What are the correct setup and system settings for importing HDV video from tape?

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Level 1

9 points

What are the correct setup and system settings for importing HDV video from tape?

I keep trying different "easy setups" and system settings/preferences in order to import both the audio and video from HDV recordings on miniDV tape to no avail in either FCE4 or FCP5. I import via firewire from the camera. My computer "sees" the camera and controls playback (I can hear the audio) but no video displays for capture (just color bars).

My camera is a Canon Vixia HV40 and my computer is a MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard 10.6.8.

I've tried the HDV easy setup...no video...

I've tried HDV 1080i/60 as I saw recommended somewhere else...no video...

Captures standard video just fine but I'd like to try editing some higher def footage.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks.

MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2011), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 31, 2013 4:23 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,561 points

Jan 31, 2013 10:40 PM in response to Tkusterb

Check to make sure the camera is not downconverting the HD to SD at the iLink (Firewire) port. There is a setting in the camera menus that turns the feature on or off.

Post back if setting this correctly does not solve your problem.

MtD

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Answer 2

Alchroma

Level 7

23,809 points

Jan 31, 2013 10:51 PM in response to Tkusterb

MTG thoughts are the same as mine.

See here for some more info:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3540041?answerId=16920369022#16920369022

Al

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Answer 3

Tkusterb Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 1, 2013 8:41 AM in response to Meg The Dog

The combination of all these helpful ideas solved the problem.

I set AV settings to HD and Apple Intermediate Codec HDV 1080i/60 AND set the cameras output to "locked" HDV. Funny, it had been on "A" (Auto) before and should have simply sensed the need for HD output. I then tried to capture using "A" again and this time it detected the difference between SD footage and HDV footage (I had clips of both kinds on the same tape).

I ran similar capture tests on FCP 5.1, FCE 4, and FCPX and all three programs captured HDV video and audio.

Thanks again everyone. Be sure the camera is set to output HDV or "A".

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