[Jeremy Loftus-hills]

Hi Tim

I just got my camera back from the repair shop. The red dot was caused by the failure of the CMOS sensor. Sometimes this can be corrected with software, but in my case the breakdown was too severe for that. So I had to have the sensor replaced with a new one and, since they no longer supply the original sensor I had to have a new ND unit installed as well. Altogether it cost $900 Australian. I traced the problem back to a point in time about one month after the warranty expired! At first it was not perceptible except under some conditions – usually against low light white. It changed quite dramatically after one day’s work in the country.

I recommend people have a detailed look at their picture a week or two before warranty expires, and have any slight blip in color lodged with Sony just in case it flares up in the future. The sensors are not made by Sony, and at $470 Australian are cheaper than I expected. So maybe they don’t have a very long life? My EX1 had done about 500 hours.

Jeremy

[Jeremy Loftus-hills]

Thanks everyone. A few workarounds I can try next time. You’ve got me thinking about the logic from FCP’s point of view and given me new hope that I can work along with it instead of fighting it, so to speak.
I still want to master in HD Don, although with the slow pace of adoption here (downunder) I’m starting to wonder why. One thing I’m going to try is leaving SD frame size adjustments until I get to the SD timeline, which will make them look undersize on the HD timeline, but maybe it will correct itself as we downsize. Thanks again.
Jeremy

[Jeremy Loftus-hills]

The odd thing is now when I set the camera up in my (post production) studio the audio is as clean as. I haven’t tested it for months, I just have the trim set permanently below the threshold – about minus 32 DB. So maybe it’s dependent upon a variable of some kind. I usually use cabled Sennheiser K6 mics (ME66 & 64), with AGC separated, tone on and wind filters off.

If I have to I use the Sony UHF radio system – WRT-805, with XLR adapted to the old style mini jack.

I have heard the ticking on all. I don’t know if it records to the card, I’ve assumed it does (in other words it could be in the monitoring amplifier I suppose).

Or could it be external – phone towers or something?

Anyway if someone finds out the cause I would love to know.

In the meantime I’ll try to isolate when and where it occurs, and try recording it.

Jeremy

[Jeremy Loftus-hills]

I hear that sound too. To date I have been trimming back the mic until it is inaudible, but then audio always needs to be boosted in post which is a bloody nuisance.

[Jeremy Loftus-hills]

Hi Gayle

Open your project.

Under file item ‘Window’ check ‘Keyframe editor’.

In the keyframe editor work out which of the graphs represents your scrolling text. (move the lines and it will become clear but be sure to edit undo after each move!)

Hint: Since it has a variable speed the graph you are looking for will be ‘curvey’ (probably like an elongated S).

Note it has a diamond shape at either end (the keyframes)

Control click on this diamond shape at either the start or the end of the elongated ‘S’.

Choose interpolataion/linear.

The ‘S’ should change to a straight line.

Scrolling should then move at a constant speed.

Regards
Jeremy

[Jeremy Loftus-hills]

As long as it is the BPAV folder you are moving it should move from camera to PC to Mac. The package is robust. I have done this without probs. Just keep the BPAV file intact until you get it onto the editing system, then import the clips you need into FCP via the file import command. This command opens the XDCAM transfer tool. From there add the BPAV file via the + button, choose the clips you want, import them to your project and you’re done.

[Jeremy Loftus-hills]

In the keyframe editor change the properties of the motion gradient to ‘linear’.

[Jeremy Loftus-hills]

The footage exists in best quality (HQ 1080i). I am looking for the most cost effective way to output it. I need to output it efficiently for the client as the project progresses. I would normally supply several rough cuts near the end of a project for client feedback. Then I need to get the final cut out for screening (usually at conferences).

Once you have installed the Sony Software a new export option become available in FCP – export to XDCAM. The exported file is wrapped in the MP4 wrapper, which needs unwrapping at the other end somehow.

The exort to XDCAM may in the end provide a lossless path, creating a computer file of manageable size that can be played off a hard drive at conference venues (supposing they have a computer that will play at fullframe). But we will need to work out some other path for distribution. I guess some kind of HD DVD which is where Blu Ray comes in, but that is in the future hence the toying with HDV.

Output to HDV tape is a bit of a distraction I guess. But I want to know if FCP will do that and it will, provided you set up the HDV timeline first then copy and paste the clips. Of course the first thing to reach for is a long black, because the dreaded CONFORM process precedes print to tape.

Regards
Jeremy

[Jeremy Loftus-hills]

Hi Patrick

Yes. Thank you. Quite a nice looking picture even if it is playing on a Sony SD monitor. Thanks again.

Jeremy

[Jeremy Loftus-hills]

Hi Tom

Probably because I don’t know what I am doing.

Placed full frame XDCAM (1920 x 1080) on timeline, with initial codec to match. Then change codec via render settings to frame size HD 1440 x 1080 and compressor HDV1080i50. Render sequence.

Then when I ask FCP (6.0.2) to print to video (via firewire onto my little M15 deck set to 50/HDV) it starts to complain: ilink device may not match…then when I ask it to print to video regardlessit says ‘not compatible with HDV’, and won’t proceed.

I guess the FCP settings are the problem, but what should they be?

Thanks
Jeremy