Problem capturing HDV 1080i from Sony HVR-Z1E

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Level 1

99 points

Problem capturing HDV 1080i from Sony HVR-Z1E

Can anybody help? I'm trying to capture some HDV in but for some reason in capture mode FCP is seeing a black screen, although the timecode is registering. I've been messing around trying to get this to work for hours - can anybody help?

The camera is displaying "HDV1080I 50I" when playing the tape. I have capture set to HDV. I've also tried HDV1080i and still no luck. I've tried restarting which also made no difference.

I've captured HD-DV video in previously from this camera, so I am unable to work out what's going wrong this time round. Oh, and iLink is set to off on the camera too.

G5, dual 2.7, 1.5 GB DDR SDRAM, Mac OS X (10.4.11), FCP 6.0.4

Posted on Sep 22, 2008 6:08 AM

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Answer 1

Andy Mees

Level 6

12,610 points

Sep 22, 2008 6:26 AM in response to Marc Morris

go into the camera's menu pages and turn iLINK CONV to OFF (if it's on then the camera will be downconverting the HDV to DV and out through the firewire to your FCP set up)

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Answer 2

Marc Morris Author

Level 1

99 points

Sep 22, 2008 6:36 AM in response to Andy Mees

i.Link Conv is already set to OFF.

BTW, when I start up FCP I'm getting a message saying "codec not found. You may be using a compression type without the corresponding hardware card".

I've captured HDV before so I'm rather confused what's wrong this time.

Message was edited by: Marc Morris

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Answer 3

Andy Mees

Level 6

12,610 points

Sep 22, 2008 6:42 AM in response to Marc Morris

ok ...

first close the *Log and Capture* window

then go to your *Final Cut Pro* menu *> Easy Setup window* (Ctrl Q)
choose *Format: HD*, *Use: HDV 1080i50*
then press the Setup button

then go to your View menu *> Refresh A/V Devices*

now reopen Log and Capture and see if things work any better

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Answer 4

Marc Morris Author

Level 1

99 points

Sep 22, 2008 6:47 AM in response to Andy Mees

Thanks, but still no luck - I still get VTR OK, a timecode - and a black screen.

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Answer 5

Marc Morris Author

Level 1

99 points

Sep 22, 2008 11:44 AM in response to Marc Morris

After fiddling around with this for the best part of 5 hours I'm baffled to be honest, I've gone through the camera settings, the FCP settings, and I am now officially fed up with it all.

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Answer 6

Sep 22, 2008 12:27 PM in response to Marc Morris

Sony HVR-Z1E

I read your posts and was wondering why you are using 1080i50 and not 1080i60 in your FCP setup? Is your material PAL or NTSC? Did you shoot in PAL? Maybe a check to confirm that the format is what you shot and then confirm the setup. Just a thought.

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