[Tom Parke]

Yes, the 17-inch MacBook Pro still has the ExpressCard 34 socket.

Related issue: Where can I go to determine if my socket is OK? I now only use my one-year old 15-inch MacBook Pro for ingest of EX footage from SxS, not much else. When editing, my system would hang up, presumably because I was tethered to a G-Speed eSATA RAID (at level 0) to it. Since this issue is intermittant, neither Apple, G-Tech, nor FirmTek (eSATA card) have been able to help. I now have a $900+ RAID that I cannot use reliably, and a nice laptop for home use.

I’ve been through three eSATA cards, three eSATA cables and I’ve tried another G-Tech drive that also has FW800, which is all I can use now with the MacBook Pro. The latest Sonnet eSATA card that is selling for $300 will not work with a MacBook Pro with more than 2 GB of memory per their website (why is this, and is this a common problem with FirmTek and other eSATA cards?). My DP 2.53 MHz book came standard with 4 GB.

What are my options? Thanks!

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

[Tom Parke]

Sorry ’bout trying to change the subject towards a slightly different topic, but, I hope that the ExpressCard/34 slot is retained in the future . . . however, my experience using it for a G-Speed eSATA has been horrific. I’ve re-mirrored my MacBook Pro (per advice from Apple), replaced my eSATA controller card twice, testing with four different cards, and I have purchased three different cables, all because my 15-inch MacBook Pro locks up whenever I edit with the RAID attached. I started with the $60 eSATA card from an Apple store (tried three of these), then purchased a $120 FirmTEK card, same problem, now I see a faster one advertised from Sonnet for $300.

Remember when Lucy kept pulling the football away when Charlie Brown would try to kick it? Charlie Brown is me!

I only use the MacBook Pro for editing when connected with other G-RAID FireWire drives; I do use it to ingest all EX1 footage, however.

Now, what to do with that $900 G-Speed eSATA . . . ?

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

[Tom Parke]

Indeed it is confusing, particularly now . . . Ah, but from my mainframe system days, a bit is short for binary digit (an on or off). It takes a string of bits to represnet numbers larger than 1, just like it takes combination of digits used for numbers larger than 9 in our decimal numbering. So, bits in strings of eight are called bytes, each of which typically represents a single character of data. Bytes, as a term, is used less and less, just like nibbles (half a byte, or 4 bits).

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

[Tom Parke]

I have a similar situation. I guess I’m like others who are “snookered” into thinking all is well when combining different resolutions/formats in an FCP timeline.

I have an EX-1 timeline [1080i60, 1920×1080] and edited in HDV footage from a Z1U [1080i60, 1440×1080]. All looked great while editing, however, when I exported into a QT self-contained file using the same settings, the HDV footage size was not retained. My end product will be SD DVDs.

I used the workflow that Ric Young provided in a Ken Stone paper and have had great success with just EX-1 footage. I believe I needed to “transcode” the HDV footage first [to what I am not sure]; is there a way to get past this or do I start again and replace all the HDV footage with something that will provide consistent results when combined onto an HD 1920×1080 timeline?

I was able to test a small portion by first exporting just the HDV footage into a self-contained QT file and then editing that into EX-1 footage, however, the resultant SD product was much softer than I had experienced with just HDV or EX-1 footage by themselves.

Thanks much for any suggestions.

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

[Tom Parke]

This is an excellent thread! I am one that does have your disc, Noah, but I want to add one more question: I am editing a show that has some footage captured on an Z1, for backup and different angles. What would be the recommend place to bring this in? I am thinking I can bring in the 1080i60 HDV footage to the 1080p30 timeline, but not sure if this would work the best, i.e., be the most efficient and provide the best quality.

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

[Tom Parke]

Mike,

I found this thread when searching for the same general error. How do I determine whether I have a read-write video or not? I remember seeing somesuch message a few weeks ago before I did an archive and restore, but I am still getting general errors. Currently, I have a 35 minute video that had the general error, then I exported the first half. This worked, however the second half does not work, even after I split that in half.

I’ve been exporting 1080/30p video pasted into a DV NTSC anamorphic timeline via QT Conversion with the same DV settings, field dominance: none. I get the same general error if I all I do is render the selection.

MBP DP 2.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 320 GB HD, FCS 2, all software current as of today.

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

[Tom Parke]

Thanks for that, Anne. I was making the point that the Griffin eSATA card sold by Apple in their stores will not work properly with the MBP and is now not recommended by G-Tech, the maker of the G-Speed. There are a number of products that I have purchased in Apple stores that were poor performers and there were few that provided warnings. I am glad that there are other solutions, however, neither the Apple Store Genius Bar nor Apple Tech Support could provide me answers.

If I understand correctly, I can only use the G-Speed at RAID level 0 with my MBP. I could use it at other RAID levels with the proper card and additional G-Speed units with a Mac Pro.

Tom

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

[Tom Parke]

Your LCD monitor may be adjusted too bright. I believe Don’s description of the zebra confirms that his camera is working as expected. The only way for you to tell without question is to hook up to an external monitor that is properly calibrated.

Tom

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

[Tom Parke]

Thanks so much, you are a lifesaver!

Tom

Tom Parke
ProScan DP

[Tom Parke]

Thanks for this, Olof!

I wouldn’t mind the slow ingest of clips, so this might well be the solution I am looking for. The only thing I’m confused about is I thought I only downloaded the two Sony items you mentioned, the XDCAM Transfer and the Clip Brower. Was the Sony SxS driver included in one of those items or is it a separate driver? I would have asked Sony, but I only get put on hold, then the call goes to the ”leaving a message option,” not good when you are traveling about.

Thanks much!

Tom

Tom Parke
ProScan DP