Sony 700, footage into FCP

[Shane Ross]

The solution is simple: Log and capture.

And shoot for five to ten seconds BEFORE you shoot the footage you want, and keep rolling for 5 seconds after, so that you have room for pre-roll when you capture.

I work with TIME-OF-DAY code all the time on multi-camera shoots and get TC breaks whenever PAUSE is pressed.

Logging and capturing is a good habit to get into anyway.

Shane Ross
Alokut Productions
http://www.lfhd.net

[Tony]

The proper produre when you break the control track and timecode via a power down on any camcorder HD or SD is to cue up the tape via what is termed “tape return” which will roll back the tape and cue up to the last timecode and solid video frame.

This in effect performs an assemble edit once you press the record button on the camera or lens for the next shot and/or scene.

It is the responsibliity of the camera operator to do this procedure each time they power down, change a battery, eject and reload the same tape. You will have to account for the 7-10 seconds it takes for the HDCAM camcorder to rerack the tape and cue up during the “tape return” process. The Varicam is much faster when recueing due to the reduced length and size of the tape path.

FYI in the camera menu tape return is also referred to as lens return or vtr return depending on the vendor.

Whatever camcorder allows this feature I suggest “you use it or lose it in post during capture”

Tony Salgado

[Blub06]

As I remember, there are some little photo batteries that slip into a compartment in every camera that can be associated with providing constant power to that part of the recorder that needs constant time of day stuff. Is there one in your camera, is it fresh? This is just a hazzy guess but, what would life be like with out a few guesses?

As for a preexisting tape with timecode breaks, I just dub those tapes to a new tape with a constant timecode, life is too short.

Chris

[Tad Newberry]

thanks for the replies, but it sounds like no one else here has been using the 700. every other camera i’ve ever used, even my trusty ol’ BetaSP DXC-D30, has kept continuous timecode throughout a power down power up situation (unless of course i pull a tape out and re-insert it without cueing up the regen on TC).

yes, i understand about logging and capturing, and i understand about doing a regen upon power up…but neither of these solve the problem:

logging and capturing – i would have to know exactly where on the tape the TC is going to break before this would buy me any time. yes, i could read the TC numbers as they fly by, and then note where the time jumps by 20 frames, but i think my eyes would be goofy by then. on the other hand, if i logged and captured every single shot individually, while also leaving enough time on the head and tail for pre-roll and post-roll in case there was a TC break there, it would work…

regen TC on power up – yes, it would work…but alas with what i’ll be shooting next week there is not always time for this luxury. it will be a hunting show, where i will need to power up and shoot rather quickly…or i could just bring enough battery power to leave the camera powered up all day and this would alleviate all problems…

anyway, thanks for the replies. if anyone has shot with the 700 or if Sony is listening, it would be nice to know WHY they created an expensive camera that looses TC with every power-down/up.

thanks for helping out a bonehead,

jtn

[Tad Newberry]

thanks, good idea, and i had checked this first off when i was sitting in post for twice as long as i expected. the on-board lithium battery was changed and working well. it appears to be a major flaw in the engineering of this model, as i’ve heard from the rental house that they talked to Sony and they said ALL the 700’s are that way. amazing, eh?

thanks for helping out a bonehead,

jtn