JVC GZ-HD3 Capture (firewire) to Final Cut Pro

[Steve Davies]

Hi Folks

this is driving me bananas – trying to get the secret button to work.
I can see that it goes to DUBBING PLAYBACK as per the instructions above, but then it doesnt seem to process anything – it is all too quick. It reverts to the previous screen. I have a sense that this is simple ….but I must be doing something wrong. Help…please?

Thanks for your attention

Steve

[Jonathan Ziegler]

Hey I was just looking for this exact tutorial for JVC GZ-HD3U. Same basic steps and the little hidden menu, too. This will save me hours.

Thanks!

Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293

[Jeroen De haar]

It’s good to see that people still helped with this question. It might be 2010 that I’ve asked this question and right now I have another camera (Canon XA10) but it’s quite strange that it is so “”hard”” to get this done.

Good luck all :).

[Dean Miles]

Can anyone help please. I have a JVC GZ-HD3E camcorder. I also have a IMac and Mac air both are running mountain lion. Is it possible to stream the cameras output via the firewire port on the camera. I have tried connecting both to the iMac’s firewire port and also though the thunderbolt connection on the air. When I try to view the camera in say..Quicktime or iMovie both applications it sees the camera as it lists it in the selecting input options, but when selected they will it show any vision. Is it possible? what am i doing wrong do i need another driver or something?

All suggest greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Dean

[Jonathan Ziegler]

Okay, the following is a process I’ve used in the past to control the HD3 when I’ve needed to. The steps say “HD7,” but the menus are the same. The trick isn’t with your computer, it’s in getting the camera to stream the output and then you record via Firewire as a non-controllable device. BTW: these steps were culled from a couple different sources and I am not the original author, but I can confirm this works at least through Final Cut Studio 2&3 up to OS 10.7.?. I don’t know about iMovie, FCP X, Premiere, Quicktime, or any other apps, you’ll just have to experiment.

Here goes:

Ok, you must follow specific steps to get it to work and make sure you shoot in 1440CBR, which is actually better quality than FHD because it’s a constant bitrate of 27mbps while FHD is only 26.6 i think. Someone already posted the steps on another forum, so here’s a quote, but all credit is due to that person for typing out the lengthy process…

“STEP 1: Set your HD7’s video quality setting to [1440CBR].

STEP 2: Record some video. When you’re done recording, go to STEP 3.

STEP 3: In your HD7’s output menu, set the i.LINK OUTPUT to [1440CBR] then exit the menu.

STEP 4: Put your HD7 into PLAYBACK mode. Once you see the screen with your clip thumbnails, hit the [F] for function button. Select EDIT PLAYLIST with the joystick thing and click it.

STEP 5: In the EDIT PLAYLIST menu, select NEW LIST and click it. In the next menu you may choose to select scenes by EVENT, DATE or ALL SCENES. Let’s choose ALL SCENES for the purpose of this exercise.

STEP 6: You are now in the “making-a-playlist screen”. Remembering you can only batch capture the [1440CBR] clips, select some of your video and put it into the playlist on the right-hand side of the screen by clicking the joystick thing indiscriminately.

STEP 7: When you’re satisfied with the content and order of your new playlist, move the joystick thing back to the left until you are queried “Save edited contents?” Select SAVE AND QUIT and you’ll be transported back to the screen with your clip thumbnails.

STEP 8: This is where things get tricky. Hit the [F] for function button. Select PLAYBACK PLAYLIST with your joystick thing and click it. Select the playlist you have just created (more than likely the most recent one but there’s a handy thumbnail displayed for each playlist in case you become confused and disoriented). DO NOT PRESS THE JOYSTICK THING!

STEP 9: Move the joystick thing to the RIGHT – DO NOT PRESS THE JOYSTICK THING. A new “secret” menu will appear – DUBBING PLAYBACK. This really is the crux of the matter. Playing a playlist by clicking the joystick thing will NOT output to firewire. Sure, iMovieHD will pick up the camera and tell you what it is doing, but it won’t receive any data. FCP won’t even detect the stoopid camera. Remember, the “secret” is to move the joystick thing to the RIGHT and get into the DUBBING PLAYBACK menu. Once you know that you can figure the rest out easily enough. In case you can’t, I’ll go on.

STEP 10: Connect your HD7 to your computer with a Firewire/i.Link cable. Open FCP or iMovieHD (or whatever passes for editing software on PCs these days). If you have FC6 then good for bloody you, go to the next step. If you’re also a hero and still using FC5 then make a custom setup a bit like this:
Sequence preset –> HD7 – 1440x1080i50 – AIC
Capture preset –> HDV – Apple Intermediate Codec
Device Control preset –> Non-controllable device

STEP 11: Create a new Project using the new Custom Setup then select LOG AND CAPTURE. You’ll have to enter a title for the new Sequence. Go back to the other end of the firewire cable (to the HD7) and click your way through the HD7’s menus until it starts to dub the playlist to FCP. The [1440CBR] footage is now being captured by your trusty Mac.”

Thank you again for whoever wrote that all out, I would not have the patience to do it. Anyway, that’s how you do it step by step in final cut 6, at least that’s how i do it and I hope it works.

Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293