[Kevin C.]

Excellent help Don, thanks.

I’m shooting people, short scenes, what would you recommend for sharpness? minimum setting/mid level?

For exposure, essentially, you are saying let the camera to it, don’t worry about it too much, and adjust to taste?
(checking the lcd). what do you use, manual, aperature or shutter priority?

the db, then keep to minimum I take it 3.?

You have the zebra on all time? I though it would be annoying to see that. let me know.

Also:

On my first test, it did seem grainy on the computer, not even enlarged that much. why? I’m thinking maybe the more light you throw on subject, less grain? of course if you want low light moody feel, maybe grain is the cost?

and did the GL1 come with power adapter? I see a dc coupler but not adapter, unless I lost it.

[Kevin C.]

thanks Thax!!

Here is the need:

I shoot some mini DV, and I then Fed ex it to an editor to edit for me.

But damn if I’m sending the only copy! I need backup and sure as hell don’t want to fill up hard drives. I can’t believe I’m the only one with this idea or need!???

So, hence I was hoping for a mini DV Duplicator like a cassette duplicator or a vhs duplicator. Does not exist??

You ask, if you need timecode to match. Match to what? If you make a duplicate, aren’t you getting, by definition, a duplicate of the original tape? don’t follow what you are saying. thanks!!!!!!!!!!

[Kevin C.]

Shane:
I upgraded to Tiger, not knowing that FCP would not work with it. Who the heck would know that??

I was very pissed off, when the tech at Apple informed me. He did not seem to care too much. (In fact is seems Apple takes great delight in that)

thanks Matte:
that is hard to follow but I think the gist if that you do not want to ever start recording past the point of the last recorded moment. no?

that’s the only way to break timecode right? if you stop and then start past last recorded moment.
BTW is “timecode reset= breaking timecode”?

[Kevin C.]

thanks PHil:
Is this a lot more costly than “normal” tapes?

Hits you mean dropouts? thanks

[Kevin C.]

thanks Walter!
I just moved to FCP Express HD — and just updated that on my profile. osX 10.4.2

I had fcp3 but it would not work with Tiger… and now I’m wondering if this software is a bit buggy, to say the least. At least with capturing, and communicating with camcorders, it’s ejects hard drives, freezes up, and freezes up whole computer.

HEre the weird part Walter, the HD ejecting was not even the one set as scratch disc, but you are right, it’s really bizarre. Anyone else have ideas on this??

I’m wondering. With all problems I’m having, does FCP need to know the specific camcorder you are communicating with? Is there a special driver needed to tell FCP the deck/camcorder you are using?

thanks James.
What do you mean you need at least 10 seconds. Are you saying I should, perhaps, forward 10 seconds first, off bat?
Also, how do I change the timecode? I thought that is, if you will, engraved in the tape and not alterable.

[Kevin C.]

Excellent Walter!! thanks.

[Kevin C.]

thanks so much Shane.
Wow! I read in a couple of Digital Filmaking books this idea of recording the full tape beforehand with black cap to have a continuous timecode. so this was my first test. In fact my first shoot with actors etc.

And in fact, when I went to capture, I had massive timecode problems, and massive dropped frame warning coming up.
Man, so much for reading books.

So, while I’m shooting, I guess best way to prevent timecode breaks is just to make sure not stop the tape and forward to a point beyond where you last shot, correct?

Now I had FCP 1,2, 3, but when got Tiger 3 would not work, and bought Express HD. It looked like it had virtually everything I would need for semi-pro use. But I just found out yesterday. It does not log and capture! dang.

So I’m doing Capture now, which is cool, Tom Wolsky prefers that anyway, but Uncontrollable Device, never seen that or heard of that.

[Kevin C.]

thanks so much Steve.
Yes I could do that, but being that I may be doing a lot of duplicating in future, a cheap, efficient, dedicated deck for that (preferably that could de it a multiple speed without quality loss– possible??) — would be preferable — less wear and tear on two cameras. Any idea anyone?

[Kevin C.]

thanks Bro. I went into system settings found that. thanks so much. I have manual, and few books but you guys will have to put up with my ignorance, and this software is so vast.

Yeah, precisely, I assumed, incorrectly, that the capture would blaze like you see a mp3 import into itunes. Maybe in the cyberfuture!

[Kevin C.]

Spoke to soon. Still same problem. So:
If anyone can help you get Nobel Prize:
4 days “waiting for timecode”