• Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy

  JVC GZ-HD& files into Final Cut

  Posted by Tom Matthies on December 1, 2009 at 7:24 pm

  I’ve searched the archives and anything related to this issue is rather dated so…
  I picked up a used JVC GZ-HD7 camcorder off of eBAY last night. I needed a small, inexpensive HD camera to record corporate talking heads and didn’t want to tie up an expensive broadcast camera for this particular job.

  I don’t have the camera in my hands yet, but past posts indicated that the format the camera records at (.TOD) caused problems in the past for Final Cut users. Since it seems to be a variation of an MPeg2 format, I should be able to take the files through Streamclip for conversion to Quicktimes, but it’s a rather time consuming process for long interviews. (The camera records to an internal Hard Drive BTW.)
  Has there been any progress in the newer versions of FCP for Log & Transfer of this format? The camera also has an HDMI output and I’m assuming that I should be able to capture through my Kona LHi HDMI input if it comes down to it.

  Anyone else using this camera and Final Cut with success?
  Thanks in advance
  Tom

  Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.–Ferris Bueller

  Chris Deutsch replied 16 years, 5 months ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
• 2 Replies

• 

  Tom Matthies

  December 1, 2009 at 7:26 pm

  ***That camera should be a JVC GZ-HD7 in the subject line above.***

  Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.–Ferris Bueller
• 

  Chris Deutsch

  December 4, 2009 at 9:39 pm

  I work for JVC and would like to try to help.

  This generation of JVC camcorders was designed to work best with Apple using Firewire (i.Link). In order to do this, the camcorder must be set to a special recording mode called 1440CBR. This is set through your camcorder’s main menu. He is some additional detail:

  Preparation:
  • All video must be recorded in the 1440CBR mode.
  • When you are done recording, create a playlist in the camcorder with the recorded video you would like to edit
  • Select the 1440CBR output on your HD Everio
  • Start your Final Cut software
  • You need a Firewire (i.Link) cable—Don’t use USB
  • It is not necessary to install any additional software or plug ins to edit with Final Cut

  Connect:
  • Connect the i.Link cable to the Apple computer & to the JVC HD Everio

  Import:
  (These instructions are specific to the GZ-HD3, but the GZ-HD7 works in a very similar manner. For additional detail refer to “Dubbing Playback” in your GZ-HD7 owner’s manual)

  • Create a “Playlist” with the video scenes/clips you would like to import.
  • Choose “Dubbing Playback”
  • Push the function button, choose “Playback Playlist” and move the cursor to the desired playlist
  • Do not push in on the joystick to select it
  • Instead, right click to enter “Dubbing Playback”
  • Click through the on screen reminders until you get to “PREPARE THE RECORDING DEVICE”
  • You should now be able to capture as with any other Firewire (i.Link) device
  • When the playlist is finished, the import stops automatically

  Edit:
  • At this point the video has been imported and can be edited with Final Cut

  Note #1: For this to work, all video must be recorded in the 1440CBR mode. This is the key. Think of the 1440CBR mode as the Apple/i.Link mode! It is mandatory on this generation of JVC camcorder when used with Apple.

  If you did not record in the 1440CBR mode, there are still ways to do this, but it is more complicated. The expert on this is a gentleman named Steve Mullen. If you Google “Steve Mullen”+”GZ-HD7 Handbook” you will find links to order his e-book which is very detailed on this process.

  Also, If you did not use 1440CBR and wish to connect via USB, make sure to install the JVC Quick Time Plug-in which comes on CD-ROM with the camcorder, as well as the Quick Time Plug In update which is available at this website: https://www2.cli.co.jp/products/ne/update_qtc_for_gzhd7/qtc3e_update.htm

  Note #2: More recent 2009 model JVC camcorders, such as the GZ-HM200, GZ-HD300, GZ-HD320 & GZ-HM400 all use a different recording format (AVCHD/.mts) which is much easier to use with Apple. With any recent Apple computer and iMovie ‘08/’09 or the newest versions of Final Cut, those 2009 camcorders are basically plug and play. Simply connect your USB cable and you can import any video.

  I hope this is helpful.

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