[Anthony Popolo]

Turns out I had to update FCP to version 6 (I had 4.5). In version 6 (and possibly version 5), there is the codec that is able to read the footage from the JVC camera. The codec that JVC camera uses to create the footage is “XDCAM EX”.
(You can verify your footage is using that codec by doing a “get info” on the clip file. In the popup, look under “more info”. It will show the codec used to create it. It should read something like “XDCAM EX 720p30”)

What is confusing is that one would think that since the Quicktime player won’t even play it, that it is a Quicktime issue and not a FCP issue. However, I’ve come to realize that when FCP has the correct codec, it allows Quicktime to play it (even independent of FCP). So apparently the FCP update provides the update to QT as well (or installs the appropriate plug-in).

You can check if your FCP has the codec by opening FCP, and in the menu “Final Cut Pro” > Audio/Video Settings”. When the popup appears, click on “sequence preset” and the list of supported codecs appear. Scroll to see the whole list. There should be about 10 versions of “XDCAM EX” formats (a different format for each format that the JVC can record…720p24, 1080i60, etc.

If that “XDCAM EX” is not in that Sequence Preset list, then your FCP needs to be updated.
My version 4.5 did not have it and my 6 has it. I don’t know about 5.

Note of caution. The latest FCP is version 7.0, but that requires the Intel processor. I had to get version 6 since I am running on a PowerPC processor, and I’m assuming version 6 is going to be harder to find as time goes by (My apple store had to order it from the warehouse).

Also, once you do have the right version of FCP, in order to import the clip into a project, you have to set that “sequence preset” to match the format of the footage you shot.

Hope this helped.
Anthony

[Anthony Popolo]

Never Mind. I figured it out. I had my preset wrong.
Thanks anyway.

[Anthony Popolo]

Hi Chuck,
thanks for your input.
I still have an OS on the other drive (so I can run a couple of classic programs I still use). I had to startup on that drive (as the admin) and changed the permission for “everyone” to read and write. So when I came back to the new OS, I was able to read AND write ot it.
Thanks for getting me thinking!
Anthony

[Anthony Popolo]

Hi,
At the bottom of the “get info” panel, the “Ignore ownership on this volume” is NOT checked. However, it is also grey-ed out so I can’t access that checkbox.
Also, just above that shows a list of names / privileges as follows…

“System”/ read and write
“admin” / read and write
“everyone” / read only

I’m assuming I fall under “everyone” (since I’m ” read-only”)even though I’m the only user (and admin).

How do I change that privilege?
Thanks
Anthony

[Anthony Popolo]

Hi all, thanks for your input.
regarding some of your inquiries.,,
I am running QT 7.6.2
The camera does NOT have an option for codec. The only option is simply for “Quicktime” only (it would have an option for Mpeg4 if I had the optional recorder attached, which I do not). So the Quicktime option is greyed out in the menu. There is no codec option. (so I don’t know what the codec is and can’t find it in the manual).
I have also posted this problem in the “JVC camera” forum trying to start at both ends and work my way in to solve the problem. I posted the following response there. Perhaps some info in that post may shed more light (note at the end of the response is a link to a clip I created and posted for analysis if you would like to take a look at what the camera created).
Thanks

NOTE: The following the a response I posted on the JVC Camera forum…
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your very investigative response!
To answer your questions:
– I am using class 6 cards
– They are in the clip folder of the card…
BTW, the file hierarchy on the card that the camera creates is as follows:
PRIVATE>JVC>CQAV>CLIP>”movie”.MOV
note: also in the CQAV folder there are two more files and another folder. The files are:
MEDIAINF.XML and MEDIAINF.BAK, and the other folder is called INFO. Within that folder are .XML files whose name corresponds to each of the mov clips in the CLIP folder (the XML files are all represented by the FCP icon).

– I do not have the SxS recorder. The recording format menu option within the camera has “Quicktime” selected (further, it’s greyed out because there is no other option).
– The files play back fine in the camera, and also play out fine via the Firewire down sampled to SD (I currently have to record to DV tape as a workaround right now to get them to FCP!!).
I do not have access to another Mac with FCP so I can’t try it out. I would go to the Mac store, except they will have the latest software loaded and tell me that’s the reason it works there (the perfect sales pitch). I’d prefer not to pay 3/4 of a grand for something that might be a plug-in problem!
BTW, the MOV files load in Quicktime and partially playback in my QT viewer. The audio is heard and the playhead moves the duration of the clip, but there is no picture. The files won’t even open or import into FCP. An “unrecognizable file” error appears.

Some other info I’m finding out…
I originally posted this problem in the FCP forum, thinking it was a FCP issue, but I’ve learned some stuff there that looks like it be more a QT or OS issue.
For example. Some have mentioned that I make sure NOT to select XDCAM codec in the camera’s menu, but the camera’s menu does NOT have that option. It only defaults to Quicktime, with no codec option. I tried “get info” to find out what codec the camera uses, but it doesn’t specify.

I have uploaded a 15 second clip as created by the camera to the following link… The username and password are BOTH “jvc” (lowercase). The clip is just 15 seconds of an empty theatre stage with ambient sound.
https://www.sunnysideent.com/ftp_site/login.php

Thanks for your help.
Anthony

[Anthony Popolo]

Hi Jon,
Thanks for your very investigative response!
To answer your questions:
– I am using class 6 cards
– They are in the clip folder of the card…
BTW, the file hierarchy on the card that the camera creates is as follows:
PRIVATE>JVC>CQAV>CLIP>”movie”.MOV
note: also in the CQAV folder there are two more files and another folder. The files are:
MEDIAINF.XML and MEDIAINF.BAK, and the other folder is called INFO. Within that folder are .XML files whose name corresponds to each of the mov clips in the CLIP folder (the XML files are all represented by the FCP icon).

– I do not have the SxS recorder. The recording format menu option within the camera has “Quicktime” selected (further, it’s greyed out because there is no other option).
– The files play back fine in the camera, and even out the Firewire down sampled to SD (I currently have to record to DV tape as a workaround right now!!).
I do not have access to another Mac with FCP so I can’t try it out. I would go to the Mac store, except they will have the latest software loaded and tell me that’s the reason it works there (the perfect sales pitch).
BTW, the files load and partially playback in my QT viewer. The audio is heard and the playhead moves the duration of the clip, but there is no picture. The files won’t even open or import into FCP. An “unrecognizable file” error appears.

Some other info I’m finding out…
I originally posted this problem in the FCP forum, thinking it was a FCP issue, but I’ve learned some stuff there that looks like it be more a QT or OS issue.
For example. Some have mentioned that I make sure NOT to select XDCAM codec in the camera’s menu, but the camera’s menu does NOT have that option. It only defaults to Quicktime, with no codec option. I tried “get info” to find out what codec the camera uses, but it doesn’t specify.

I have uploaded a 15 second clip as created by the camera to the following link… The username and password are BOTH “jvc” (lowercase). The clip is just 15 seconds of an empty theatre stage with ambient sound.
https://www.sunnysideent.com/ftp_site/login.php

Thanks for your help.
Anthony

[Anthony Popolo]

Thanks Tom,
So I am assuming that even though I have the latest Quicktime (which the clips won’t play on), the codec needed for Quicktime will come from FCS2? Sorry if I seem a little confused as to how these all tie in together.
Thanks
Anthony

[Anthony Popolo]

Thanks John.
That’s where I’m a little confused. I’ve gone through every menu as well as the manual for the camera, and there is no choice for codec. Within the recording format menu, it only specifies “Quicktime”, there is nothing else to select (Other than frame size and rate). I do NOT have the optional recorder attached which would also record Mpeg4 onto SxS. In fact, the Quicktime selection is greyed out since there is no other choice.
If in fact is is recording in XDCAM, do later FCPs (ie 6) support that?
And I’m still confused as to why my latest Quicktime won’t play them either. Shouldn’t that be independent of FCP? Obviously FCP is using Quicktime, so I’m suspecting it’s a Quicktime issue.
Thanks,
Anthony

[Anthony Popolo]

Thanks. Do you know if that’s the case for ALL HD formats (that are able to be shot on the JVC 700)?
That is, can I shoot anything on the JVC 700 that is supported by FCP 4.5?

I was thinking it wasn’t a FCP issue, since I was unable to play them using Quicktime viewer either (they opened, and the player head moved, but just a black screen)

[Anthony Popolo]

I bought the tripod plate adapter for my JVC700. However, I just realized that you DON’T need it to mount the camera to a tripod. There is a standard 1/4-20 mounting thread already on the camera (just forward of the shoulder mount foam). Oh, well. It is pretty handy anyway.
-Anthony