The manual describes use of Firewire connection for recording

The topic is obviously not a question but a statement.

The question is:

Isn't this out of date and obsolete by this time?... Firewire?

I have a new Macbook Pro with touch bar and Catalina.

Its been about 10 years since Macs came with firewire ports

as I remember.


So I am trying to record directly into Final Cut Pro from a

Canon video cam via HDMI - USB adapter. The USB cable

is a 3.0 cable that came with the adapter. It in turn connects

via a USB - USB-C adapter to connect to the ports on the

Macbook Pro.

As I stated in a previous post about this PhotoBooth.app

sees the HDMI - USB adapter and will record from it.

For pro software I would think that at least Final Cut Pro

would also see it. If not also iMovie, Quick Time app and

VideoCapture app.


Thank your for time and attention;

JK

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Jul 19, 2020 9:28 PM

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18 replies

Jul 20, 2020 12:02 AM in response to anotherJeff273

First, the question about Firewire: it is true that Macs haven’t had a Firewire port in years. However, it is still possible to record from Firewire. You’d need an Apple Thunderbolt 2->Firewire adapter; and for Macs with Thunderbolt 3, also a Thunderbolt 3->Thunderbolt 2 adapter.


FCP requires timecode in order to record a live stream. I don’t think a setup as you describe will work. Can you tell exactly what xamera and, more importantly, what exactly this HDMI->USB adapter is? I’m pretty sure it is meant to connect to a USB-C display.

Jul 20, 2020 10:00 AM in response to anotherJeff273

As expected, this is not going to let you record "live" into FCP.

You may be able to record using Quicktime Player.

Also, the last version of the software seems to be from 2018. This tells me that for sure it was not updated for Catalina. It may work, but it probably won't work when Big Sur comes along...


Does the device appear in System Information? (Hold down option, Apple menu->System Information and then click USB)?

Does it appear as a choice for camera if you do File->New Movie Recording in Quicktime Player?


Also, and sorry if I'm just pointing out the obvious: make sure that you are using the correct HDMI port, as only one of the two is an input port.

Jul 20, 2020 2:24 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

The HDMI to USB 3.0 adapter has two HDMI ports.

One is for the signal from the camera. The other is

out much like a MIDI thru port.

The USB port is a 3.0 port. It isn't a USB-C port.

The capture device (HDMI to USB that I have

been mentioning) is specifically designed to

connect to a computer for the sake of steaming

video.

The video camera is a Canon XA11


So what would I look for to figure out if the camera

is sending time code? It records in AVCHD or MP4

format. But the manual for it has little detail about

what exactly is sent over the HDMI cable accept that

it does send audio as well as video.


I am aware of SECAM and PAL type signals but I believe

that has to do with AV out, which the camera has, as

well as a separate usb port for transfering files out of

the camera. The AV out is much lower resolution as

I understand it.


I am also still stuck on the fact that Photo Booth sees

the camera setup. I don't know that Photo Booth will

take anything other than still photos. But the video is

displayed in the same way that the built in camera displays

what it sees, as a motion video.


Thank you for your response to the original post.

JK


Jul 20, 2020 12:31 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yes, I have the HDMI cable from the camera connected to

the input port of the Magewell device.


The software for the Magewell device is utility software

It has a lot of technical options in various catagories

that look like it takes an engineer to make sense of.

There is one line under the Video catagory of options

under subcatagory 'Capture' -> 'capture format' -> 'not connected'

I am not sure what this means. Does in mean that the camera

is not actually sending a capturable signal?


The Magewell device is listing in System Report under USB 3.1


The built in camera is listed under T2 bus (under USB)

I can capture from the built in camera in Final Cut Pro.


'Does it appear as a choice for camera if you do File->New Movie Recording in Quicktime Player?'

I don't see this option in Final Cut Pro File menu. Where is this File menu?


This is disappointing. But I can work around it.

Jul 20, 2020 3:33 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yes, in Quick Time Player under the file menu;

New Movie Recording.

I did not see it listed.


I have submitted a support ticket to Magewell

and a support query to Canan support to see

what the situation is.

The Magewell device comes with its own utility

app. That is were I saw the 'not connected' line

under heading 'Video', sub heading Capture ->

capture format.


The question remains:

what is different about Photo Booth app?


Thank you for the responses.

This is looking like it will take an engineer

to figure out.

JK

Jul 20, 2020 8:38 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Photo booth does see the capture device and

displayes the signal from the camera whereas

Final Cut Pro and others do not even see the

capture device as a valid source.


Is time code also dependent on the frame rate?


I have a hunch that I should have the camera

set to record MP4. It also is capable of recording

at different frame rates. At the moment, I have it

set to record AVCHD. I have to get up on what

frame rates are available for which formats and

how to change it.

Jul 20, 2020 10:04 PM in response to anotherJeff273

I did do some research on timecode and found some

good articles online. That got me to look in the camera

manual index for time code. That in turn led me to how

so set up time code generation from the camera as described

in the manual. I says that the time code will be included in the

signal through the HDMI cable when it is enabled.


This discussion is getting long. So I will work on this and

start a new discussion if there is anthing else to get some

assistance.



Thank you for time and attention and guidance.

JK

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The manual describes use of Firewire connection for recording

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