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Sony HDR-FX1 – trouble w/ VIDEO CAPTURE in HDV with FCP
Folks,
Worked for a few hours at the local MAC store with the tech guy. We tried capturing HDV video from our Sony HDR-FX1 camera using the 1080i selections. FCP would not recognize the camera in any HDV mode. The preview screen remained ablaze with color bars and the stoic banner “Preview Not Available”. We were forced to use the NTSC Anamorphic selection so it would only capture in 720 x 480 resolution. QuickTime, OSX and FCP were all latest up-to-the-minute versions.
I realize that with this problem so stated, there are countless troubleshooting questions/variables involved…but just lobbing this problem out into the COW atmosphere, does it ring a bell (“cowbell” pun not intended) or does it jog anyone’s memory regarding someone else having this problem? Is there a simple, “Oh yeah, Bernie had this problem…you just need to download the v.22 FernDock Codec.” Or does this scenario raise a galaxy of questions that stretch before us an uncertain and endless highway of detective work?
Thanks for the fantastic services of CC. Where would we be without you guys?
–Bob
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31 Replies
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This should be never be a problem if you:
A) Power Up external gear (drives, cams, and decks) prior to launching your Mac.
B) Use the Easy Setup for HDV 1080i prior to creating a new project.
C) Come to the Cow before going to the Apple Store. 😉Kevin Monahan
Take My FCP Master’s Workshop!
fcpworld.com
Pres. SF Cutters -
Make shure the camera is set to play back HDV not DV
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And make sure the footage was shot HDV not DV.
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Hi Kevin,
I sure appreciate your time in trying to help.
We still have the problem even though we…
A) Powered Up external gear prior to launching the Mac.
B) Used the Easy Setup for HDV 1080i prior to creating a new project.There seems to be an irreconcilable difference between the Sony HDR-FX1 and Final Cut Pro. We have to slip the selection over to regular NTSC or anamorphic to even see a preview image. But if we try to go HDV on FCP capture, it’s color bars and warnings that the device cannot be found. 🙁
Thanks,
BobBob Anderson
http://www.bobanderson.biz -
Just want to double check if the footage was atutaly shot in HDV or DV (the FX! will shoot both.
If it was shot in HDV check to make shure that the camera is set back to play back the HDV as HDV (the camera can also downconvert and play back HDV as DV)
If the record setings and Play back setings are net all HDV it will not show up in FCP ass HDV
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Thanks, ZRB,
Yes, the footage was shot in HDV and playback set to HDV.
Bob Anderson
http://www.bobanderson.biz -
Thanks that is always the fisrt thing I have people check.
When FCP is is set to DV NTSC and recognises your video, did yoou switch the camera to play back in DV mode or did you leave the camera to play back in HDV mode.
The only reason I say this is because from everything you say it sounds like it was ether shot in DV or the camera is set to play back DV.
If the camera is set to play bak HDV and FCP is reading it as DV here are the posible problems.
1- Camera is actualy set to play back in DV
2- Video was actualy shot in DV so camera automaticaly plays back in DV
3- the camera has a problem and says it is playing back in HDV when it realy isnt.Try doing a reset on the camera
Try playing the HDV tape from another Sony HDV camera (if the other camera douse the same thing I am willing to bet that the camera was actualy set to record DV when the video was recorded)
Try capturing from a diferent computer
Have you tries trashing the FCP preference filesBy the wasy what verson of FCP are you using
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I use the exact same camera, but FCP 6, not sure what version you are using. Anyway, the camera cab be a little weird I guess. siny has this feature called iLink. iLink basically for the camera to convert HDV into DV, without you having to do it. So, if you are in HDV mode and iLink turned on, you are saying that you want your HDV footage to be converted into DV footage, so FCP will look for a D signal, not HDV.
I’ve had this problem many times.
So, make sure your camera is in HDV mode for the VCR, and make sure iLink is turned off.
For getting a good picture, I’m not sure yet. I’m still playing around with settings on capturing and getting the getting the best image possible.
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Hello Bob,
Did you ever get your issue resolved? I’m dealing with the same problem and the thread’s advice hasn’t helped any. I’m using a Sony FX1 -HDV footage with the VCR setting set to HDV, with the iLink conversion at ‘off’, and I’m using FCP 5.0.4 with the easy set up for HDV 1080i60. I end up with it saying that it can’t read the deck and left with the color bars.
Any help is appreciated,
Wayne
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Wayne (and anyone else),
I actually just captured a music video in HDV, and it captured butter smooth.
Make sure you are using these settings inside FCP. Take a look at these screen shots:
Audio/Video Settings:
Note: I actually changed my Sequence Preset from “HDV 1080i60” to “Apple Intermediate Codec” – it seemed to work better for me. Also, Apple recommends that codec as it was built for HDV via Apple.
Sequence Presets:
Also, do make sure you refresh your A/V devices in the View menu. As you will see in the Audio/Video Settings, Sony HDV Firewire is selected for the control device, as opposed to Firewire Basic or Firewire NTSC.
Also, this is what Apple says about the Apple Intermediate Codec: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2704
If you still have issues, I suggest maybe using a different Firewire cable, making sure your Firewire port that you are capturing to is in good working condition, and that FCP is in good working condition.
These settings should work perfect for you, as they do for me.
Let me know.
Ryan
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