[Michael Kammes]

In addition, it’s DNxHD .mov -not in an MXF wrapper. Not a huge issue, but still not a seamless workflow at all.

-Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[Michael Kammes]

For local use….

For what use? Word docs or video editing?

For video editing, bare minimum for reliable performance is 7200 RPM. Yes, plenty of people use sub 7200RPM, but I’ve never felt that was reliable enough, especially when using ‘fatter’ codecs.

Larger Cache is also always desired.

As far as brands, each manufacturer has small batches prone to mistakes, and I’ve never been able to stick with 1 brand permanently. For me, it;s always been a crap shoot, more based on the cooling of the system and ventilation.

On a side note, I’m a fan of 3 2TB drives in a Mac Pro. RAID 2 of them for performance, then use the 3rd drive for Time Machine / Backup of the other 2 RAID drives.

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[Michael Kammes]

Website says 10.6.5 is qualified.

https://blackmagic-design.com/support/detail.asp?techID=60

Do you have any other video I/O drivers installed? That may cause a conflict.

Have you tied uninstalling the BM drivers, rebooting, reinstalling, rebooting, and trying again?

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[Michael Kammes]

Using FCP?

Perhaps you are monitoring on an analog vs digital scale, in which the digital signal is ‘hotter’ than an analog one, thus your layback may have the same mismatch. In the digital realm, when you eclipse 0dB, you distort, which can lead to pops.

I’m also curious why you’re even hitting max volume? Deliverable specs typically reject tapes at max volume, and prefer max volume to be -10dBfs.

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[Michael Kammes]

JVC 463D. Around $5-6000.

It’s the most common 3d passive monitor out here in Hollywood for edit bays. It’s a balance of quality and cost. Very good viewing at off axis angles….and yes, passive. Does 2D as well.

You’d probably have to use the HDMl input, as there are only HDMI and analog inputs. I’d recommend an AJA Hi5-3G to get your SDI signals into HDMI, as well as deal with those pesky 23.98 oddball frames rates.

-Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[Michael Kammes]

MS-DOS formatting in OS X in a FAT file system, I believe. While this will work on both Mac and Windows, it’s not the most optimized. NTFS is the format du jour for Windows.

I’d put the Mac drive into a PC, and format it. If Windows doesn’t see it, then the Mac GPT partition may be preventing it. In that case, you must delete the GPT partition.

https://blog.paulgu.com/2008/01/06/how-to-delete-gpt-protective-partition/

https://www.technonix.com/2010/02/remove-gpt-protected-partition-on-a-hard-disk-in-windows-xp/

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[Michael Kammes]

That’s your problem right there!

Windows doesn’t support HDV natively. Companies like Calibrated Software will sell you a codec that can do it. $79 or so, I believe.

Short of that, you need to export to a different codec.

~Michael

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[Michael Kammes]

I’m sure this has been tried, but have you experimented with Line / Mix switch on the unit?

Also, in system prefs of the Mac, there are gain faders for the incoming USB signal.

I have always used the Shure X2U for analog XLR to USB, when I don’t have analog I/O into the machine available.

https://www.shure.com/americas/products/accessories/microphone-accessories/problem-solvers/x2u-xlr-to-usb-signal-adapter

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[Michael Kammes]

I’d go a different route.

I recommend this for ANYONE who has headaches with HDV.

Get it out of the HDV codec before it even hits your computer. Devices like the Miranda HD-Bridge DEC+. https://www.miranda.com/HD-Bridge%20DEC+ can get it into a baseband format.

This can be done prior to getting into your NLE or, inline between your HDV deck and your BD Recorder.

Expensive way:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/683187-REG/JVC.html

I hate to reference B&H, but this lists all the components you need: Editrol converter and JVC Recorder.

Cheaper Way:

Get an HDV deck that has Component HD and analog audio out. Run that to BD recorder. Hit record. You can also try HDMI, if your deck / camera has HDMI output, and your BD recorder has it.

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com

[Michael Kammes]

Look into FFmpeg.

https://www.ffmpeg.org/

It’s what VLC is based off of. Not as polished in terms of GUI, however.

.: michael kammes mpse
.: senior applications editor . post workflow consultant
.: audio specialist . act fcp . acsr
.: michaelkammes.com