Capturing through Canopus ADVC110

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Capturing through Canopus ADVC110

Hi

I'm trying to capture some DV Footage to Final Cut. I'm trying to capture through a Canopus ADVC110. Whenever I click Capture Now and error message comes up stating that there is no video present. Device control works fine however, and I can see the timecode meter moving in FCP so I know that there is communication going on. Also I can output from FCP into the deck through the Canopus no problem.

Now I can plug in to the rear Firewire port on the G5 and capture. However I would really rather capture through the Canopus, as the tower is in the basement in a machine room. So it would be much easier if I could just plug into the Canopus instead of having to trek downstairs if I need to change a tape or something.

Has anyone ever experienced this before?

G5, Dual 2.3 GHz 8 GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Final Cut Pro 5.1.4

Posted on Jan 31, 2008 10:21 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 31, 2008 10:27 AM in response to macrae11

Have you confirmed that all of your dip switch settings on the Canopus are set correctly and that you have the silver button routing the signal in the right direction?

Does System Profiler see the Canopus? Are you capturing with 'Non-controllable Device'?

It works for us here.

K

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Answer 2

macrae11 Author

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Jan 31, 2008 11:46 AM in response to Kevan D. Holdsworth

Hi Kevin

I believe the dip switches are set correctly. They are all set to off, which is what we've always used here before. The input select is set to Digital in.

The System Profiler is not actually seeing the Canopus, never noticed that before. It just has an unknown device in the Firewire Device Tree.

I shouldn't have to have capture settings set to "Non-controllable Device" should I ? The deck is being controlled by FCP but it's just not seeing any video coming in.

Thanks for your help.

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Answer 3

Jan 31, 2008 12:01 PM in response to macrae11

Another editor is using the Canopus right now, but IIRC, there was one switch that was set differently than the others.

I do believe you have to use Non-controllable device when the Canopus is inbetween your deck and the mac. (can't remember offhand)...maybe not.

I believe System Profile should see the Canopus. What other FW devices are plugged in (i.e. the 'unknown device') If you have more than one FW device, it may be causing conflicts, being on the same FW bus.

I'm confused about something. You said the tower is downstairs. Where is the deck?...and what kind is it? Please outline more specifically where your equipment is, how it's routed, what type it is.

I see you're on OS 10.4.1 w/FCP 5.1.4...what version of QT?

Post back,
K

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Answer 4

Silal

Level 5

6,461 points

Jan 31, 2008 12:03 PM in response to macrae11

Are you sure you can send the DV signal through Canopus firewire ports? I have one and never tried (no need to!).

Did you do it before?

Hope that helps !

Alberto

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Answer 5

Silal

Level 5

6,461 points

Jan 31, 2008 12:14 PM in response to Silal

I have checked ADVC100 specs in Canopus site and it states that can pass-through analog & digital signals. Sorry !

Alberto

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Answer 6

macrae11 Author

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Jan 31, 2008 12:53 PM in response to Kevan D. Holdsworth

The only other Firewire devices are hard drives and they are plugged into the FW800 port. That is a different bus correct?

I'm on 10.4.11 with QT version 7.3.1.

I've tried two decks. The first was the camera it was shot on which is a Sony HVR-V1U the second was the Sony DSR-25 which I couldn't get to work at all. In fact it crashed FCP when I plugged it in to the Canopus.

The tower is downstairs, but there is a firewire cable running up through the floor to the Canopus, where the edit suite is.

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Answer 7

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Jan 31, 2008 1:15 PM in response to macrae11

If you have a digital source, take the Canopus out of the chain and plug in the firewire cable from the deck into the computer.

You can not have two sources (the Canopus and a DV VTR) running at the same time.

x

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Answer 8

macrae11 Author

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Jan 31, 2008 1:29 PM in response to Studio X

I'm going through the Canopus from the DV source. I don't would like to be able to do this, as the tower is in another room, and I would like to be able to monitor the deck while I'm capturing.

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Answer 9

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Jan 31, 2008 1:34 PM in response to macrae11

Your set up will not work.

Connect the DV deck directly to the computer without the Canopus and you should have device control. The Canopus is totally unnecessary and is screwing up the connection.

Good luck.

x

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Answer 10

macrae11 Author

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Jan 31, 2008 1:42 PM in response to Studio X

Actually there is a user above who says that this same setup is working for him. Also in my original post I stated that I actually already have device control and can use the Canopus to output to the DV deck without any difficulties, so obviously this setup does work at least partially.

So thanks anyways.

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Answer 11

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Jan 31, 2008 1:52 PM in response to macrae11

That other user above is probably using the Canopus to digitize analog video - not trying to send DV through another DV device.

FCP does not like to see 2 sources of DV material at the same time.

Good luck. Hope you get it to work for you.

x

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Answer 12

Jan 31, 2008 2:17 PM in response to Studio X

If I am the user above, then yes, Studio is correct that we use the Canopus to capture non-DV media (with non-controllable device)

I'm still unclear on where all of your equipment is and how it's hooked up. Give that to us, and we may be able to figure an alternative.

K

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Answer 13

macrae11 Author

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Feb 6, 2008 3:34 PM in response to Silal

Well I got the camera to work with the Canopus simultaneously, but I was talking to Canopus and it's not actually able to do it. The ADVC110 will pass DV to the analog outs as a standalone converter, but won't pass DV to the Firewire outputs. 8>(
I've ordered an adapter cable to bypass the Canopus.

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Answer 14

Silal

Level 5

6,461 points

Feb 6, 2008 5:25 PM in response to macrae11

Hi

I tried with my ADVC100 (that is chained to my Lacie firewire drive. I use this setup to capture from VHS tapes from time to time with no capture issues) I connected my camera (DVX100) firewire output to the converter and opened FCP capture. I get the video . . . but get an error when try to capture. Then it seems that the DV signal pass through but FCP receive some weird signal.

I didn't expect this setup even send any signal !! Just tried to saw what happened.

Alberto

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