[Tom Matthies]

DV, DV25, DVCPro and DVCam are all basically the same format-digital video at 25Mb/Sec. If your output looks bad in the DV codec format, possibly look for another problem somewhere within the settings on the computer. Make sure that it is set to render at high quality and so on. Since it’s someone else’s machine, it’s likely that something is set different than on the machine you are used to using.
tom

[Tom Matthies]

Although, if you capture from tape, you have timecode accurate time code on your clips in case you need to capture again for some reason. In any case, capture to your tape at the same time in order to have an aechive copy for later.
Tom

[Tom Matthies]

Hi Chris.
Just option-drag your entire Favorites folder into a project bin and save it along with your project. Then just drag it back in or pick effects right from the copy folder.
…I guess that at least two of us aren’t in Vegas…
Darn…couldn’t get there this year.
Tom

[Tom Matthies]

Thanks, Ben.
It looks promising!
I’ll check out the trial download tonight.
Tom

[Tom Matthies]

Thanks Walter. That’s pretty much what I usually do, but it still doesn’t look nice and smooth like the blur in some other applications. I can live with it, but I’m just wondering if there might be a better way while staying within FCP.
Tom

[Tom Matthies]

When I’m editing a longer project with many revised sections I usually just leave all the past render files in place right up to the point that the picture is locked. At that time I go to render manager, delete ALL of the render files and re-render everything new. It’s pretty safe. I’ve been doing it that way for years and never had a single problem. It will often improve your playback upon output as well since in most cases your drives will be less fragmented since all of the new render files are recorded to your discs in the correct order. (assuming you have that much continuous, free space on them) At any rate there should be less fragmentation on playback. The discs don’t have to work as hard especially when using 10 bit UC.
And I usually take the opportunity to perform an audio mix down at the same time. This will also help in playback.
It’s all easy, reliable and it works. Don’t worry. Just back up your project file…always a good idea anyway.
Tom

[Tom Matthies]

Hi again. I tried modifying the device control preset as noted above. While ETT, either editing or mastering, still remains greyed out the PTV routine did work. I set the preroll to one second, the smallest value it would accept, post roll to three and checked the “Auto Record and PTV after:” box.
When I tried PTV it actually DID trigger the DVD recorder into the record mode and all seemed well. However, when I went to title and finalize the disc in the DVDrecorder, all of the options were greyed out as if nothing was actually recorded onto the disc. Hmmm… I tried it again while watching the DVD recorder. Again it played out the time line and triggered the rocorder into Record. At the end of the PTV sequence, the “Stop” button on the deck started flashing as you would expect. However, a few seconds later the “Record” button lit back up WHILE the Stop button was still flashing. Something wasn’t right. Eventually, after hittinbg a few buttons, getting an “encoder error” message and waiting a few more seconds the deck went back to normal. This time, data was recorded on the disc and it accepted titling and finalization as normal. The disc seems OK, but obviously there are some commands going to the deck that are confusing it. I will experiment more as time permits. The biggest thing is the fact that it did, indeed, trigger the deck into the record mode. It’s a good start! At least now I know it can be done.
Thanks again for the tips.
Tom

[Tom Matthies]

Hi Bob.
Thanks for the tip. I’ll try it. I was also tinkering with actually editing the FCP timeline to tape while sending the second RS-422 output from the Digibeta deck to the DVD recorder and having it trigger into record when the proper timecode location is sent. Haven’t yet had the time to try it however.
As for the Avid, I had tried to use the DVD recorder as the master record deck when doing a Digital Cut. No go either. However, I didn’t realize that it was possible to use the Avid in a VTR emulation mode. This way I could simply “edit” right from the DVD recorder itself I’d guess. Intreresting…
Where would the setting for emulation be found in the Avid application? We are running a pair of Symphonys right now. Version 4.5 possibly. Can’t remember exactly off the top of my head. It would be interesting to try. We usually use the cue up the timeline in black, hit the “reds” on the DVD recorder and then play the timeline when the counter on the DVD decks starts running. It works OK when I can find another body ti push the button for me. The problem is that the deck is in a central machine room and the three edit rooms are all in different locations.
I’ll continue to explore this…when I get some spare time. (yea, right…)
tom

[Tom Matthies]

Another trick I use to get a flat exposure on my backing is to shoot the green/blue screen with my camera, open the iris up a few stops until the zebra stripes appear. If the lighting on the backing is uneven, the zebras will show whick areas are under or over oxposed in short order. Simply adjust your lighting until the zebras are as even across the backing as possible. Easy and no light meter required!
Tom

[Tom Matthies]

Yep, they are a paranoid bunch. No doubt about it. All of them Mac haters.
Tom