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Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy can’t acquire

  • can’t acquire

    Posted by John on August 25, 2006 at 10:46 am

    driving me a tad nuts
    i am on a G4 powerbook, 1gb ram FCP Studio 5.1.1 OSX 10.4.7
    i can see my sony dsr11 deck and my home dv cam using IMovie but when i search for the deck using
    FCP it cant find the device. So obviously the deck is working and the elads are fine
    Have Tried trashing prefs, reloading FCP from DVD
    have imported dv files from other sources and they play fine in browser buti just cant acquire
    any thoughts please?
    john

    Rob Forsythe replied 19 years, 8 months ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Rob Forsythe

    August 25, 2006 at 11:20 am

    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 or “pushed into” other windows.
    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
    “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

    If you have “lost” your entire FW connection between the Mac and the device, go HERE:
    https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301852

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

  • John

    August 25, 2006 at 2:16 pm

    thanks rob

  • John

    August 25, 2006 at 3:10 pm

    rob

    after 5 hours!!! this was the problem solver

    holy crappola – thanks – i really appreciate this as i get on a plane tomorrow for an edit

    i owe you a beer when you get to sydney

    john

    If you have “lost” your entire FW connection between the Mac and the device, go HERE:
    https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301852

  • Rob Forsythe

    August 25, 2006 at 8:37 pm

    Glad to help.

    We’ve all been lost in the digital fog at one time or another.

    That list has grown from a lot of problem-solving found here on the COW.

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