USB or Firewire Drive?

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

You can’t use USB for FCP video capture.

[Cameracad]

I’d say that’s a pretty big CON for the USB. Looks like I’ll be going Firewire. Thanks.

[Christopher New]

Uh, Matte, that’s a load of manure. I have an external USB 2.0 LaCie that works perfectly for DV capture (in theory it would be better than having a FW drive as its on a different bus than the camera/deck). I have even got it to do runs of multiple streams w/o many hiccups. Now, it is true that FW drives have better reliability in terms of dropping frames and throroughput, and it’s usually worth the $10 difference between the FW & USB versions of the same model from most maufacturers (even more so for the 800Mb models). So let’s not speak in generalities, shall we?

Chris

[Tom Wolsky]

USB drives are not supported by Apple for use with its video applications.

[Gary Adcock]

[bvuludichris] “h, Matte, that’s a load of manure. I have an external USB 2.0 LaCie that works perfectly for DV capture (in theory it would be better than having a FW drive as its on a different bus than the camera/deck).”

< rant>

Sorry but here in this forum at this time, that is just not the case. I am glad it works for you but USB storage for video is NOT SUPPORTED as a workflow by apple or by any drive manufacturer as far as I know not even Lacie, as USB is totally unreliable on the mac for video editing.
Just because you can do it for a short clip does not mean that it can be used in day to day editing environment.

It is a disservice to our readers to come online and claim that it works, when every forum leader and regular on this forum say that you should not do it.

< end rant:>

Gary Adcock
Studio37
HD and Film Consultation
Chicago, IL USA

[Kevin Monahan]

Good lord, regular FireWire drives aren’t even sanctioned. Apple is very cautionary about their use. They basically say, “Your mileage may vary”…..

These folks know. They built that stuff you know.

Kevin Monahan
Take My FCP Master’s Seminar!
fcpworld.com

[Christopher New]

[gary adcock] “It is a disservice to our readers to come online and claim that it works, when every forum leader and regular on this forum say that you should not do it.”

Sorry, Gary, that I did not get permission from the forum administrators before I posted.

However, I was responding to what Matte orignally said, which was that you cannot use a USB drive to capture video in Final Cut Pro. I know this to be false. I do it all the time. The fact that it’s not ‘recommended’ by the manufacturer not withstanding, it works. And not just for short clips, but for 50+ minute DV clips. I am not reccomending use of USB drives over FW; in fact I made it very clear in my post that given the choise you should go with FW, or, better yet, FW800.

As anyone can see, I have not made many posts on this forum – I have tried to be a good student of all the CreativeCow forums that pertain to my work, and take in the wisdom from those of you who share generously of your talents & experience. Why I had to speak up on this issue was Matte’s unimpeachable dismissal of a workflow that I use every day (not that I’m singling Matte out, but that’s the issue at hand). It was like saying that my work doesn’t exist, or at the very least is worthless.

The problem, I believe, is that there is always a better way of doing things, but often proponents of the better technology/technique look at the lesser tools as either inferior or unusable, despite who may actually be using them. If it weren’t this, it’d be somebody telling someone else that they shouldn’t use Firewire ’cause SATA is the only reliable storage, or an ‘AVID hawk’ telling a FCP user they have to upgrade to edit true HD; pretty soon everyone is using Nitris over dual-fiber to edit their home videos.

I guess what I’m saying is that I’m a small fish, and I have a price point. I just got my FCP Suite and, thank God (i.e., Steve), it runs beautifully tethered to a USB drive. When I have more money coming in the door I’ll get my FW drive (or better) and experience that reliability all the kids are talking about. Until then, I’ll just have to captue video on a drive that can’t capture video…

PS: I promise I won’t interrupt class any more…& no hard feelings.

[Christopher New]

Also, appologies to Matte for comparing you comments to animal feces – I was shooting for a colorful phrase.

Chris