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Importing Beta SP into FC
Hey all,
I have a FC Studio 2 setup with a AJA Kona LHe.
We have a couple Beta SP decks and tons of old tapes lying around. In the past, we’ve sent the tapes out if we needed stuff digitized.
This seems like a waste of $$$ as it can’t be too hard to plug a Beta SP deck into the system, is it??? Sorry, I’m a bit tech challenged.
The SP deck has s-video and component video output and XLR audio output. Has anyone done this that could help me along a bit?
Thanks!
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10 Replies
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[James Whittington] ” Has anyone done this that could help me along a bit? “
component in/ out of the LHe into the beta deck ( you do not say which one)
analog audio in/ out also.the hard part is getting the RS232 serial cable for some of the decks that needs to be connected to a Keyspan USB > serial adaptor.
The Instructions to connect everything are in the LH manual and the FCP manual (which is a searchable Pdf)
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production WorkflowsInside look at the IoHD
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php -
It should be a RS-422 if betaSP not RS-232. I use a keyspan USB to RS-232 adaptor to connect to a RS-232 to RS-422 cable. It allows control of the deck. easy to make the 232 to 422 adaptor cable if you can’t find one. Just google for it
MBP 2.4 4GB Ram/FCS2
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So the RS-422 cable allows me to control the BetaSP deck through FCP? I noticed the BetaSP deck does have an RS-422 output and the LHe has RS-422 input.
Still not totally clear on if I need anything special just to capture from the BetaSP to FCP. Do I just do component/s-video and XLR audio out from the BetaSP into the LHe?
Thanks guys!
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[James Whittington] “So the RS-422 cable allows me to control the BetaSP deck through FCP? I noticed the BetaSP deck does have an RS-422 output and the LHe has RS-422 input. “
Yes, connect with a proper RS-422 cable and simply select an AJA Kona NTSC 8, 10bit or ProRes Easy Setup and the RS -422 control will be automatic.
[James Whittington] “Still not totally clear on if I need anything special just to capture from the BetaSP to FCP. Do I just do component/s-video and XLR audio out from the BetaSP into the LHe? “
Yes. Component / XLR audio from the deck to the LHe. I believe this is covered in the AJA Manual as well.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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James
It seems people always forget this:
on the KonaLHe control panel (it should be in your Applications folder)
set the component input to Beta (it defaults to SMPTE).I have found that by setting this to Beta, and leaving the Beta Deck’s Video settings (Video, Setup, Chroma) in preset or unity, the video is almost dead on to the scopes (using colorbars off the beta tapes as a reference)
Other wise, the blacks get crushed, and the chroma gets over saturated.
Hope this helps
“I like video because its so fast!”
Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc. -
Thanks very much for the help!!!
One more question. Problem is I didn’t set this system up and now I’m trying to alter it without really knowing what I’m doing!
I have the KL box for my LHe. Plugged into that I have a Mackie mixer and a Sima GoDVD. What I want to accomplish is hooking up a DVD player and a Beta SP player so I can import from both into FCP.
What I HAVE managed to do is plug a DVD player into the Sima and bring video into FC. However, the Sima only has video I/O and I can’t figure out how to get audio. The analog audio inputs on the KL box are occupied by the Mackie.
As far as the Beta SP, I fear I’m going to encounter the same problem. The component video input on the KL box is taken by the Sima and the XLR inputs and outputs are taken by the Mackie.
Am I just asking for too much here? Does my system just need to be totally reworked to accomplish this?
Thanks and sorry for my tech deficiencies. I’ll get there!
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James
I use an application called “MPEG Streamclip” which allows you to rip DVD’s, thereby eliminating the need for a dedicated DVD player to digitize with.
Its available at the Apple website
My suggestion would be to do away with the sima for capturing, and connect your beta directly to the KL Box
hope this helps
“I like video because its so fast!”
Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc. -
I hooked up the Beta SP (UVW-1800) to the KL box using component. The video is appearing when I log and capture into FCP (as well as showing on my external monitor) but the colors are totally out of whack.
Do you think this is a setting in the AJA control panel? On the Beta deck itself?
I also found an ES-219A black burst generator lying around. Could this be a solution? I’ve never used one so I’m not exactly sure how to set it up.
Thanks!
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James
first make sure your cables are connected correctly, ie Y goes to Y/G, Y-R goes to Y-R/R and Y-B goes to Y-B/B
What kind of beta deck are you using? If its a PVW or a BVW series, try setting all the video out controls to preset. these should be labeled “video” “setup” “Chroma” and “phase” If you have a UVW series, you will need a remote TBC control
then try changing the aja control panel video in to Analog-Beta
If that doesnt work I would have to see a pic of your bars or something to get a better understanfing of whacked out colors
“I like video because its so fast!”
Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc. -
here’s my really simple question – can I connect the betaSP deck directly to my iMac with a
RS-232 To 422/485 Converter
and a
TRENDnet USB to Serial Converter TU-S9
I don’t have any Kona or Blackmagic devices, and I don’t have a tower. I have the Intel core i5 with 8 gigs of RAM and FCP7in the past I’ve gone directly out of the betaSP deck onto a DVD recorder, and then used MPEG Streamclip. which works. but feels slow, and compressed a bit more than I’d like.
thanks for the help.
Tod
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