Importing HDV from Canon HV10

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Level 1

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Importing HDV from Canon HV10

I just got a Canon HV10 camera. When I import standard definition footage shot on normal MiniDV tapes in FCE, it works fine, but when I try to import HD footage, I get an "unable to initialize video deck" error message. Should I only be using HDV tapes to shoot HD footage? If not, any suggestions? I'm using FCE 3.0 and Quicktime 7.2 under Mac OS 10.4.10.

PowerBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Jul 12, 2007 1:57 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 12, 2007 8:41 PM in response to Perfectism

hey there Perfection,
reading your post it seems that there may be an issue w/ using FCE 3.0 w/ OS 10.4.10. you may need to get the upgrade to FCE HD 3.5. someone else may have a different thought/suggestion. what Mac are you on--Intel or Power PC?

you don't have to use HDV tapes, though Sony claims their HDV Master tapes are more robust, better coatings, etc.... i use regular MiniDV tapes for DV & HDV recording to save myself a few $$.

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Answer 2

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,809 points

Jul 13, 2007 8:25 PM in response to Perfectism

Start with this and see if anything helps

http://www.fcpbook.com/Video10.html

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Answer 3

Perfectism Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 15, 2007 9:44 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

I tried reinstalling Quicktime, trashing my preferences, and repairing permissions, but the problem still persists. I think this problem may be different in nature from the communications problems that article is designed to address. When I try to import HD video it fails, but I can capture standard definition video recorded on the same tape without even having to disconnect my camera. I just close the capture window, find a section of tape with standard def video on it, and it captures without a hitch. I may be completely wrong about this, but it seems like Final Cut is just not able to recognize the HD video that has been captured on the tape. If anyone has experienced a similar problem or knows of a solution, help would be greatly appreciated.

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Answer 4

Jul 17, 2007 6:03 PM in response to Perfectism

When you say, "HD footage", do you mean 720p or 1080i?

Do you happen to know what frame rate your camera uses? (It's likely to be p25/i50 in the Europe, or p30/i60 elsewhere).

Unfortunately I have not, so far, found any way to make Final Cut Express work with p25 video.

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Answer 5

Perfectism Author

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Jul 17, 2007 7:37 PM in response to Andrew Collier

The footage is 1080i, and the camera was purchased in America so I assume it's i60.

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Answer 6

2late

Level 1

0 points

Jul 18, 2007 5:40 AM in response to Perfectism

Having the same problem, I'm making tests right now...
In the mean time, I capture HD from HV20 using iMovie HD and use the media in FCE.

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Answer 7

ChuckW00

Level 1

46 points

Jul 18, 2007 5:40 AM in response to Perfectism

You may have trouble reading HDV from a tape that has SD on it as well.

Try a fresh tape, record HDV only. Make sure the camera is in 1080 60i mode (it might have a 24p mode as well) and make sure your easy setup is HDV-Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i60

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Answer 8

ChuckW00

Level 1

46 points

Jul 18, 2007 6:45 AM in response to ChuckW00

Also, if you are using an external (firewire) harddrive, try removing it and recording directly to the internal disk

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Answer 9

Perfectism Author

Level 1

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Jul 18, 2007 2:06 PM in response to ChuckW00

Doing the easy setup that way solved the problem! Before I had been doing DV-NTSC FireWire Basic. Thanks for the help!

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