Creative Communities of the World Forums

The peer to peer support community for media production professionals.

Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy Missing Firewire connection

  • Missing Firewire connection

    Posted by Jack Pitzer on March 9, 2006 at 5:56 pm

    Greetings, I’m having trouble connecting to my DV Cam deck.
    It’s connected via Firewire, and it’s been working fine up until this morning.
    No, when I try to use external video, or log and capture, I’m not able to send or return to the deck.
    Weird thing is, when I try log and capture, I can still shuttle the tape from FCP, but I get no video.
    Any thoughts?
    Sincerely, Jack Pitzer

    Bryce Whiteside replied 20 years, 2 months ago 3 Members · 2 Replies
  • 2 Replies
  • Rob Forsythe

    March 9, 2006 at 8:32 pm

    This list contains virtually everything to try to enable:
    a. External Monitor VIDEO and AUDIO via FireWire & DV deck or camcorder.
    b. Viewing in the Canvas window on the computer screen.
    c. Being able to record on the external FW DV deck or camcorder.
    d. Being able to capture from a FW device.

    If working this list doesn’t cure the problem… you may have a serious PROBLEM!

    Try things in this order until you find the “cure”:

    1. Make sure you have only ONE (1) FireWire deck, camcorder, DV capture “card”, or D-to-A converter or video device attached to the computer at a time. Any more than one DV device can cause loss of signal and control.
    2. Make sure you have View (Menu) > External Video> All Frames set.
    (If the ALL FRAMES option is grayed-out… jump to step 6 below and continue.)
    3. Make SURE your Canvas window (right window) in FCP is set to “Fit to Window”… AND that it has not been “pushed off” the edge of the computer screen.
    4. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu (Box Icon with broken sides) is checked on Image or Image+Wireframe… NOT just Wireframe.
    5. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu is checked on RGB… NOT just Alpha.
    6. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Easy Setup… is set for DV-NTSC (or DV-PAL, if that’s where you are).
    7. Some camcorders/decks work better under “FW (NTSC/PAL)” -or- “FW (NTSC/PAL) Basic” control (in the capture settings). Try either setting to see which works best for your device.
    8. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Audio/Video Settings > A/V Devices (tab) > Mirror on Desktop > must be CHECKED. (If not, playing video will not appear in the Canvas.)
    9. Make sure the “Log and Capture” Window is CLOSED and not just “hidden” behind other windows.
    10. Make sure you have chosen FW output for A/V:
    Final Cut Pro (menu) > Audio/Video Settings… >
    Video Playback: Apple FireWire NTSC (720 x480)
    Audio Playback: FireWire DV
    11. Turn off the power to the Camera/Deck/Converter Box, then turn it back ON.
    12. Make sure the camera is in VTR mode… or the deck is in DV (DV, iLink, or FW) input.
    13. On a Sony camcorder or deck, make sure the menu setting “A/V > DV Out” is set to OFF.
    14. Re-check that your FW cable is well-connected at both ends (or try a new cable).
    15. Important: Quit FCP, then Restart FCP.
    16. Now again, make sure you have View > External Video > ALL FRAMES set…

    If it still does not work. “Trash” the FCP Preferences on the Mac
    https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/trashing_fcp_prefs.html

    “FCP Rescue” is a free Apple Script that will Trash the Preferences.
    It will also restore your user settings afterwards.
    Download:
    https://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14729

    >Then, start again at my “step 1” above.

  • Bryce Whiteside

    March 9, 2006 at 10:05 pm

    Final Cut Pro: Restoring a DV device connection in QuickTime 7 probably also needs to be added to the list of things to check.

    The underlink indicates a link to: https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301852

    FYI,
    Bryce Whiteside

    Don’t worry Mr. B. I have a cunning plan…

    PowerBook 1.67 Ghz ATI 9700 128 MB 2 GB
    Mac OS X 10.4.5 QuickTime Pro 7.0.4
    Final Cut Pro HD
    DVD Studio Pro 3
    Motion
    After Effects 6.5

We use anonymous cookies to give you the best experience we can.
Our Privacy policy | GDPR Policy