-
Unable to capture from AJ-HD1400 to FCP 6
Hi everyone,
First time post, long time reader. I’ve had a look through the forum and haven’t seen this question, but please point me in the right direction if it has already been posted/answered.
I’m a new mac user and therefore new to FCP. I am having problems capturing from my AJ-HD1400 deck to FCP 6 on my colleagues imac.
Upon open FCP I get the message:-
Unable to locate following external devices:
DVCPRO HD (1080i50) (1920 x 1080)
DVCPRO HD OutYour system configuration may have changed, or your deck/camera
may be disconnected or turned off.Please check your connections and click “Check Again”, or click
“Continue” to set external device selection to None.I have set my project up as DVCPRO HD – 1080i50. Both sequence and capture settings are set to this and I have also set up the deck to HD in the DIF out menu.
Also, when I select the log and capture option a message pops up saying ‘unable to initialize video deck’. I’m sure this is also due to the first message.
Am I missing something really obvious here? I feel like a slight failure stumbling at the 1st hurdle!
Can anyone help me?
-
9 Replies
-
Make sure the deck is turned on before you launch FCP.
[Jonny Boy] “I have set my project up as DVCPRO HD – 1080i50. Both sequence and capture settings are set to this and I have also set up the deck to HD in the DIF out menu. “
You did this manually or did you use the Easy Setup for DVCPro HD 1080i/50? Use the Easy Setup.
[Jonny Boy] “Also, when I select the log and capture option a message pops up saying ‘unable to initialize video deck’. I’m sure this is also due to the first message.
“Make sure the preset Device control is Firewire and not Panasonic RS-422.
It’s been so long since I tried to use the Firewire controls on that machine I honestly can’t remember what the presets are.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
-
Thank you for your speedy reply. Much appreciated. No luck though!
-Make sure the deck is turned on before you launch FCP.
Just tried this and it still throws up the message
In regards to settings I did it manually 1st time round and when that didn’t work I tried esay setup. When i opened up the capture window i was welcomed with an image of me through the built in cam!. Not a pretty site! I will try t again though just to be sure.
– Make sure the preset Device control is Firewire and not Panasonic RS-422.
in the capture settings I have tried DVCPRO HD 1080i50 Firewire, DVCPRO HD Firewire, DVCPRO HD 25fps Firewire and PAL Firewire and all of them put up the unable to initialize video deck message
I don’t actually need to use the controls, i just need to capture the footage.
cheers for the suggestions though.
-
Dumb question, but is the deck set up for 1080i/50?
It’s obvious the iMac is not seeing the deck as a valid video device so it sounds like you’re not getting a proper video signal from it.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
-
i agree, i can’t help but think it’s the deck settings. I have the deck set up for 1080i/50. I found the following website that says about settings for the AJ-HD1400 and FCP 5.1.1. I’ve set the deck and FCP accordingly and still nothing.
https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/sales_o/ieee1394/AJ-HD1400P_FCP51.html
Could it be anything to do with cables. Maybe the deck is giving out IEEE1394 and the computer is trying to receive firewire? or is that an incredibly dumb thing to say?
-
[Jonny Boy] ” Maybe the deck is giving out IEEE1394 and the computer is trying to receive firewire?”
That’s the same thing. 1394 is the technical term for Firewire.
The only other thing I can think of is you are downconverting the firewire output. One easy way to check this is to change your Easy Setup to DV, DV50 and DVCAM to see if you get a picture. If so, then you need to change that output.
We use our 2 1400’s with RS-422 control and HD-SDI I/O. Maybe Shane Ross will have some more thoughts.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
-
I’ve tried putting a DV signal through and i get the message ‘unable to locate the following external device – Apple Firewire PAL’
Anyone shed any light? I really REALLY want this to work!
-
I know this is a stupid question… but have you tried swapping out a different firewire cable?
JimJim Carswell
Spyhop Productions, Inc.
Savannah, GA
http://www.spyhopproductions.com -
yeah, and still no success.
my next effort will be to use the camera as a player but this isn’t ideal! i don’t understand why it’s not working?!
-
Hi Guys,
Problem not solved but alternative sorted, so i’m still in business! managed to use the Panasonic AJ-HDX900E that we shot on as a player. So we’ve established that the problems lies in the the deck. I’m not gonna worry too much about it now as I have a music video to cut for completion tomorrow! 🙁
Cheers everyone for all of your help. It’s massively appreciated!
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up