Help! Can’t import my JVC700 clips into FCP

[John Fishback]

Your import method sounds ok. Since the camera can record in XDCAM format, if you recorded that, your FCP would have a problem. If you recorded your media in the FCP QT format it should work. This is from JVC’s site:

“The GY-HM700 incorporates JVC’s Native File Recording technology that stores video in the ready-to-edit file format used by Apple’s Final Cut Pro™ non-linear editing system. The “.mov” files created in the camera can be easily dragged onto the NLE timeline without conversion or rewrapping, saving time while keeping the recorded material first generation. There is no need to use an intermediate codec.”

Look in the menu for where you select the recording format and make sure it’s not XDCAM.

John

MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.5 QT7.5.5 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
FCS 2 (FCP 6.0.5, Comp 3.0.5, DVDSP 4.2.1, Color 1.0.3)

Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN

[Tom Wolsky]

3. Your software is quite obsolete for the formats this camera shoots. You don’t even have the codec suitable to play it back. It’s only available with FCS2.

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 4 Editing Workshop”

[Anthony Popolo]

Thanks John.
That’s where I’m a little confused. I’ve gone through every menu as well as the manual for the camera, and there is no choice for codec. Within the recording format menu, it only specifies “Quicktime”, there is nothing else to select (Other than frame size and rate). I do NOT have the optional recorder attached which would also record Mpeg4 onto SxS. In fact, the Quicktime selection is greyed out since there is no other choice.
If in fact is is recording in XDCAM, do later FCPs (ie 6) support that?
And I’m still confused as to why my latest Quicktime won’t play them either. Shouldn’t that be independent of FCP? Obviously FCP is using Quicktime, so I’m suspecting it’s a Quicktime issue.
Thanks,
Anthony

[Anthony Popolo]

Thanks Tom,
So I am assuming that even though I have the latest Quicktime (which the clips won’t play on), the codec needed for Quicktime will come from FCS2? Sorry if I seem a little confused as to how these all tie in together.
Thanks
Anthony

[Tom Wolsky]

Thanks correct. There are specific codecs that are available only with FCS and Logic Pro. This camera was designed to work with the current version of FCS.

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 4 Editing Workshop”

[Will Granzier]

Hi Anthony

I disagree with Tom as I run the same setup and have never had an issue. It does however take a tad longer to render than say a 3HZ Quad Pro. How fast is fast enough ? Well I suppose it all adds up to how much money you have !

I have never had an issue with my HDM100 which shoots in the same format – Quick question Are you running FCP 6 , 6.02 or later ?

Did you use FCP’s LOG and TRANSFER to get the footage off the cards ?
Or did you create a folder on the drive and then copy the footage into it from there importing into FCP ?

John has a valid point on the XD cam setting

William

[Tom Wolsky]

“I am running FCP 4.5”

You’re running the same setup? FCP4.5? There is no log and transfer in v4.5.

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 4 Editing Workshop”

[Will Granzier]

Ok Sorry Tom never saw that bit. But its shouldnt make a difference as its MOV native anyway. I tried it this morning on an iBook running v 4.
Works fine just copying the file to HD and then importing from there.

But I must point out that although I agree that 6.0.2 might be a better option, the G5 will handle the footage . Render times will be a pain compared to a Quad Pro Duo, but depends on how much time u have and what workload and deadlines ure on

[Tom Wolsky]

Does the iBook have any other relevant software installed, like a later version of FCP or any other pro apps?

He says he can’t see the video in the QT player. That indicates that he doesn’t have the correct codec for the material.

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 4 Editing Workshop”

[Anthony Popolo]

Hi all, thanks for your input.
regarding some of your inquiries.,,
I am running QT 7.6.2
The camera does NOT have an option for codec. The only option is simply for “Quicktime” only (it would have an option for Mpeg4 if I had the optional recorder attached, which I do not). So the Quicktime option is greyed out in the menu. There is no codec option. (so I don’t know what the codec is and can’t find it in the manual).
I have also posted this problem in the “JVC camera” forum trying to start at both ends and work my way in to solve the problem. I posted the following response there. Perhaps some info in that post may shed more light (note at the end of the response is a link to a clip I created and posted for analysis if you would like to take a look at what the camera created).
Thanks

NOTE: The following the a response I posted on the JVC Camera forum…
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your very investigative response!
To answer your questions:
– I am using class 6 cards
– They are in the clip folder of the card…
BTW, the file hierarchy on the card that the camera creates is as follows:
PRIVATE>JVC>CQAV>CLIP>”movie”.MOV
note: also in the CQAV folder there are two more files and another folder. The files are:
MEDIAINF.XML and MEDIAINF.BAK, and the other folder is called INFO. Within that folder are .XML files whose name corresponds to each of the mov clips in the CLIP folder (the XML files are all represented by the FCP icon).

– I do not have the SxS recorder. The recording format menu option within the camera has “Quicktime” selected (further, it’s greyed out because there is no other option).
– The files play back fine in the camera, and also play out fine via the Firewire down sampled to SD (I currently have to record to DV tape as a workaround right now to get them to FCP!!).
I do not have access to another Mac with FCP so I can’t try it out. I would go to the Mac store, except they will have the latest software loaded and tell me that’s the reason it works there (the perfect sales pitch). I’d prefer not to pay 3/4 of a grand for something that might be a plug-in problem!
BTW, the MOV files load in Quicktime and partially playback in my QT viewer. The audio is heard and the playhead moves the duration of the clip, but there is no picture. The files won’t even open or import into FCP. An “unrecognizable file” error appears.

Some other info I’m finding out…
I originally posted this problem in the FCP forum, thinking it was a FCP issue, but I’ve learned some stuff there that looks like it be more a QT or OS issue.
For example. Some have mentioned that I make sure NOT to select XDCAM codec in the camera’s menu, but the camera’s menu does NOT have that option. It only defaults to Quicktime, with no codec option. I tried “get info” to find out what codec the camera uses, but it doesn’t specify.

I have uploaded a 15 second clip as created by the camera to the following link… The username and password are BOTH “jvc” (lowercase). The clip is just 15 seconds of an empty theatre stage with ambient sound.
https://www.sunnysideent.com/ftp_site/login.php

Thanks for your help.
Anthony