How to record directly to FCP 5.1.4 from Canon XL2?

[Walter Biscardi]

Connect to the Mac via Firewire.

Select the correct Easy Setup. DV, HDV, whatever it is that the tape is.

Capture.

Ensure the camera is the only A/V Firewire device connected to the Mac.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

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[David G. simmons]

Thanks Walter for your prompt response. Sorry I didnt ask clearly, what I meant was that I capture video directly w/o tapes. My workmate can do that on PC w/ Premiere.

Your advice would be appreciated!

DS

[Walter Biscardi]

[David G. Simmons] “Thanks Walter for your prompt response. Sorry I didnt ask clearly, what I meant was that I capture video directly w/o tapes. My workmate can do that on PC w/ Premiere.”

Again, turn the Device Control to Non Controllable Device.

Capture Now.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[David G. simmons]

Walter:

I did as what you instructed. The error msg = “This operation could not be completed as there is no video”. What did I miss? My objective is to record video w/o tapes.

DS

[Walter Biscardi]

It’s possible this doesn’t work in HDV to be honest. I’ve never tried that.

We have been successful doing this with DV, DVCPro HD and uncompressed formats using FCP.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Chris Poisson]

With my Canon A1 this works fine, via firewire with a 1080i 60 easy setup. I left the control set to Sony Firewire using capture now.

Sheesh, I can probably do this with my MacBook Pro, didn’t even think of that till now, so that would save about a grand on a Firestore unit, woohoo!

It also works through my Kona LH with the component cable but I then have to have audio connected somehow, or just capture video. BTW doing it this way with the Firewire connected controls the camera for tape capture.

There’s also a capture software called DV Monitor which works great with DV for this, they have an HD version but at present it only works with the Panasonic HVX200 in DVCproHD. I have urged them to make an HDV version, let’s just hope…

Have a wonderful day.

[Chris Poisson]

Ooopps,

My bad, I’m using FCP 6, but, I do have an old G4 with 4.5 in it, and I just did a test using my Panasonic DVX100 with a DV easy setup, set to non controlable device and it will capture all day long. Works perfect.

[Miodrag Ristic]

would save about a grand on a Firestore unit, woohoo!

And won’t be as noisy as Firestore, mine was so noisy last time
that I had to chuck it into another room.

Chris, what is your experience with Canon A1, editing native HDV or…
(sorry, bit of the topic)

Mick

[Chris Poisson]

Mick,

That’s not OT, although probably more of it in the HDV forum. I use native HDV captured via FireWire, usually put it in another format timeline, such as D1, DV or ProRes 1080. I shoot mostly 30p, so I don’t have to worry about fields. I have had nothing but great results with this method, and reasonable render times.

Have a wonderful day.

[Miodrag Ristic]

Thanks Chris, that’s great to hear as I’m having my eye on Canon A1 for some time,
but bit reluctant to jump as I’m overwhelmed by the number of new formats, codecs and
incompatibility of cameras and tapes (you can’t really expect any more to be
handed a tape, nearly always has to be ingested by the camera it was shot on).

I’d still be 70% DV, at least, I know it’d be a big increase in quality from my Canon XM2,
just I didn’t know how much the workflow was going to change.

From the cameraman point of view, have you noticed any problem (reported on forums)
with shooting fast action or similar?

Mick