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Trying to Capture Sony HDV 1080i/60 into Final Cut Pro 5.0.4, not working, can anyone help?
Hello. My first post here.
I’m trying to capture some b-roll footage from a Sony HDV 1080i/60 tape, into Final Cut Pro 5.0.4
I’m using my Apple PowerBook G4 15″ 1.5 GHz, 1 GB Ram. I’ve tried with a Sony FX-1 and a Sony Z1U camera, both HDV. The tape was recorded on the FX-1 camera, however it plays back fine in VCR mode on the Z1u, as well. I’ve made sure to set the settings in the Z1u camera properly, for DV firewire capture, as stated in the Z1u manual.
Both camera LCD screens will flash when i try to initiate the capture device, from the log and capture screen. however, i get an error from FCP with both cameras, stating that it can not initiate or control the capture device.
I’ve tried switching DV firewire cables. Using a 4-pin DV Firewire to 6-pin Firewire 400 cable. 4-pin DV firewire from the DV Firewire port on the SOny cameras, into 6-pin firewire 400 on my PowerBook G4.
I’ve tried using the easy setup feature in FCP, and have tried every combination of capture presets i can see that might work.
I did a search, and saw this post, below… i don’t know how this guy ended up getting his capture to work (the reply posts don’t mention how), but i have my settings the same, as well as have tried other combinations:
“Been trying to capture HDV material from SONY M15U HDV deck, shot on JVC mini DV tape (plays back fine in Sony FX 1 camera) at HDV 1080i 60. Format in easy setup is HDV, USE HDV-1080i60…when I open log and capture window, gives me an error message – “Unable to Initialize Capture Device – device is not connected (which it is!) or capture preset is not set up correctly. This might also happen if you play DV footage (which I’m not!) in an HDV device.”
My Sequence preset is HDV -1080i60, Capture preset is HDV, Device Control Preset is Sony HDV Firewire though I could’ve chosen HDV firewire, but that doesn’t seem to make a difference…using FCP 6.0.2, MAC PRO 3.0 GHz”
**NOTE – i am not using FCP 6.0.2 like he was, i am using 5.0.4, on my powerbook G4 1.5 GHz laptop.
Any ideas? Much Appreciated, thanks 🙂
Chris
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12 Replies
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have you tried turning off both devices completely (not sleep but off)
then power on the camera, wait 20 seconds, then power on the mac?It sounds just like a bad cable if you cannot get any vtr control.
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i have tried re-booting the mac, with the camera on. but i’ll try what you said, by turning both off, then camera on before booting the mac.
i’ve already tried switching cables. all three cables i tried, had the same effect. can nix the cable out of the equation. but thanks for the reply! much appreciated 🙂
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does anyone else have any suggestions, or ideas? i have to drive down to a company i used to work for, again tomorrow, to try again (lot of gas and time wasted). if re-booting above as suggested doesn’t work, what else could be the issue?
this has been really frustrating. i’ve captured before with this setup, but not from a Sony HDV tape. i think the last capture i did was from a DVX. i usually just use a P2 card with an HVX-200, that just dumps onto the laptop easily.
anyway, thanks again in advance 🙂
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[Chris Red] ” I’ve made sure to set the settings in the Z1u camera properly, for DV firewire capture, as stated in the Z1u manual. “
[Chris Red] “My Sequence preset is HDV -1080i60, Capture preset is HDV,”
Sounds like the camera is set to down convert to DV yet you are setting the computer to capture HDV.
Both need to be set the same.
There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity! -
yes be sure the sony is set for HDV on the dv setting,
not on AUTO or DV.though if its on DV you should be getting control and
a downconverted image. -
It was set for HDV, not DV. and like you said, if even it was set for DV, it should still get a down-converted image… but wasn’t getting anything into FCP. i’m going back down today, to see if i can get it working.
thank you for all your help!
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chris another thing to try.
a different firewire port on the mac…try the front one.
I recently had the rear firewire 400 port go dead for no
good reason, so I switched to the front and it worked.a few weeks later the rear port started working again.
can you verify other things like hard drives can connect
with the port your using? -
yes, i know all my firewire and usb ports are working, as i consistently use firewire drives for audio recording and media management. Thanks tho, that was a good thought. just to be sure, i double-checked.
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[Chris Red] “if even it was set for DV, it should still get a down-converted image… but wasn’t getting anything into FCP”
I under stand this may not be your problem, but if the FCP was set for HDV like you said and the camera was set to down-convert then NO the computer will not see anything. Both the computer and the camera must be set to the same thing in order to get anything at all.
There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity! -
Thanks to Everyone who posted a reply to my thread, and helped.
Thankfully, i was able to capture the footage today! That was stressing me out, not being able to figure it out. I greatly appreciate everyone’s help!
I believe it was a combination of two things, that ended up making it work:
1. The i.Link CONV menu option in the Sony Z1U camera was set to ON – which meant, it was converting the HDV signal to DV, and probably the main reason it wasn’t working.
2. Also, i think whoever suggested to turn off the camera and computer, then turn ON the camera, wait a minute, then turn on the computer, helped it to recognize the firewire device (device being the Sony Z1U camera) correctly.
Again, thanks!
Chris
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