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FW800 + FW400 problem
This is my first post on the forum, so first of all I want to say hello to everybody. After a few years spent working on PC + Adobe Premiere, I am trying to cross the line and join to Mac and FCP. In order to evaluate the actual possibility, I got an iMac and I’m currently working on it, before buying a couple of Mac Pro. It seems there’s some kind of problem if I use at the same time the FW800 port for an external HD and the FW400 port for either the camcorder or the external monitor output. One of the two is often not “seen” by the iMac, or the iMac hangs after some playing of the FCP timeline, waiting until I turn off the device that is connected to the FW400. Everything runs smooth if I connect the HD via USB2, so I can exclude problem with the Imac ports. It looks like some kind of conflict. Is this a common issue with iMac, or should I try something to fix it?
Thank you in advance, and best regards
Fabrizio D’Agnano
Rome, Italy -
6 Replies
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They are on the same bus and without the potential for adding a separate card to your imac, your stuck with that. if usb2 will work for the data rate you are using then that’s your solution until you move up to a tower based system
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Thank you Doug.
I will place an e-sata card to connect the HD’s to on the Mac Pro’s, so there’ll be no problem. Meanwhile, I’ll go on with the USB2, that allowed me to work flawlessly in SD so far.
Regards
Fabrizio D’Agnano
Rome, Italy -
USB will also cause you problems. USB works in bursts of data where firewire works using a constant flow of data. You are bound to have dropped frames and other issues.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!
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So it seems there’s no way to do real editing on an iMac. It’s a pity, since I am shooting documentaries, and I thought I could bring the iMac with me in my working trips for the on site quick rough cut, and use it as a second editing machine when back in Rome.
If I can’t use the two FW ports at the same time, then I am forced to capture on the internal drive, then unplug the camcorder, connect the external FW HD and start editing, all editing done without the possibility to play the timeline on an external monitor. OK, I could not do it before on the PC laptop I used for the same purpose, so it won’t be a major problem now, even if I hoped different.
Thank you!
Fabrizio -
This is only an issue with capturing or monitoring media with a DV device. With most devices, other than Canon cameras, you can daisy-chain the device through the FW drive, and it will work correctly. If you just need the ports to access media, there is no problem using multiple ports, though you should be aware that using both 400 and 800 ports simultaneously, the 800 port will be reduced to 400 speeds, because the bus speed is reduced to support the slower drive.
All the best,
Tom
Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP6,” “Basic Training for FCS2” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 3.5 HD Editing Workshop” -
[Fabrizio D’Agnano] “If I can’t use the two FW ports at the same time, then I am forced to capture on the internal drive, then unplug the camcorder, connect the external FW HD and start editing, all editing done without the possibility to play the timeline on an external monitor.”
You should be ok just capturing to a firewire drive. I have done that before with little problems. The issues really start to occur once you start editing and adding effects, color corrections etc while at the same time trying to go back out firewire for ether preview or laying back to tape.
Where you plan on travailing with it, you should really look into a Macbook Pro. You can add a second separate firewire bus by adding a firewire express card. Or better yet get a eSata card and use a esata drive. (eSata is way faster then firewire 800)
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!
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