[Steven Rushworth]

Both PAL and NTSC are SD formats. So arguing whether the Varicam is a PAL or an NTSC camera seems a bit strange to me , as it is neither. What seems to get quite a few people confused about is the PAL and NTSC downconversion. The AJ-HD1200A and AJ-HD1700 VTR decks are capable of downconverting to either. But what they downconvert to is dependant on what frequency the Varicam tapes where shot at. If the tapes need to downconverted thru these VTRs to NTSC the camera needs to be set at 59.94hz and if to PAL 60hz. If you shot at a frequency that is not compatiablewith the format you wish to convert to you , ie shooting at 59.94 when you need a PAL downconvert, you will have use a Snell and Wilcox Ukon or similar device to do the downconversion. Unfortunately there is no simple way to shot on Varicam if you want to downconvert to both PAL and NTSC. You can use the universal mastering method suggested by Jeff, but remember that adds the extra cost of D-5 and you have to be willing to live with the speed change.
Also another point to clarify FCP will happily edit 720/25 p just not over firewire. Whether this is an Apple or Panasonic issue is not
clear , as both companies ,in conversations I have had have suggested the other is at fault. Maybe Jeff can answer the question .
Is it true that AJ-HD1200A isn’t capable of 60hz over firewire? And until it is Apple can’t support 720/25p over firewire?

[Steven Rushworth]

Not sure what the EU has to do with this issue. We are not talking about transmission standards here. While I know the EU loves to regulate everything, To date I don’t know of any one be arrested to shooting footage at 720p at 25fps/60hz. But lets not give any mad bureaucracts in Brussels any ideas.
I have actually got feed back from Apple on this issue and they seem to be partially pointing the in Panasonic’s direct. To quote them:
“Unfortunately this workflow is not yet possible over FireWire. The AJ-1200A only supports the 59.94Hz frequency over FireWire, which is part of the issue”
So the AJ-1200A isn’t capable of 60hz over firewire? Any one from Panasonic feel free to chirp in on this one. As all of us in the 25p at 60hz world, would like to get to the bottom of this issue and find out if we are waiting in vain for a solution.

[Steven Rushworth]

This can happen when the deck is set to a frequency which is different to what the tape was recorded at.Check the user bits to see what frequency the tape was recorded at and see if that matchs the frequency the machine is set at

[Steven Rushworth]

Hi Otis,
As you are in the UK I am assuming that you are shooting or have shot varicam 720P at 60hz like we do here in Australia, unlike our American cousins who use 59.94hz The problem you are going to run into capturing via firewire into FCP HD( this may have changed in 5 ) is that FCP can only capture footage shot at 59.94 hz. If in fact you have shot at 59.94 when you downcovert to SD your downconverted footage is going to be NTSC and not PAL, which may be or not be an issue for you. Also if you down the 59.94 path you are going to end up with a HD master which may to converted for broadcast (it would down here). The less hassle way would be to go HD SDI and use the AJ-FRC frame converter for your off speed footage. Hopefully Apple and Panasonic will put their heads together soon so FCP can support 720P 60hz over firewire not just 59.94. If any one out there has any work rounds I’d love to hear them, as I have several clients who have tripped up on this 59.94 vs 60 hz issue and caused themselves grief, They ended up with 59.94 masters which had to be converted by an outside facility using a Snell and Wilcox Alchemist

[Steven Rushworth]

My understanding is that menu 894 controls what is sent down the firewire when a DVCROHD tape is played back
0000: DVCPRO HD (default)
0001: DVCPRO50
0002: DV
Also I find it safest when playing round with menu setting, to reset the machine to factory default and use that as a starting point, easier than working out which menus the previous user has been tampering with.

[Steven Rushworth]

I suspect its a menu setting on the 1200. I haven’t got the manual handy but from memory you can select what is outputed over firewire, so it sounds to me like its set to DV and down converting your footage

[Steven Rushworth]

Thats the same question I’m desperate to find the answer to. It seems to handle DVCPRo HD1080/ 50i over firewire as it listed as a preset. But as for720/ 25p, anyone got any ideas? Can one just modify one of the presets to do it?It seems odd to me that Apple has left it out as I know lots of people who would love to use their 1200 decks to capture their 720/25 p footage over firewire.