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HDV SONYZ1 native Video Output Monitoring
Hi FCPCC,
Strangely I have never had to do this before, but now this configuration has arisen.
I have a HDV project and sequence. I can log and capture HDV into the project from the SonyZ1E. I can place it on the timeline. My sequence is set for HDV.
Now I want to monitor the video on my Z1 and consequently use the camera’s downconversion to view on a PAL monitor.
But, FCP will not give me the video playback thru the (HDV 1440x1080i) setting. It is greyed out!
We find it is the same on the sony HDV deck.
I have used easy set up for HDV.
Any ideas?
Thanks drPete
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5 Replies
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[DOCTORPETE] “Any ideas?”
It’s not possible to monitor HDV playback via Firewire from your NLE. You must have a Capture card like the AJA Kona for realtime playback. There have been numerous posts regarding this and you can do a search posts on HDV and Monitor(ing).
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
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If I switch the camera to DVCAM rec mode and then refresh videoplayback in FCP to AppleFireWirePAL then I get a picture. But it is only a still picture when the playback head is stopped. The picture is also smaller then the frame. The HDV1440x270 preferences are still greyed out!
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ok…. that is distressing!
I never realised it wasn’t possible to do this. I did of course search the posts before posting…. nothing came up with my query.
thanks drPete
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Again…
This is because of the processing it takes to playback HDV. HDV is an elementary data stream. This means that the data has to be processed into video and compiled into a video stream on the fly. Its very possible with today’s computers but the drawback is that the computer cannot send this data back thru the firewire port at the same time.
I’m sure that you have heard that HDV is a Long GOP codec. In NTSC, there is one I-frame of video for every 14 frames of interpolated video. In Pal, its a 6 to 1 ratio. This is also the reason that HDV can have timecode issues when editing. Editing your project now, may be alright, BUT having to recapture everything later may cause you some headaches.
Just a little educational side note….
This is why HDV cannot monitor thru firewire. You need a low cost monitoring option, look at the Matrox MXO or the lower end Blackmagic and AJA offerings.
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Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com -
I noticed the same thing and it drove me up the wall!!
BUT, if you change the Z1’s settings to record in DVcam and use a ‘Apple Firewire PAL 720×576, you’ll be able to monitor the footage. ; )
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