttons, RGB LED + Buzzer
• VIA VT6315N FireWire controller
• PCIe 2.0 x1 via FPC connector
• Dimensions: 56 x 70 x 12 mm (2.2 x 2.76 x 0.47 in)
• Weight: 25 g (0.87 oz)

Open Source

Both the hardware and software for the Equip-1 and Firehat are open source under the CERN OHL-S license. This means any derivatives must be released under the same license.

The following files are publicly available on our GitHub right now:

• Board schematics
• 3D design files
• Software and firmware

Contributions are welcome via GitHub. You can also join the community on Discord to share feedback, ask questions, or follow the latest developments.

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