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Capture problems – no video device selected.
Hi, I know this question has probably been asked before, so I would be happy with a link to a solution, if one exists 🙂
I’ve just installed Final Cut Pro v 6.0 and I am attempting to capture from a Sony HDR-HC5E/HC7E handycam, which I have never used before. I’m using a firewire cable, which I know works and the camera is on in playback mode.
I’m attempting to use the log and capture function in Final Cut Pro, but it keeps saying “Attempt to capture without a video device selected please select a video device in your capture presets and try again.”
I’ve had a look through the capture presets in the A/V settings, and it’s just fucking confusing. I have pretty much nil knowledge of the various kinds of video etc. (pretty pathetic film student, yes) but anyway, I’d really like some instructions as to how I would be able to set my camera up to be able to log and capture.
My other question is that I have a very old video camera, which I usually capture from (if I’m not at uni) and I was wondering what would happen if I used my old shitty camera to capture the tape that I have filmed on the higher quality (maybe HD) cam… Would the quality be reduced? If not, I guess I’ll just capture from my old camera, which I know works.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Sorry for the pathetic question.
Cathy -
4 Replies
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1) – Are you certain that your tape format is DV? HDV tape won’t play back in a DV camera.
2) Have you restarted FCP / trashed prefs / power cycled?
3) Are you using the DV Easy Setup?
d) You should learn video. No one will hire you to cut on a Steenbeck anymore (sadly)
ps – nice f-bomb. you never see those on the cow….
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Hey, thanks for your reply… I have managed to figure it out myself… Partly (lol.)
Turns out, I was trying to capture HDV footage with my Final Cut sequence presets on DV… they weren’t talking to each other.
I wanted to capture the project in HDV, but they still weren’t working, even after I changed the sequence presets/ final cut file presets to HDV.
Turns out, I had to tell the camera to stop outputting HDV, and “dumb it down” to DV and keep my FCP file stuff in DV. This involved reading the manual (which I believe, is a direct translation from Icelandic) With everything set to DV, I was able to capture.
This is where the “partly” part comes in.
Once I captured, I dragged the files down in my timeline to chop them up, and edit but there was no sound.
I fiddled some more with the audio settings. But just could not work it out.
In the end, I closed pro and dragged the files into express from the capture scratch folder. The sound worked and I edited the stupid bugger in express.
Do you have any idea why my sound wasnt working in Pro?
Gah.
So much for my $2000!And yes, you are very right. I should learn video.
Maybe you have a suggestion as to where I could find some info on the various formats?Cheers,
Cath -
Audio monitoring can be tricky in FCP because both the program and the OS can control the signal path.
Quickest, dirtiest way to hear sound –
1. Disable external video in FCP under View>External Video.
2. In Apple’s System Preferences, be sure that Audio Output is assigned to Line-Out or Headphones.
If you are using an external video source (like a DV deck or a Kona card or such), you will need to route that audio to your speakers. This usually requires a mixer.
As far as learning the video formats – the way I did it was by lurking in the Cow’s FCP forums. Reading the daily pitfalls of others is the best way to have a working knowledge of tech.
Also, the FCP manual has a surprising amount of good info about video and audio tech, including good explainations of compression, video signal, all kinds of stuff.
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cool.
you may just see me floating around then.
thanks for your help 🙂
cathy
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