I Guess I'm Playing with a Real Pro App, Now!

iMovie it isn't! Wow, what did I get myself into? Final Cut Express 4 is a different animal!

How do you set this up? I got an easy setup screen, and it isn't easy. What do I do? I have an HV20, but now what?

Please, help!

iMac Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jun 30, 2008 6:06 PM

24 replies

Scott Hampton Author

Level 2

273 points

Jul 4, 2008 3:40 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Oh, yeah. "One more thing..."

I tested my FW connections and I think either one is bad or my cable is bad. Using System Profiler I don't see the FW camera connected when it's powered on, but I DO see my connected FW drive.

I switched plug in the ports and can see the FW cam in the port that the FW drive was on.

I'm going to try to get a FW hub today. Only thing is iMovie can see the camera no matter where it is...

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,809 points

Jul 4, 2008 5:00 AM in response to Scott Hampton

Do not use a FireWire hub with video editing applications. The software cannot communicate through the hub to the device.

This is a Canon camera, right? It does not work well or communicate properly when there another device on the same bus. You have to capture to the internal drive and then the media to the external drive. You have to use a FireWire Basic protocol with the Canon camera.

Scott Hampton Author

Level 2

273 points

Jul 4, 2008 5:36 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

I don't know what to say...it's just not working. I tried every reasonable connection and it's not working. Maybe I got a lemon...?

Yes, it's a Canon HV20.

I'm getting annoyed now. Maybe I'll take the software back.

Scott Hampton Author

Level 2

273 points

Jul 4, 2008 5:40 AM in response to mitcholson

Alright, well, those settings are in, but I can't import correctly. When I choose capture it gives me a window to name the project and goes right to capture. No chance to preview anything, cue anything, it just tries to take everything off the tape. Not good...

Thx for the settings, though

Jul 4, 2008 5:59 AM in response to Scott Hampton

It's probably better to capture the whole tape in one go as it saves wear and tear on the tape and the delicate camera motors and heads.

Scott Hampton Author

Level 2

273 points

Jul 4, 2008 3:34 PM in response to Ian R. Brown

Good point!
A miniDV deck is expensive compared to an HV20...maybe I'll get a refurb miniDV to serve as my "deck" lol

Scott Hampton Author

Level 2

273 points

Jul 4, 2008 3:47 PM in response to Scott Hampton

OK, OK, so I have the answer to this madness. The reason why I wasn't getting what I was "supposed" to get is because the options that I was looking for only applied to STANDARD DEF!

😟

Since I was capturing in HiDef (compressed in mpeg2), the only option is the "Capture" that just takes in what it sees, doing a combine (I believe once in FCE).

All, this was an extremely exhaustive, frustrating ordeal. I thank everybody who looked into this and offered any assistance. You helped me get through this.

BTW, Tom Wolsky, the answer is on page 61, the callout at the top!

Jul 5, 2008 2:46 AM in response to Scott Hampton

If you get a deck make sure it will handle HDV as a normal standard DV deck probably won't.

If you capture your tape in one go with your camera it is unlikely to cause excessive wear. It's stopping, starting, pausing and rewinding that cause the damage.

Tape decks are ridiculously expensive as the market for them is tiny compared with that for camcorders.

Scott Hampton Author

Level 2

273 points

Jul 5, 2008 6:31 PM in response to Ian R. Brown

Thx, Ian.

Gotcha on the stopping and starting stuff. Makes sense!

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