How to "Uncontroll Device" in FCP X

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Level 1

11 points

How to "Uncontroll Device" in FCP X

Any idea how I set FCP X to "Uncontrolled Device"? I am having problems with importing from tapes on my Sony TRV330E which is Digital8 and it seems that it sets out to import, can see the Video, can hear the Audio, but doesn't archive, and I am told that a possible solution may be to 'manually' set it as perhaps it cant see the timecode. Some tapes seem to work, others dont - so perhaps its the timecode issue. I note older FCP can do this - but where is the option in FCP X?

Final Cut Pro X, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jul 19, 2011 4:47 AM

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Answer 1

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,009 points

Jul 19, 2011 5:19 AM in response to PerthBoat

FCPX has no device control. It's always in non-controllable device mode.

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Answer 2

PerthBoat Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 19, 2011 5:58 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Really? When I connect my Handycam I can control it using FCP X, doesn't that make it "controlled"? I was told making it uncontrollable mode would allow me to start it manually (clicking play button on the handycam itself) so it wouldplay and FCP X could record the video and audio it received EVEN IF it was having issues with timecode.

For some reason some tapes of mine can be seen, can be heard and the 'import' numbers say its importing, however FCP X says "no data from device" - which I am led to believe can be bypassed by setting uncontrolled mode.

So - does any Apple expert have any solutions to my problem? experts.....?

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,009 points

Jul 19, 2011 8:16 AM in response to PerthBoat

You can put the camera in play manually and press the button to begin importing. FCPX doesn't have device control in the sense understood by the professional industry. You can't specify time and have the deck cue to precise locations.

If there is a problem with some tapes, I'd conclude the problem is on the tape.

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Answer 4

PerthBoat Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 19, 2011 5:29 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yes, it definitely is related to some tapes. However I am figuring there must be a workaround to allow me to import these into FCP X. I can see the video in FCP, play it, hear it and all seems good, except when I ask FCP to import, or to archive, then FCP says, "No Data from Device". While its playing is says no device - and thats most likely a time code error. So I want to manyually import it all whilst FCP X ignores timecode and lays down its own - or something. Anything. There must be a way it can 'see' it and import it. ?

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,009 points

Jul 19, 2011 5:38 PM in response to PerthBoat

Are you sure the tapes are Digital8 and not Video8?

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Answer 6

PerthBoat Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 20, 2011 4:02 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks Tom, yes I checked that. I DO actually have a collection of Video8, Digital8 / Hi-8, however was trying to do all the Digital 8 tapes first.

All up I wanted to transfer my entire collection of tapes all onto hard drives so I can easily access and use them when needed. I may have to give up and go back to Avid which seems to have worked for me in the past no matter what I threw at it. However before I go back to PC - I would like to try try and try to get it all done via FCP X. I am dertermined to figure workthroughs for ALL. Video8, Hi8 Digital8 - but cant find this described anywhere.....

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Answer 7

Aug 25, 2011 12:24 PM in response to PerthBoat

I have a similar project and am having the same issue with a Sony GV-D800 Digital8/HI-8 deck. I can control (i.e. start/stop) the deck, see the video, hear the audio, but no data is being imported. The deck is fine as are the tapes and I don't have any problem importing them into iMovie. But Camera Archives that I can access easily with FCP would be ideal.

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Answer 8

Aug 25, 2011 12:50 PM in response to russellhw

I've been working with some old VHS tapes running through a Sony analog/digital converter, and have been unable to get FCPX to capture the media, though it displays fine in the capture window. My workaround has been to capture the footage in the QuickTime 10 Player. Select File>New Movie Recording, then click the down-pointing arrrow in the bottom right of the recording window to select the input device. Import the resulting QT file into FCP.

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Answer 9

jfaughnan

Level 3

886 points

Feb 17, 2012 7:11 AM in response to R. Mitchell Fore

This thread is very pertinent to a major struggle I'm having with importing Hi-8 analogue video that's being digitized through a Canon Optura 50 (passthrough). I am able to import into iMovie 11, but iMovie appears to be struggling with the 30GB .dv files and the 1.48 GB thumbnails (I even wonder if iMovie has a hard thumbnail size limit). It routinely hangs on thumbnail creation. I also very much dislike how iMovie exports mpeg (native).

I tried FCPX (trial version), but as you mention it displays the video in the capture window but is not stored.

Since you posted this in Aug, my f/u questions are:

1. With subsequent FCPX fixes have you discovered another workaround? Did archive behavior change?

2. I read that QT had a 10GB undocumented file size limit. Is that true? Does it differ between Snow Leopard and Lion?

Thanks!

[1] http://tech.kateva.org/2012/02/imovie-11-and-analog-to-digital.html

[2] http://tech.kateva.org/2012/02/how-should-i-transcode-my-home-analog.html

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Answer 10

Jun 6, 2012 12:37 AM in response to PerthBoat

Hi,

I am currently having an issue with already captured VHS footage via FCP 5 on my Power Mac, which was running on Tiger. However, when pulling the the footage across to my new Macbook Pro, on an external hardrive, Quiktime only replays the audio with no video. Any ideas on how to get around this?

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Answer 11

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,009 points

Jun 6, 2012 6:25 AM in response to Sarah Le Rouge

Can the files be opened in the QuickTime player? Do they open in VLC or Movist? Can you give complete information on the media, format, codec, audio sample rate.

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Answer 12

Jun 9, 2012 6:27 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Hi Mr. Wolsky,

I have had a look at the information of the files on both Mac's (Tiger / Lion) and these are the differences which appear under the data's general info:

Power Mac (Tiger): Codec DV-Pal, Intenger (Big Endian), channel count 2 - Quicktime plays the video perfectly.

Mac Book Pro (Lion): Codec Linear PCM, audio channel 2 - Quicktime only plays the audio.

The Quiktime film plays perfectly from the hardrive on the old Mac, and as previously mentioned, plays only the audio on the new Mac. Any ideas on this?

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Answer 13

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,009 points

Jun 9, 2012 6:35 AM in response to Sarah Le Rouge

There's no video codec listed. Like it has no video. Will it opoen in anything else? MPEG Streamclip? VLC? Movist?

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