[Tim Ryan]

Just completed a 2.5 hour hand-held shoot during 2009 Mardi Gras. I’ve used my Firestore FS-100 for long tripod-mounted shoots in the past without issue. However, today, after attempting to dump the footage to an external hard drive via my MBP, I got an error.

I then started going back reviewing the footage via the Firestore and my HPX170 (using Firewire) and realized that almost 1/2 of the 114 clips have issues! I’m now going through the painstaking process of reviewing all clips from start to finish to see if they have issues. When I find an issue, I have to wait for the clip to stop playing as it freezes and won’t stop immediately (does some weird freeze frame thing with audio frozen and buzzing) and then go through the Firestore menu to get to Repair Clip. Then, only some of the clips actually seemed to be repaired. Others, I have to run “Repair Clip” several times to keep trying to fix different sections of the clip. Others appear to be unfixable. The other issue is that the repaired clips get placed at the END of the footage and out of sequential order. Not very fun for me or the editor.

I decided to go tapeless to be more efficient in post and not have to worry about tape drives/tape issues. However, using the Firestore doesn’t appear to save any time if one has to triple check all clips to make sure they’re not funcky. I’m also very concerned about other issues that I’ll find later with the clips and that I cannot comfortably just hand over my footage (after transfered to a hard-drive) to an editor. EVER. I’m always going to have to go back and use the stupid Firestore “Repair Clip” feature. I’m so annoyed.

Here’s the unknown and I’m sure the only explanation assuming Firestore’s really don’t suck this bad. I was shooting handheld. I’m a very steady shooter and well aware of the Firewire sensitivity. Nonetheless, my guess is that Firestore’s just cannot be trusted if shooting handheld, as the firewire connections are just too sensitive. If others agree, I wish Firestore would make this VERY CLEAR TO ANYONE ABOUT TO DROP COIN ON THEIR PRODUCT.

This is something I’ve never experienced with my two 16-GB P2 cards. That said, I wish I had spent the $1800 or so that I spent on the Firestore FS-100 with 160 GB’s for two additional 16GB cards. I’d rather have less storage capacity and continuous run time for something that has been more reliable. In fact, my P2 experience has been flawless (know on wood).

Any one want to buy an FS100-160? Make an offer. It’s been used for a total of about 15 hours of shooting using an HPX170.

MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive

[Tim Ryan]

thanks Dennis and everyone for the amazing advice. This is what makes Creative Cow such a great resource for both seasoned veterans as well as newbies.

I do have access to the exterior windows. Sheer curtains and gels seem like the easiest (and most affordable) way to go. Thanks for addressing the specific question with
advice on the correct scrim & gels to purchase.

MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive

[Tim Ryan]

Re: Overexposed windows, scrims, gels and tungsten lighting
by Michael Palmer on Dec 12, 2008 at 12:47:29 am

“And please accept my apologues as I find this forum the hardest for me to hold my emotions with concerns to those who stand at the camera without sufficient experience. Video has opened the door for too many who can afford a camcorder and what really pains me is the inexperienced people asking eliminatory questions.”

————–

Michael, I’m so confused by your mixed messages and the pain my eliminatory questions appear to be causing. You provide what comes off as sincere advice (albeit redundant, as it was answered earlier by others – without insult). Then, you offer an apology followed by some additional jabs for requesting “eliminatory DP” advice.

Please don’t reply to my posts if they are causing you so much pain and frustration. Life’s too short for such drama!

MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive

[Tim Ryan]

Re: Overexposed windows, scrims, gels and tungsten lighting by Michael Palmer on Dec 11, 2008 at 10:29:10 amYou really get what you pay for in production and so many of these posts here are from people looking for miracles when they should be hiring experience crews to produce there shows.

Sounds like you’re not a fan of us low-budget DIYers that are both naive and trying to learn without always paying others to do it for us? How dare we post on Creative Cow in search of lighting miracles!

MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive

[Tim Ryan]

Hey Mark,
You and the other posts have provided some amazing advice. Thank you for providing suggestions based on the tools I have on hand (i.e. Tungsten lights). I’d love to use HMI’s, Kino Flos or whatever else makes sense but need to stick to what’s already available.

I like the idea of creating a wooden frame with CTO’s stapled and then posting/taping it to the exterior window frame. This is a weekend type of project and I hope to continue shooting over several weeks. This means the kitchen goes back to a residental kitchen when I’m not shooting. So, a quick gel frame on the windows makes the most sense. I can then WB my camera to the Tungsten lights and call it a day.

Can you recommend a vendor and a basic Gel kit that will give me the various CTO’s as well as other staple gels all in one kit?

Thanks again,

Tim

MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive

[Tim Ryan]

Thanks for the advice Dave. I think it makes sense to invest in a C-Stand. I can also use it for flags, reflectors, diffusers and who knows what else.

I know I’ll need a basic C-stand and the boom mate. But what about clips/arms/other necessary accessories for the C-stand (there are so many options I’m a little confused)? Is the 20″ vs. 40″ mostly related to the height of the C-Stand? 20″ seems kind of short for most applications, no?

Thanks!

MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive

[Tim Ryan]

Response to your questions from the post-house:

The 1400 has HD and SD SDI out, but only has HD SDI in. This is SD footage we’re dealing with in this scenario so it won’t accept the signal, I tried it.

We have dubbed from P2 cameras to DVCPRO HD via HD SDI on the 1400 and it worked fine.

However, we digitized this particular SD footage from the HPX170 to one of our editing systems via SDI and it was flawless. That’s how we ultimately ended up making the dub to D-Beta.

Monitoring was also fine, even through the D-Beta deck. The artifacts only showed up on record.

MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive

[Tim Ryan]

Hey Dan,
I checked with the post-house on your questions. Here’s their response:
————-
We did try with EDH both on and off. All cables are confirmed good.

I am really baffled by this. It’s got to be some compatibility issue with dbeta in particular.

This is the strangest part:
When our Panasonic AJ1400HD deck is hooked up to the dbeta, it produces similar artifacts IF there is no reference signal present. We remedy this by plugging the composite out from the deck into the reference in of the dbeta… then everything looks great. This is not true for the HPX-170, even though we know the composite signal to be good even while outputting SDI.

Our DBeta is a Sony DVW-A500

———————–

MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive

[Tim Ryan]

Hey Dan,
Thanks for writing the article. lt was very informative. In fact, it’s more of a book than article:)

I purchased my HPX170 last week and used it for a DVCPRO 50 30P shoot this weekend. Yesterday, I went to a post-house to have the footage printed to Digibeta for a local TV station. About 1/2 way through the digital transfer, the images starting showing randomly placed artifacts. The images looked beautiful until about 1/2 way through the transfer (so we did have the SDI enabled). We were using the SDI output from my camera into a Panasonic Digibeta deck (not sure about the model number).

Any thoughts on why we’re experienced the artifacting? Is it better to just use the camera’s Component Out port (I did not bring it with me to the studio)?

Thanks,

Tim

MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive

[Tim Ryan]

I selected the highest quality option.

MacBook Pro
Mac OSX version 10.4.11
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDr SDRAM
FCP 6.0
G-Raid 2 Tb external hard drive