FINAL CUT EXPRESS WIL NOT RECOGNIZE MY FIREWIRE CONNECTION

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FLAV1975 Author

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FINAL CUT EXPRESS WIL NOT RECOGNIZE MY FIREWIRE CONNECTION

I am trying to capture video for the first time on FCE. I am using a cannon xh a1s, and a I MAC. The firewire is belkin form the mac store. When I open final cut pro, it tells me it cannot find my firewire connection. Can anyone help me?

I MAC, Mac OS X (10.6.3), N/A

Posted on Jun 6, 2010 3:51 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 6, 2010 3:53 PM in response to FLAV1975

Canon cameras often don't play nice if other Firewire devices are sharing the same FW bus. Do you have any other Firewire devices connected to your iMac?

-DH

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Answer 2

FLAV1975 Author

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Jun 6, 2010 4:10 PM in response to David Harbsmeier

No this I Mac only has one firewire port?

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Answer 3

FLAV1975 Author

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Jun 6, 2010 4:10 PM in response to FLAV1975

I am using the only port for the camera connection

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Answer 4

Meg The Dog

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Jun 6, 2010 4:16 PM in response to FLAV1975

Hi -
Sorry for the simple questions, but:
Is the camera powered on and in the VTR mode?
When you launch FCE and go to Log and Capture, go to the Capture Settings tab and set the Device Control to "Firewire Basic"
In the image below ignore the Capture/Input Settings.
!http://www.spotsbeforeyoureyes.com/FirewireBasic.jpg!

Does this help you get control over the camera?

MTD

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Answer 5

FLAV1975 Author

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Jun 6, 2010 4:25 PM in response to Meg The Dog

The is not a Log and Capture on FCE. I have a capture option. When I select that option I get this message "Unable to initialize video deck. You may still use capture". I choose ok, once it initializes the bottom of the capture field reads, "No Communication"

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Answer 6

Meg The Dog

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Jun 6, 2010 4:29 PM in response to FLAV1975

Oh, sorry, your first post mentioned Final Cut Pro:

FLAV1975 wrote:
When I open final cut pro, it tells me it cannot find my firewire connection. Can anyone help me?

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Answer 7

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Jun 6, 2010 4:41 PM in response to FLAV1975

Is this a 4-pin FW400 to 9-pin FW800 adapter cable? Take your computer, camera, and cable to the Apple store. Many people, particularly Canon users, are having problems with these cables.

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Answer 8

FLAV1975 Author

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Jun 6, 2010 4:52 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I am using the 6 pin to 9 pin. What is funny is the i movie will recognize the camera. I just got finished importing my footage to I movie?

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Answer 9

Tom Wolsky

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Jun 6, 2010 4:56 PM in response to FLAV1975

Is the camera recognized in System Profiler? Is the camera set to output DV or HDV? What format is your media? What settings are you using in FCE?

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Answer 10

FLAV1975 Author

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Jun 6, 2010 5:08 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I am not sure what system profiler is. The camera was set for HD. The media format was a mini dv tape. My FCE settings were Easy setup: Format= All Formats, USE= DV-NTSC FIREWIRE BASIC.

When I open FCE , I get this message while the program is opening. "Unable to locate following external devices. Apple Firewire NTSC (720 X 480)"
However I movie can find my camera connection

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Answer 11

Tom Wolsky

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152,780 points

Jun 6, 2010 5:14 PM in response to FLAV1975

If the camera shot HDV and is set to output HDV, why are you using a DV preset? The application will obviously not recognize it because it's looking for a DV camera. That's what the error message tells you. You have to select the correct HDV preset.

iMovie does not have device control. All it cares about is that something is coming down the FireWire cable.

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Answer 12

FLAV1975 Author

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Jun 6, 2010 5:23 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Ok , FCE express give me three HDV Apple intermediate codec options. I will try this. However this option is not available until the program is open. How does this effect the program from recognizing the connection or is one of those Apple quirks?
Thanks for the help, I will try this after I eat.

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Answer 13

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Jun 6, 2010 5:33 PM in response to FLAV1975

This option is available when you launch the application for the first time, or after you reset your preferences. You can change it at any time and then refresh the AV devices or relaunch the application after changing it.

You really need to read the section in the manual on capturing. You will have to learn a bit about the application before you leap into it.

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Answer 14

FLAV1975 Author

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Jul 12, 2010 7:44 PM in response to FLAV1975

Thanks

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