Final Cut Express HD capture: many clips and flat horrid color – help!

[Tom Wolsky]

1) What format are you working in? HDV?

2) Where are you looking at it?

3) I have no idea what that means.

All the best,

Tom

Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop” Class on Demand “Complete Training for FCP5” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy” DVDs

[Kevin C.]

thanks Tom
yes HDV.

I’m looking at it on my computer screen. which is a Sony Artisan, calibrated. Looks horrid, flat, yellow.
Looks terrific on it’s own lcd or a TV though. (not the monitor…the monitor is fine also looks same on my nec monitor) don’t get it.

But the killer is this issue of not getting this in one clip. theres 30 seperate clips. I’ve looked in preferences, don’t see anything referring to having this happen.

[Tom Wolsky]

That’s the way all HDV is captured. The GOP structure of the MPEG-2 material breaks at the shot change and requires a new file header at the start of each shot when it’s converted to AIC. It’s explained in the manual.

Doesn’t sound as if the monitor is properly calibrated. I’ve not seen an image turn yellow and then look right on a video monitor. Sounds like the monitor is not calibrated for video but for something else. Computer displays and video displays will always look different, but maybe you should calibrate the computer so it more closely matches your video monitor.

All the best,

Tom

Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop” Class on Demand “Complete Training for FCP5” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy” DVDs

[Kevin C.]

thanks Tom:
Wow that interesting. you are saying that with HDV, one is going to get back all these clips chopped up always? It not the fault of FCE? same story with full version of FCP?

My editors concern is that if there are any dropped frames then when he stitches these clips together, it could ruin the flow.

BTW, what is the shot change mean? the length of these clips is very random. Shot change you mean, when I hit stop on the camcorder?

I do have a calibrated Sony ARtisan monitor. These monitors were created for photographers not video makers, so maybe that’s it. But still, I’m telling you that the video looks great on the lcd, and my guess would look great it plugged into any TV, but the minute I saw it capturing on my screen I could not believe how flat, lifeless and yellow it looks and still looks in the quictime files. So don’t get it. My monitor is pretty high end, calibrated, and lots of other video looks fine on it.

[Kevin C.]

BTW Tom, I did not get a manual, just got a “getting started’ little book. Dont see any mention of this issue or GOP structure or any of that.

Also, did I mention, there is no log and capture window. once you choose HD1080 codec, from easy set up, all that come up is a little box to name the file and click capture.
two choice 50 and 60, no idea if they mean anything

[Tom Wolsky]

FCP can be made to work differently because it captures HDV natively, while FCE converts it to AIC.

Shot change is when the camera stops and starts.

Video monitor display is quite different from computer display. The Artisan is specifically set up for print and prepress. It’s really not a good choice for video work, though I’m sure it can be made to work better. As I said I’ve never seen this yellow effect you’re talking about. Yes, a computer screen will look much less saturated and much flatter in contrast than a video monitor.

The manual is a PDF accessible from the Help menu. Yes, that’s the way HDV capture is accessed in FCE. It does not have a log and capture window as there is no clip or project capture function with HDV. Only capture now.

All the best,

Tom

Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop” Class on Demand “Complete Training for FCP5” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy” DVDs

[Ronniedspeaks4me]

Hey my name is Jaron,
I recently got a new iMac and Final Cut Express. I have been attempting to upload some footage onto my computer but Final Cut keeps telling me that I need to connect my camera and it is already connected. I have checked all the connections to make sure nothing is loose. I went through the easy setup step and it tells me that it cannot find my camera. My operating system is 10.4.10 and I am using a Panasonic DVC30. The edition of Final Cut Express I have is 3.5.1. I have gotten advice from a number of different people but none of their suggestions have worked. I finally asked someone at work today who I thought might have an answer and he turned me on to you all. I would greatly appreciate any assistance which you can give me.
Have a great night
Talk to you soon
Jaron