[Agnes Marsala]

I’m still using 7.5 and after reading this thread I’m more horrified than ever at the thought of moving to X!
I’m by no means a big-time hollywood editor. I’m a busy “multi-media specialist” with a non-profit medical center. I’m getting too old for steep learning curves but I guess, I can fake it till I make it for another couple of years.
The screen shots look more like iMovie than FCP but if I just let go of the past and embrace the zen of FCP X I guess it will all work out.

[Agnes Marsala]

Thanks for all the input. I have payed for some things out of pocket, but there’s no guarantee the funds will be approved in the next cycle.
I will start using the 3 cards I have, (the 4Gb that came with the camera, a 32Gb and a 64Gb both E series) as you suggest. I do have some external drives I can use for storage in the meantime.
I was just trying to find a way to shoot tape with the guides in the viewfinder so I can loose the letterbox. The images are fine for our purposes but I don’t like the SD 4:3 aspect ratio.
Thanks again.

[Agnes Marsala]

I work at a non-profit and frequently reuse footage from years gone by, even 16mm film from the 1950’s. We store tape (3/4″ UMatic, BetaSP) in a decent environment so it tends to have a good shelf-life.
I am shooting on minidv using the 16:9 aspect now and just exporting with the letterbox.
I suppose I could back-up the 3 P2 cards I have to tape and just keep using them, I was just wondering if there might be a way to acquire and export without the letterbox using the 16:9 aspect.
I get a very small budget for new equipment each year and have been buying P2 cards one a year for 3 years running. We are not permitted to purchase used equipment.
Thanks for your thoughts.

[Agnes Marsala]

That’s the problem I guess. Even though it will pass through the HD signal I can’t get it into FCP that way. I guess I’ll just dump it to DV and import it through my Pioneer PRV-LV1

Thanks all

[Agnes Marsala]

That lets me import but it’s squeezed. I guess I’m dreaming with this.

[Agnes Marsala]

So if I make a generic preset using DV will that work? I’m not so worried about maintaining the original quality throughout, I’m more looking to be able to capture these clips directly without dumping them to DVD or Betacam sp

[Agnes Marsala]

That makes sense, but why do I see the footage in my capture window? The only problem seem to be device control, but since I’m using non-controllable I don’t understand the error.

[Agnes Marsala]

Thanks. I’ll leave it alone.

[Agnes Marsala]

Shane,

I have already imported it using the DV NTSC 48kHz preset. The clip is indeed letterboxed but it is also cut off on either side, That is, the image is outside the outer title safe overlay and when I view it on my NTSC monitor those edges are not visible. Is there a way I can see the whole width of the image without scaling it?

[Agnes Marsala]

Wow, I didn’t know what I was getting into here. This is a lot to think about. I will call the local broadcasters and see what is acceptable to them. Thank you all.