Capturing SDI with Kona LS

[Slfilms]

Hi Jeremy — Shouldn’t I see the correct aspect ratio in the viewer and canvas? Also, I have called AJA about this and they are also stumped. They believe it is a FCP problem but are still investigating. here is how I described it to them on the tele and via e-mail:

ATTN Hector — This is a follow up to our tele conversation today. My configuration is MAC dual 2.3 PCI-x , 4.5 gb RAM, two 500gb SATA drives. with my Kona LS that is brand new and has Version 2 software installed. I am using FCP 5.0. I am trying to capture via SDI from a Sony XDCAM (SD) deck. My Capture presets are: Kona LS 525 29.97 DV. Since we shot 30 hours of a PBS special in 16×9, I created a new preset, Kona LS 525 29.97 DV Anamorphic, for both capture and sequence presets.

When I am just viewing footage in the Logging & Capture window I see the correct aspect ration, 16×9. However when I actually capture the clip is squeezed 4×3, no black bars, no 16×9. When I put it into an “anamorphic” sequence it is squeezed in both Viewer and Canvas When I put it into a 4×3 sequence it is even squeezed more with vertical black bars on the left and right.

I have double checked all my settings and Hector has talked me through the set up. Incidently, when I put a mini dv clip that was captured via firewire and is anamorphic in the same sequence it appears with the correct aspect ratio, no problem.

I hope you can help me since I am on deadline and totally confused.

Ashley James 510 593-8156

[Walter Biscardi]

[slfilms] “ATTN Hector — This is a follow up to our tele conversation today. My configuration is MAC dual 2.3 PCI-x , 4.5 gb RAM, two 500gb SATA drives. with my Kona LS that is brand new and has Version 2 software installed. I am using FCP 5.0. I am trying to capture via SDI from a Sony XDCAM (SD) deck. My Capture presets are: Kona LS 525 29.97 DV. Since we shot 30 hours of a PBS special in 16×9, I created a new preset, Kona LS 525 29.97 DV Anamorphic, for both capture and sequence presets.”

Did you actually shoot it 16×9 or did you shoot it Anamorphic? I just cut a one hour network special that was shot DV-Anamorphic on an HVX-200. I simply captured it using the standard 720×486 SD preset in FCP (Kona 2 SDI Input). This brought the footage in anamorphic in SD and then we simply dropped the footage into a DVCPro HD timeline.

Re-set the Distortion and Scale and we had a full resolution HD frame.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[Jeremy Garchow]

I am beginning to think your footage is not anamorphic, but 4:3 letterbox. Play the disc and monitor the output straight from the deck (not through FCP). Does the image look letterboxed or squeezed? If squeezed, then you should do the anamorphic setup. if not, then just capture regular 4:3.

Also, double check in the bin that your clips were captured truly anamorphic. Scroll to the right in your bin and find the anamorphic column. If there’s a check in it then they are captured anamorphic, if not and the footage is truly anamorphic, then put the check mark in there and place on your timeline.

Jeremy

[Ashley James]

Finally got it, with the help from the guys at Advanced Systems Group in Oakland, CA. The solution was simply to upgrade to FCP 5.1, which recognizes the new LS codecs. Yes this was shot in 16×9 on XDCAM discs and everything I set up with the AJA codec was correct. Final Cut couldn’t recognize it because I had a 5.0 version running. Once I upgraded it read the widescreen as anamorphic in the viewer, sequence and canvas.

thanks to everyone who helped with this. I learned a lot about Final Cut from all of this and should have known with a new board to upgrade ALL software and drivers.

BTW, the guys at AJA told me to go to the COW to get advise. You guys have quite the respect and reputation. Well deserved.

Thanks a bunch!

Ashley James, Searchlight Films
http://www.searchlightfilms.org