Capturing from Grass Valley Indigo switcher

In FCP's capture settings, set Device Control to "Non-Controlable Device" so FCP won't be looking for Timecode.

-DH

Do you see video/audio in the log and capture window? If so setting to non controllable device as David suggested should work OK.

Jerry

Do you have another way to connect to your mac from the Switcher? as in a capture card?

If not, I suspect that the FW out from the switcher is either not working, or sends a signal that FCP just doesn't understand.. (very likely) Have you done this before with success?

Jerry

I assume that since you're trying to capture via Firewire, that you'll be capturing as DV. If so, try this:

1. Connect one of the analog outputs to a DV camcorder or VTR (can be DV, DVCam or DVCPro). Make sure that the device is set to output the analog signal via Firewire (DV convert).

2. Connect the Firewire out of the DV camcorder or VTR to your Mac, still using the Non-Controlable Device setting.

3. Use Capture Now in FCP.

It is strongly recommended that yoiu also roll tape in the DV camcorder or VTR so you'll have a backup of the live mix on tape should anything go wrong with the live capture.

-DH

Three part troubleshooting -

1. With everything connected and on, open up SYSTEM PROFILER, go to the hardware section and look under firewire. Is should list your switcher.

• If it doesn't, your switcher is not sending a signal

• If it does show up, go to step 2.

2. With everything connected and a live signal, open up iMovie. Does an image show up in the capture window? Can you capture the stream?

• If no image shows up and you can't capture, the switcher is not sending a recognizable DV stream

• If an image shows up and you can capture, you have a DV feed. Go to step 3

3. Close iMovie and launch FCP. Go to EASY SETUPS and select the appropriate DV/DVCPro NTSC 48khz setting to create a new project & sequence. Open up Log and Capture and after making sure the settings are for DV/DVCPro NTSC, go to the capture settings tab and change the control protocol to "non-controllable device". Start playing the video through the switcher. Do you get an image in the Capture window?

• If you see an image, use "Capture Now" to start recording

• If no image in the capture window, your settings are still not correct.

x

Well... i'm sorry this is such a mess.. but the good news is you'll NEVER go out in the field with an untested setup again.

Thread resurrection...

Hmmm. A rather unhelpful, and slightly arrogant, response there from Jim Cookman. I don't read anywhere in the OP about using this setup 'in the field'...

I have an Indigo, and I've been having the same problems as the OP (testing the setup prior to using in the field!).

I've tried capturing the 1394 outputs to a variety of devices, with mixed success.

To a Macbook Pro with FCS:

Basically followed the process outlined by Studio X above.

FCP7 will not recognise the device at all, even with 'non-contollable device' selected. All permutations of settings tried.

However, iMovie is quite happy with the video stream, and displays it OK.

To a W7 laptop with Avid Media Composer & VLC player:

MC will not recognise the device, and will not accept that there is a DV signal there.

However, VLC is quite happy with the video stream, and displays it OK.

To a Sony HVR-M15E deck:

This displays the video stream, but it is broken up with grey blocks all over the screen.

The one thing that links all these is that at no point is any audio present.

Further reseach has uncovered this Indigo FAQ: www.grassvalley.com/rnt/Switcher/Indigo%2015%20-%20IEEE%201394%20Firewire.pdf

that states something that is not mentioned anywhere in the user manual or data sheet: the Indigo 1394 ports do not carry audio, either as inputs or outputs!

Which, combined with the fact that they only seem to be recognised by non-professional applications, renders them pretty useless, IMO.

Quite. His remark got me a bit riled, I have to say...

I'm really not sure what Grass Valley were thinking when they included the FW ports on the Indigo. If they can't be proper FW ports, carrying video & audio in a proper, compliant DV stream, they might as well not be there.

Sony managed it with the DV ports on the Anycast, so there's no excuse really.

Oh well.

Both of you need to grow a thicker skin. Jim has been helping people for YEARS on this forum and has tens of thousands of "thank you" points to attest to the usefulness of his support. ( you don't get to level 7 by only offering "useless" advice). When you guys have spent a few years here and answered a few thousand questions by often clueless but arrogant new users and recent arrivals in the forum, you get the right to complain. Neither of you qualify yet.

x

>...I don't read anywhere in the OP about using this setup 'in the field'...

"In the field" -- A situation where you are expected to produce results and suddenly find things don't work. Test everything first and not when the client is breathing down your neck.

Jim and Studio X are absolutely right.

I've no problem with your troubleshooting advice. It was clear and consise, although ultimately still didn't solve the issue for me or the OP, the problem appearing to rest with the Indigo switcher.

"When you guys have spent a few years here and answered a few thousand questions by often clueless but arrogant new users and recent arrivals in the forum, you get the right to complain."

Does one, really? Clueless - fine, that's what these forums are for, to share info and make people less clueless. Arrogant - I didn't pick up any arrogance from the OP.

"Neither of you qualify yet."

Oh dear.

Thank you. I'm aware of what 'in the field' means.

However, if one finds oneself in a situation that wasn't expected (being provided with different equipment to what was originally specified, for example) one may not have the luxury of being able to test all eventualities first.

As none of us know the exact details of the situation that the OP was in, posting remarks based on assumptions adds no benefit to the thread.