[Adam Smith]

I don’t recall where I copied this from, so I can’t give credit where it is due, but this is the HVX-200 (And HPX-500) frame rate hack.

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1) Get a scene file text file on an SD card, usually by going into menu 8, CARD FUNCTIONS, and saving scene files to your SD card.

2) Open the scene file text file in the PRIVATE\MEIGROUP\PAVCN\SBG\P2SD directory, called SCENE1.TXT (or scene2.txt, scene3.txt, or scene4.txt) using a text editor like Windows Notepad

3) Look for the next-to-last item in the scene file. Here’s what a sample scene file text file looks like:
00005000: 8 ; DETAIL LEVEL: 0
00005001: 8 ; V DETAIL LEVEL: 0
00005002: 8 ; DETAIL CORING : 0
00005003: 8 ; CHROMA LEVEL: 0
00005004: 8 ; CHROMA PHASE: 0
00005005: 8 ; COLOR TEMP: 0
00005006: 16 ; MASTER PED: 0
00005007: 8 ; A.IRIS LEVEL: 0
00005008: 1 ; NEWS GAMMA: OFF
00005009: 0 ; GAMMA : HD NORM
0000500A: 0 ; KNEE: AUTO
0000500B: 0 ; MATRIX: NORM
0000500C: 1 ; SKIN TONE DTL : OFF
0000500D: 0 ; V DETAIL FREQ : THIN
0000500E: 0 ; OPERATION TYPE: VIDEO CAM
0000500F: 0 ; FRAME RATE: DEFAULT
00005010: BE026801 ; SYNCRO SCAN :

That next-to-last item is:
0000500F: 0 ; FRAME RATE: DEFAULT

You can ignore everything after the semicolon; the semicolon indicates that it’s a “comment” and will have no bearing on anything else (so, in this example, the part that says “; FRAME RATE: DEFAULT ” is useless, it affects nothing, it’s just there for human-readable description).

The only thing you would want to change is that last number (in this case, “0”). To get different frame rates, use one of the following numbers:

0 = DEFAULT
1 = 2fps
2 = 3fps
3 =4fps
4 = 6fps
5 = 8fps
6 = 10fps
7 = 12fps
8 = 14fps
9 = 16fps
10 = 18fps
11 = 20fps
12 = 22fps
13 = 23fps
14 = 24fps
16 = 26fps
17 = 27fps
18 = 28fps
19 = 30fps
20 = 32fps
21 = 34fps
22 = 36fps
23 = 38fps
24 = 40fps
25 = 42fps
26 = 44fps
27 = 46fps
28 = 48fps
29 = 50fps
30 = 52fps
32 = 54fps
33 = 56fps
34 = 58fps
35 = 60fps

So, for example, if you wanted to get a frame rate of 2 FPS, your modified line would look like this:
0000500F: 1 ; FRAME RATE: DEFAULT

And if you wanted 44 fps, it would look like this:
0000500F: 26 ; FRAME RATE: DEFAULT

(don’t try higher than 35; I tried 36 and it set it to 50fps, 37 set it to 52, so I think it just repeats 50-60 for all fields set higher than 36)

4) Save your modified text file back onto your SD card

5) Put the SD card back in the camera, go to CARD FUNCTIONS, and read the scene files into the camera.

Now, when you go to the appropriate scene file, you’ll see the new frame rate there. But be aware, the only way to assign these “nonstandard” frame rates is through the SD card. If you use the menu to try to change the frame rate, you’ll lose it — it’ll immediately jump to 60, and then only allow the normal rates to be selected. You’d have to re-load the scene file from the SD card in order to re-establish your “nonstandard” frame rate.

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– – –
Video Photographer / Avid & Final Cut Editor

[Adam Smith]

HPX-500 does have analog component HD out – it’s a D-terminal to triple RCA cable that comes with the camera. (I still hope to find a solution that doesn’t require RCA -> BNC adapters.)

– – –
Video Photographer / Avid & Final Cut Editor

[Adam Smith]

[John Twigt] “I suppose the time isn’t there to first copy the P2 to tape and then ingest tapes (instead p2 cards) ? Another solution might be getting a Panasonic AJ-HPM110 or AJ-HPS1500 (P2 player/recorders) with a TC out and playing these to tape then ingest P2 in NLE.”

Not to derail the discussion, but is it possible to import the MXF as normal and at a later date rebuild the project from tape clones?

Obviously this would be dependent on the edit system but I’m working on a 5 year old Avid Meridian, I’m still a noob with the FCP rig at home, and I’m still learning about all the potential P2 workflows.

– – –
Video Photographer / Avid & Final Cut Editor

[Adam Smith]

Yeah that’s some really strange behavior. I do find my LCD flip-out to be a little bluer than normal but something certainly doesn’t sound right, especially if you’re confirming against other cameras on an external monitor.

You said everything is set to factory presets, including the per-switch color temperature adjustments and lens CAC settings? The first would be fairly obvious, and the second I doubt could affect the overall color of the image, but worth a shot.

– – –
Video Photographer / Avid & Final Cut Editor

[Adam Smith]

There is no known issue with manual white balance on the HPX-500 that I’m aware of… Not sure why yours isn’t working, but using manual white balance IS the workaround for the greenish 5600 preset.

What are you using to monitor the color?

– – –
Video Photographer / Avid & Final Cut Editor

[Adam Smith]

On it’s way, hope it works out for you.

Not sure where exactly mine came from, but if I had to guess I’d say P2CMS from Panasonic.

– – –
Video Photographer / Avid & Final Cut Editor

[Adam Smith]

I have MXFImporter.component but I don’t see an email address anywhere!

– – –
Video Photographer / Avid & Final Cut Editor

[Adam Smith]

[Niklas Wikman] “Should I disconnect and connect the cable while the camera is still in 1394Device mode?”

That’s what I do. If I power up the camera and it still says “disconnect” and nothing shows on the desktop or disk utility, then I figure it’s truly not connected and ok to unplug. Unplugging and replugging the firewire cable works for me, as the camera will then recognize the connection and all is well.

– – –
Video Photographer / Avid & Final Cut Editor

[Adam Smith]

[Michael Sacci] “I was really hopping someone knew of a place that sold BNC version (already made).”

Yeah.. it’d be nice to skip the adapters and go straight to BNC. If you find one, post it here.

I’m wondering if the D-connector clamps are loosening on my cable, I haven’t used it a lot but lately it doesn’t seem to hold tight enough, I have to loop the cable up and over the camera body to keep the tension or the weight of the cable will move the connector and cause the signal to drop out. =(

– – –
Video Photographer / Avid & Final Cut Editor

[Adam Smith]

If you get “1394 Disconnect” try disconnecting and reconnecting the firewire cable. And if it seems to connect but the cards don’t mount, give it another minute or so, then check Disk Utility and mount them manually.

– – –
Video Photographer / Avid & Final Cut Editor