HDV

[Kevin Monahan]

Repatch the cable. Restart the Mac with the cam hooked up. Toss Prefs. Tried all these?

Kevin Monahan
Take My FCP Master’s Workshop!
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Pres. SF Cutters

[13]

what are you capturing from, many HDV cameras and decks also have the ability to down-convert to SD, make sure it is set to output HDV.

Please be more specific, your post gave no info as to what you are using, and what you have tried already.

[Chris Borjis]

that DV/HDV switch is so important and that sounds like the problem.

note: though I have seen people switch from DV/HDV while the deck/cam is on you should not do this. Some people have blown their firewire ports doing this. make sure the deck is off when switching.

[B2post]

I have tried the easy set ups of course. Multiple cameras/decks. Ever since I upgraded to Tiger I had issues with my firewire ports. This has been solved with new Quicktime reciepts, but now this issue with HDV has reared its head. When the easy set up is engaged, the output video device under the Audio/Video Device menu is grayed out when HDV is the desired option, as if FCP is just not accepting this option– my Blackmagic and others appear. Maybe once again this is a Qucktime reciept issue– maybe a reciept in particular for HDV? But I thought everything would be fine with the pro version of QT, which of course comes with FCP studio.

[Andy Mees]

these are 2 different issues

with the current release of FCP the output option will certainly be grayed out as there is no live output over firewire whilst working with HDV. (note: FCP 6 adds a new live SD DV downconversion over firewire when working in HDV timelines)

the capture proble that you first posted about sounds almost exactly like the same problem that many have had when they have incorrectly set their camera’s outpiut settings to match the capture settings … ie if your camera is set to downconvert to DV, but you have chosen an HDV easy setup, then FCP will not see the incoming video

[Tommydutchie]

Same for changing i.LINK settings? using a deck now and i’m at the menu for ‘HDV-DV CONV’

-OFF
-DVCAM
-DV SP

i want to set it to ‘off’ but there is a message that says ‘switch off i.link device before changing settings’… does this mean i have to switch to ‘-OFF’ or remove the iLINK or turn off the computer before changing? 🙂

[Andy Mees]

it means don’t switch the settings whilst actively connected to another device via iLink (firewire). hot plugging and unplugging whilst firewire devices are powered up is not encouraged as you may seriously damage the equipment

so turn off camera/deck, disconnect iLink cable from rear, turn on camera, change setting

… whilst I personally continue to plug and unplug firewire devices to my hearts content whilst they are powered (hot), one of these days I’m going to fry my firewire/iLink port or worse on my expensive computer / disk / deck / camera, and how foolish I am going to feel then.

[Larry Asbell]

Thought I’d add what I know about fried FW ports. Anyone who knows otherwise please comment.

The stories I’ve heard have involved the 1200a deck. It’s commonly attributed to the fact that this deck was designed mistakenly with a 6 pin FW port rather than the 4 pin usually used on decks. The difference is the two conductors that provide power. Power for external devices on a deck connector serves no purpose but does allow for surges or shorts if connected while powered on. A workaround for this deck to protect against forgetting and plugging while powered — is to keep a special isolation cable attaced which does not pass thru the two power conductors. I got one and with it I plug hot all the time with no ill effects.

However I always give an extra look that the FW connector is not turned around the wrong way before I shove it home.

– Larry Asbell