Best Easy-Setup for Capturing from a Canon XL1s, and a few other questions

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Best Easy-Setup for Capturing from a Canon XL1s, and a few other questions

Hello. I'm new to Macs and FCE, and I'm doing my best to learn everything on the fly here. I have a few scattered questions that I'd really appreciate some info on.

*_Question 1_*: I'm capturing DV footage from a Canon XL1s, and I'm wondering what is the best Easy Setup to go for. My initial idea is to go with the Format of DV/Panasonic DVCPRO, at 29.97 frames per second. But specifically, I don't know what to USE: further... should I go with DV-NTSC, DV-NTSC DV Converter, or DV-NTSC FireWire Basic. What's the best option to use if unsure?

_*Question 2*_: While actually capturing the footage, I don't hear audio coming from my computer's speakers. When I playback the recorded footage however, audio seems fine. Is it just that audio is not monitored while actually capturing the footage? Can this be set up in any way?

*_Question 3_*: During playback, the image quality seems a skosh fuzzy. I have playback video at High, and frame rate at Full, so I'm wondering if it's just because the Canon XL1s isn't HD. Or mayhap I've input a faulty Easy Setup (which was set at DV/Panasonic DVCPRO using DV-NTSC).

*_Question 4_*: Scratch Disk setup with the new MacBook Pros: The new Pros seem to come standard with the Firewire 800 input, instead of an 800 AND a 400. To me, this hinders having your camera/deck inputing footage, while simultaneously being connected to an external drive. Currently, I'm using a Firewire 4-pin (mini) to 9-pin (800) to connect to the computer, and a USB 2.0 to simultaneously send the footage to the scratch drive. Is there a better setup where I can somehow have both the camera and the external drive connected via Firewire?

Thanks for the answers in advance everyone. More importantly, thanks for helping a Mac and FCE virgin... ;p

- Jason

Message was edited by: Daeris

Mac Book Pro 17" 4G RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on May 13, 2009 5:16 PM

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Answer 1

skalicki

Level 5

4,448 points

May 13, 2009 5:28 PM in response to Daeris

Welcome to the forum!

should I go with DV-NTSC, DV-NTSC DV Converter, or DV-NTSC FireWire Basic.

Use your DV-NTSC preset, since it is a DV camcorder recording in a NTSC format.

While actually capturing the footage, I don't hear audio coming from my computer's speakers. When I playback the recorded footage however, audio seems fine. Is it just that audio is not monitored while actually capturing the footage? Can this be set up in any way?

FCE can't do this, it is normal to not hear it when being captured (FCP can). You can hear it out of the camera's speakers, but not the computer's.

During playback, the image quality seems a skosh fuzzy.

It's probably that you aren't using the correct sequence preset. Try the DV-NTSC sequence and see if that helps. Also, make sure the clip and sequence properties match in every regard (right-click on the clip in the browser and select item properties, then do it for the DV-NTSC sequence. Report back if anything doesn't match)

The new Pros seem to come standard with the Firewire 800 input, instead of an 800 AND a 400. To me, this hinders having your camera/deck inputing footage, while simultaneously being connected to an external drive. Currently, I'm using a Firewire 4-pin (mini) to 9-pin (800) to connect to the computer, and a USB 2.0 to simultaneously send the footage to the scratch drive. Is there a better setup where I can somehow have both the camera and the external drive connected via Firewire?

Apple does not support the use of USB drives with video editing applications. You could try [daisy-chaining|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy chain_(electricalengineering)|click here to learn more] the camera to your external drive to your computer, if your external has another firewire port (connecting the camera to the firewire drive to the computer). However, Canon cameras seem not to work very well when doing this. You could also capture directly to your internal drive, then afterwards transfer the footage over to your USB drive.

I hope this helped!

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Answer 2

Daeris Author

Level 1

0 points

May 13, 2009 5:59 PM in response to skalicki

Thank you for the timely response skalicki`

The daisy-chaining was a good idea (I didn't even know you could do that with firewire devices), but you seem to be spot on with the Canon XL1's effectiveness... when the camera was turned on it actually disabled the external drive, that was having both devices using firewire 800. I then tried to go firewire 400 from the camera to the drive, then firewire 800 from the drive to the computer, which seemed like it would work initially - however - when I tried to initiate a capture in FCE, the FCE application froze up and I had to force quit it.

I guess for now I'll just input footage on the internal hard disk, and then transfer it over to the external drive at a later time. Hmm. That's a little frustrating. Do you have any recommendations on how to correct this with other equipment? (I hate the XL1's more and more as time goes on - time to upgrade that too)! Is it possible to get some sort of Firewire splitter, plugging both the camera and an external drive into the splitter, and then 1 line going into the computer?

I haven't checked into the playback image quality issue yet, but I'll report back when I do.

Thanks again.

- Jason

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Answer 3

skalicki

Level 5

4,448 points

May 13, 2009 6:03 PM in response to Daeris

Is it possible to get some sort of Firewire splitter, plugging both the camera and an external drive into the splitter, and then 1 line going into the computer?

Sorry, not that I know of. Maybe someone else does, but I've never heard of such a thing.

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Answer 4

Alchroma

Level 7

23,918 points

May 13, 2009 6:16 PM in response to Daeris

Hello and Welcome aboard the FCE forum. 🙂

Is it possible to get some sort of Firewire splitter, plugging both the camera and an external drive >into the splitter, and then 1 line going into the computer?

A firewire hub is as close to a splitter as you get but don't go there it'll be just as flakey as your existing problem.

My suggestion is to get a suitable card for your Mac that gives you another firewire BUS. Then you should be able to capture directly to the external from the Canon without the usual double handling of files.
Talk to your local Mac shop for compatible cards.

Al

Message was edited by: Alchroma

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