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best mac system for hdv editing
I just purchased a Canon XH A1 HDV camera, and I’ve just discovered the capture problems that are common with the XH A1 and FCP. FCP doesn’t recognize the camera when hooked up via firewire, and I have no deck control or picture coming in through the capture window. After lots of research, I don’t think my version of FCP (5.0) or my OS version (10.4.11) is updated enough to capture from the XH A1.
Since my dilemma forces me to think about purchasing a new Mac and a FCP update, I was wondering what experiences people have had with editing HDV material with a Macbook Pro. My work would benefit from the portability the Macbook Pro offers, but I don’t want to give up too much speed, power, and storage options. What is the best system configuration? Would an external firewire drive be enough to capture to, or would I need storage with a faster connection like sata?
Furthermore, does anybody use the XH A1 with Final Cut 6? Please share problems and experiences with capturing and editing using this camera. Also, when considering a playback deck for capture, what model would be on the list. I’ve heard some reviews of Sony HDV decks that won’t play back material captured with Canon cameras.
As usual, thanks in advance for all of your thoughts…
Dan
Dan
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7 Replies
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Hi Dan,
Working with HDV is not much different than working with DV. With a MBP and a couple of eSATA drives you will be OK. And ProRess offer many possibilities to make the editing even easier.
You can capture and edit HDV and render in ProRes or even capture directly in ProRes.
You can learn more in this article of Chris Posson:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/poisson_chris/hdv-prores.php
Rafael -
What are the specs of your current machine it may handle HDV just fine. The ONLY thing in the info you listed that will not work with HDV is your version of FCP.
There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity! -
Dan,
Before you start blaming other software, read the A1 manual very carefully. You will see that it’s Playback Standard must be set to HDV, it defaults to Auto. Also, turn on the camera and have it plugged in via FW BEFORE you launch FCP.
If your software is a problem at that point, upgrade. I work with ProRes captures via FW on a MacBook Pro with a 2 drawer RAID every day, and never have problems.
Have a wonderful day.
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Thanks everybody for the responses. I did set playback to HDV on the camera, and connected via firewire before launching fcp. It still didn’t recognize the camera, or allow me to capture. I’ve read from lots of forums that there seems to be “hit or miss” problems working with the XH A1 and FCP. Some people have ’em, some people don’t.
Currently, I have FCP ver 5, a G5 mac power pc with 4gb ram. It’s a non-intel based mac, which may be part of the problem – not sure.
What’s the advantage of capturing and editing with the prores versus the native HDV codec? I’ve read Chris Poisson’s article and the responses, but I’m still unclear what the advantage of prores is.
Again, thanks to all for adding their thoughts.
Dan
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Your system is just fine for HDV, all you need is a newer version of FCP.
Get FCS2 and you will be fine.There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity! -
Dan,
ProRes works fine on my old G5 just like yours. So I suspect you are narrowing down you problem to your FCP version. Get FCP 2, it’s great.
Regarding ProRes advantages, there are many, but my favorites are that you have bona fide 29.97 footage with no GOP/HDV conforming, better keying, much better handling of transitions and effects, better compositing, yadda yadda.
Have a wonderful day.
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[Dan OBrien] “It’s a non-intel based mac, which may be part of the problem – not sure.”
That’s not an issue.
[Dan OBrien] “What’s the advantage of capturing and editing with the prores versus the native HDV codec? I’ve read Chris Poisson’s article and the responses, but I’m still unclear what the advantage of prores is.”
HDV is a long GOP MPEG format stored as metadata in which actual video frames do not exist. So, HDV must be continually decompressed and recompressed and assembled for display requiring lots of processor power simply to display in realtime.
Transcoding to ProRes creates iFrame video that has real honest video frames and doesn’t require the processing power. There are other benefits, but that’s the big one.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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