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Can’t get a picture in the monitor of a new HDV setup
I just got a Sony m25U HDV deck and I’m testing it out in Final Cut. I used the 1080i60 “easy setup”. I had no problem loading footage and seeing it in the monitor (on old sony trinitron), and I was even able to have the full image letterboxed on the 4:3 monitor. Fantastic! Now here’s the problem. I like to have the external video playback going when I edit, so most of the time I’m watching the monitor when I’m cutting, but I’m not able to get any video, only still frames where ever the playhead in the timeline is stopped . The FCP setting IS at “all frames”, and I did try to refresh A/V devices but no luck.
M25U is connected by Firewire to computer. Compostie out of deck into monitor.
I’m sure there’s a setting I’m missing somewhere, but I just can’t find it. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Matt -
4 Replies
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HDV can’t play back through firewire live. You need a capture card to output the video. Once you have one you can either capture with it or with firewire, but viewing out live requires extra hardware.
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#25 HDV external Monitor Viewing
Shane’s Stock Answer #25 – HDV external Monitor Viewing
To view HDV on an external monitor you are going to need to purchase a capture card, like the ones Decklink or AJA offer. They will both play out HDV in real time. The catch is that you cannot view this on a regular TV or NTSC monitor. Since this is HD, an HD monitor will be needed.
HDV cannot be played out of FCP via Firewire because it’s Long GOP structure is too taxing on your processors to spare the system resources needed to drive an external monitor.
The best option you have is the Matrox MXO…$1000.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
Ah ha! Thanks so much. That makes sense. Time to start penny pinching again.
Later,
Matt -
Actually… you do not need an HD monitor to use Decklink Cards (or AJA I believe that is case). They have a feature that downconverts ON THE FLY to SD monitors. It works great. You can choose to letterbox it or leave Anamorphic.
Monitor remember…this is not your “end all be all of setups”…this gets you editorial monitoring…don’t color correct or anything else like that without a regular HD setup.
They are in fact cheaper than the MATROX. I own a DECKLINK Pro card – PCI-X and output HDV to Sd monitor on an older G5 Dual. The card was around 500 dollars. I am completely satisfied with the output for this use. The basic Decklink would work as well…but you just have to make sure you have all the connections you will need to make it work. I opted for the pricer PRO model to fullfill my needs.
I bet the Matrox is a far easier setup though. DVI plug and play kind of thing. Decklink, got open the computer and install a card and software. Scary for newbies. Might be worth the extra dough for simplicity.
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