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IO and firewire switcher
Does anyobdy know if using a firewire switching box is successfull with an IO-based system?
I only ask as obviously its not recommended to have another firewire based video unit on at the same time as an IO. Now presumably this means a DV deck. But if I’m working on a DV project and want to capture via Firewire (there’s no component or SDI out on my DV deck) then I need to keep swapping firewire leads around to do my capturing, and then reconnecting the IO so that I can use the IO component outs for colour grades etc.
As you can imagine I’m concerned about the amount of swapping leads about.
So, would a firewire switch box work OK? Something like this firewire switch
ja***@************co.uk
jambonfilms.co.uk -
5 Replies
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Oops, sorry – link doesnt seem to want to work! https://www.signvideo.com/firewire-switch-ieee-1394.htm
jamie@jambonfilms.co.uk
jambonfilms.co.uk -
hello. I do not use a switcher but have a firewire patchbay and I have not run into any issues as of yet. I even have a 15 foot cable running to my computer and then a shorter cable between the IO and the Patchbay. It is made by Ocean Matrix and I use it for firewire drives and my scanner. I wish they would make one for Firewire 800 but I guess that format is on its way out?
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Funny, I was coming to the Cow to ask a very similar question. I have two different DV decks, a DVD burner that takes firewire in, several FW drives AND an IO/LA. I am trying to sort out the best solution. If I get an internal firewire card will I be able to keep the IO on a separate bus and keep (some of) the other devices connected? What is the best FW card and will it interfere with my SATA card or my Kona 2 card?
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I have the SignVideo firewire Switch to switch between my DSR-1500 DVCam deck and Io. I’ve been using it for nine months. It works, but the connections are touchy. If the firewire cables are not carefully seated the device is not seen by the G-5. Also you have to exit FCP to make the switch or it can cause a crash. Otherwise it is a workable solution.
Some on this post have claimed that they put the Io and deck on seperate busses using a FireWIre PCI card. I did not work with my system.
I have the SignVideo switch connected to the built-in FW port. Connected to the PCI card are two external drives and a DVD burner. All work happily together when switch to the DSR-1500 or the Io.
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Yeah I looked at AJA’s site and their FAQ states the following:
Q: If I use other FireWire devices at the same time as Io, will I encounter problems?
A: With Io and a G4/G5 computer, you cannot have two FireWire video devices (we’re not talking about storage devices) connected at the same time. Doing so causes driver conflicts. Unfortunately, even installing a PC FireWire interface card will not help with this; the only solution is using an external FireWire A/B switch to select a single device at a time.I don’t really know if a switch box will help me. I just KNOW I would get too carried away and PUSH THE BUTTON before exiting FCP. My configuration now requires me to crawl under the desk to switch. That routine tends to remind me to exit FCP first.
I wonder if James Sullivan has found the patch bay to be more reliable. Have those of you who have chosen a FW patch bay found FCP 5 to handle changing the FW devices more gracefully?
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