Best way to capture live video

Question

Level 2

215 points

Best way to capture live video

Here's the long and short of it:

My students capture live video from a production switcher to a MacBook Pro via firewire using iMovie 6 HD and it works fine. We edit in FCE, so they have to render the video (sometimes over 2 yrs of footage) becasue iMovie captures in a different DV format. It's a real pain.

What we would like to do is capture DIRECTLY to FCE, but it always drops out when we try a live capture. I was told to install QTPro, and that didn't help.

We also captured right to QTPro, which works, but we still have to render in FCE.

What are we doing wrong? I searched these forums and came up with a lot that was a bit overwhelming.

Thank you.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Dec 1, 2008 6:26 AM

Reply

Answer 1

MartinR

Level 6

19,243 points

Dec 1, 2008 6:29 AM in response to roman

You should use the *DV NTSC DV Converter* easy setup in FCE and you will have to use *Capture Now*. Is that what you are doing?

What exactly do you mean by +" ... it always drops out ..."+ ?

Reply

Answer 2

roman Author

Level 2

215 points

Dec 1, 2008 3:22 PM in response to MartinR

That seems to have worked, although the test that I ran stopped after 1 hour 2 minutes. Is there a file size limit? Once an error came up and said "out of disk space" but I have well over 150 GB.

Also, when I go to capture mode it says it can't communicate but it still captures. And is there any reason I can't name the capture file. Everything is locked except the 'capture now' button.

Finally, why would it all of a sudden work? Do you really need QTPro installed?

Reply

Answer 3

Alchroma

Level 7

23,809 points

Dec 1, 2008 4:24 PM in response to roman

Capture Now is dictated by the time set in the System Settings>Scratch Discs>_Limit Capture Now To:_ field.

Set the maximum value you require and make sure the box is ticked.

Al

Reply

Answer 4

MartinR

Level 6

19,243 points

Dec 1, 2008 5:27 PM in response to roman

+stopped after 1 hour 2 minutes. Is there a file size limit?+
There is a time limit. It's probably set at 62 mins.
You can set it in *FCE > System Settings > Scratch Disks > Limit Capture Now to:*

+it says it can't communicate but it still captures+
That's correct. With the DV Converter easy setup you do not have 'Device Control'; that is why you get that message.

+I can't name the capture file+
Also correct. Unfortunately, that's the way it works with the DV Converter easy setup.

The workaround is this - after capturing, Control-click the clip name in the FCE Browser (it's probably called 'Untitled'). In the resulting dropdown, click Reveal in Finder. When the Finder window opens, rename the clip file. When you return to the FCE Browser you will get a message that the media file is offline. Just reconnect the media (follow the prompts).

+Finally, why would it all of a sudden work?+
I suspect you finally got the settings correct.

+Do you really need QTPro installed?+
No

Reply