FCE/Sony DCR-HC3, doing it right

Hi(Bonjour)!

As the HC3 is an HDV camcorder, did you check the FCE 3.5 user's manual (in the help menu) from page 207 and ss about capturing process with HDV material ?

Are you sure that your sequence settings match your video material format. Select the correct codec in easy setup menu AND create a new sequence before capturing.

Michel Boissonneault

THe HC3 captures HD and standard DV. Importing standard DV into FCE you can set in and out points for importing clips, and FCE controls your camera like in iMovie (make sure your camera is in playback mode). To import HD footage, make sure you set your project to HD in the easy setup menu. You can then set up your new HD project - changes only apply to new projects. If you are importing HD footage, you can only start importing using the capture control. There are none of the camera control features available like in standard DV. Usually starting an import gets the camera rolling, but a few times I have had to press the play button for some reason. Importing HD on my system runs 30 to 40% behind the camera, so you have to watch the camera LCD. You stop the import by hitting the esc key. You may have to wait some time for the computer to process the cached video. Once it is imported you can edit it normally. But if you do a longish movie, be prepared for dropped frames on playback, and long compression times.

Thanks for your answers. I'm now certain that I use the right settings. In DV it is possible to control the camera from with FCE in the capture screen. in HD I'll have to control the camera on the camerascreen itself.

ScuBart