FCE compatability with SONY DCR-HC28

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FCE compatability with SONY DCR-HC28

Hi - I recently bought a SONY DCR-HC28 to download a lot of footage into a project, but
Final Cut Express doesn't recognise it. Has anyone got these 2 working together ? Any tips ?

Thank you
James

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Sep 24, 2007 3:17 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 24, 2007 5:04 AM in response to jmurraywhite

Make sure you connect it to your Mac with a Firewire cable and ensure the Easy Setup in FCE is either for "DV-PAL" or "DV-NTSC".

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Answer 2

jmurraywhite Author

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Sep 24, 2007 8:36 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

hi Ian - yes, have tried that. Have just borrowed another camcorder - a samsung, which also isn't on the qualifying devices list either (the SONY DCR HC20 is, but not the HC28) - so will try that.
Just wondering if anyone on the forum has successfully used this camera with FCE, or if I should
think about replacing it ?..................
Regards,
James

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Answer 3

Sep 24, 2007 8:54 AM in response to jmurraywhite

The qualifying list is so incomplete, it is meaningless.

Virtually every mini-DV camera with Firewire will work.

If it doesn't it is more likely you are doing something wrong rather than the camera is unsuitable.

Select View>Video Out>Refresh Video Devices.

Then go there again and make sure that the appropriate Apple Firewire setting is selected.

Ian.

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Answer 4

jmurraywhite Author

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Sep 24, 2007 1:26 PM in response to Ian R. Brown

Unfortunately this doesn't help the computer recognise the camera either...........
I've now tried 3 mini-DV camera's, with no success. I've tried 2 cables, but will go & get another tommorrow...............could it be the firewire port ?
Or the software ? The mac did an auto update today to FCE 3.5.1 .............
but that hasn't helped either. Stumped..............

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Answer 5

Sep 24, 2007 2:11 PM in response to jmurraywhite

Have you ever used FCE successfully before ?

Exactly how are you connecting your camera to the Mac and what else have you got connected ?

Try trashing the preferences exactly like this:-

http://www.fcpbook.com/Misc1.html

Consider uninstalling FCE and reinstalling it:-

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301182

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Answer 6

jmurraywhite Author

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Sep 24, 2007 2:16 PM in response to Ian R. Brown

No - I've used Final Cut a lot before, without this problem.
I bought FCE recently, and this is my 1st experience with it -
without managing to connect any camera to it.
I'm hooking a firewire cable to the computer, making sure the computer is restarted, switching the camera mode to play/edit, going through the
'easy setup' sequence: NTSC Firewire Basic (as well as the other NTSC
permutations), then capture - no good, then view - refresh A/V devices....
still nothing...........

will try the 2 suggestions you made. Thanks a lot.

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Answer 7

jmurraywhite Author

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Sep 24, 2007 2:19 PM in response to jmurraywhite

N.b nothing connected other than an optical mouse.
I have connected a Lacie 250gb h/d successfully through the F/W 800 port,
and worked with footage from the Lacie in FCE, and re-saved it back to the Lacie...

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Answer 8

Dr. Dave

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Sep 24, 2007 10:51 PM in response to jmurraywhite

If the original data is not digital, Converter has to be selected in Easy Setup.

Compatability only means that the input device (camcorder) can be controlled on screen.

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Answer 9

Sep 25, 2007 12:41 AM in response to jmurraywhite

I realise that I am clutching at straws here but trash the preferences as soon as possible using the method outlined.

This procedure only takes a minute and can often work miracles when FCE is misbehaving.

Also try daisy-chaining your camera, by plugging it into the FW HD which is connected to the Mac.

As Dr.Dave says, the footage must be DV shot in the camera (or another DV camera). If it is something else and you are using your Sony as a converter to get it into FCE, your Easy Setup must be "DV-Converter".

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Answer 10

jmurraywhite Author

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Oct 1, 2007 4:16 AM in response to Dr. Dave

just to update you kind folk who have been helping me with this;
I took a sidestep and consulted with the good folk at SONY, who sent me some info (which I was unable to open on my browser)...........currently going down the route of why the mac book pro doesn't recognise the firewire connection, before final cut express.
I will get back to the post site when i have more answers....
Thanks all for help so far.
James

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Answer 11

Oct 1, 2007 4:42 AM in response to jmurraywhite

I don't think we have ascertained whether the problem is that FCE is not recognising your camera or the Mac isn't.

To check whether the computer is recognising your Sony you can do 2 things :-

1. Open iMovie and see if that recognises your camera and allows you to capture.

2. Go to Apple Menu>About this Mac>More Info. In the window that opens click on "Firewire" which is in the "Contents" column on the left. This should then list all FW devices connected to your Mac. Is the Sony listed ?

Ian.

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Answer 12

jmurraywhite Author

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Oct 2, 2007 4:19 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Ian - the Mac doesnt recognise the camera in the 'About this Mac' > Firewire
listing, nor does it recognise it through 'Imovie HD' > Capture..............

The SONY info from their customer support desk talks about configuring the
Video Capture Card in the Mac, but this is standard, no ?

What else can I do to get the computer to recognise the camera ?
I have tried several cables, all to the same end.
Time to phone Apple ? Or to investigate if the firewire port is faulty ?

James

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Answer 13

Oct 2, 2007 5:54 AM in response to jmurraywhite

I would get some other FW device - either camera or Hard Drive - and see if the Mac or iMovie recognises them. If it did it would confirm that the FW ports were OK.

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Answer 14

Oct 2, 2007 5:59 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Have a look at this thread from last month - especially Robert Edison's replies:-

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5205872&#5205872

Ian.

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Answer 15

jmurraywhite Author

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Oct 2, 2007 1:17 PM in response to Ian R. Brown

A kind of mini-breakthrough here: my girlfriend read the camera operating guide and saw that it specified the camera needs a 4 pin to 4pin ILINK cable: I've been using the standard 4pin to 6pin firewire cable (by Belkin). We googled this product:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2255092
and we also need an adaptor for the 4pin to the 6pin Mac Firewire port...........

does this seem realistic ? I've been reading the thread you sent Ian about the logic board dying, and other online articles about the firewire port being fried easily.

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