FCP seems solution to HDV capture for Avid – or am I missing something?

[Michael Phillips]

Since there is no timecode on the tape, have you tried turning off the timecode track in the capture window and just capturing on the fly? For long captures, make sure your setting is set for anticipated length of capture (30 mins, 60 mins, etc).

Michael

Michael Phillips

[Ben Edwards]

I do have timecodes, I have on timecode breaks. Ideally I would like to keep them but yes, turning off TC should help. Ben

—
Ben Edwards – Freelance Filmmaker
https://www.funkytwig.com

[Andrew Mckee]

I have captured HDV footage from Z1s and Z5s countless times into Avid without problems. If there are no timecode breaks, it should just keep capturing. If there are timecode breaks then you can just turn the “capture across timecode breaks” option in the capture settings. I’m not sure why you are running into problems. Mostly when I have seen students run into problems is when they set the raster to 1920×1080 instead of 1440×1080 or have missed something in the setup stage (which is much more involved than FCPs Easy Setup). Avid also has the option to detect start and stops on HDV and DV footage and can create subclips or add markers. The setting is in the Capture setting, under DV&HDV and is called Scene Extraction.

Andrew McKee
Editor/Colourist
Avid Certified Instructor – MC5.5
Apple Certified Trainer – FCP7
Pixelwizard.net

[Ben Edwards]

Andrew,

Not sure what the problem is but it seems to stop capturing when the camera is turned off/on. I think I have done the setup properly, certainly am using 1440.I know about the scene split stuff and have that set up.

I just captured in FCP and did a AMA link. Worked great and the timecodes seem to of come over;). Tried capturing with TC off but made no difference.

Can you please point me somewhere that describes the setup stage in full.

Thanks for taking the time to help,
Ben

—
Ben Edwards – Freelance Filmmaker
https://www.funkytwig.com

[Andrew Mckee]

It’s not something that is generally written down anywhere (except the official Avid 101 course book) because its so camera/footage specific. But heres a quick guide.

1) Create projet that matches timebase, res and raster of footage.
2) Connect camera/deck (either into the computer or the mojo/adrenaline)
3) Deck configuration (add port (OHCI for direct computer link), then add deck – your model (don’t autoconfigure use HVR-Z1))
4) Media Creation Settings
5) Audio Project Settings
6) Capture Settings
7) Open Capture window
8) Capture

Andrew McKee
Editor/Colourist
Avid Certified Instructor – MC5.5
Apple Certified Trainer – FCP7
Pixelwizard.net

[Peter Groom]

Just to add in guys.
I too have found FCP AND AVID to be “troublesome” when it comes to capturing HDV generally. HDV is regarded as a bit of a donkey in this respect anyway.
Ive had periods where it will cap fine and then times where it just keeps dropping out, for no adjustable reason often.
What DID make a 100% improvement was using a proper HDV deck rather than a camera. Camera transports just arent up to it IMHO. Then previously troublesome tapes were fine.
HDV split does seem a LOT more tolerant to HDV tapes inadequacies AND the files it produces fast import into AVID.
RESULT
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Ronn Kilby]

I shoot mostly now with an EX-1, but still use a Z1U as B camera sometimes. I rarely try to capture from the tape anymore, but rather set the EX1 to “SQ” mode, connect it via firewire to my Sony HDV deck, then record the footage to an SxS card and import (or use AMA) as I would with any other tapeless footage. Just another avenue you might consider. Works for me. If I do capture straight from tape, I use the GD-HD700 and the Z1U template in the capture tool.