Jim Makichuk

Q: how can I transfer HD cassette to fcp

I shot an interview on a Sony Z5U HD camera on a cassette and need to transfer to FPC to edit HD. I have a few connects but they don't seem to fit the contacts. It seems that all I should need is a DV camera with a connection that fits? trouble is there isn't a lot of cassette cameras around these days.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 2.5 GHz 2GB Ram 2TB & 500GB ext

Posted on Mar 10, 2015 8:23 PM

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Q: how can I transfer HD cassette to fcp

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  • by Meg The Dog,

    Meg The Dog Meg The Dog Mar 10, 2015 8:34 PM in response to Jim Makichuk
    Level 6 (11,118 points)
    Video
    Mar 10, 2015 8:34 PM in response to Jim Makichuk

    If you shot in HDV, you will need an HDV camera or stand alone deck to play the tape back and ingest it in FCP.

    You can only use Firewire to make the connection. USB will not work.  Most HDV cameras will have a 4 pin Firewire port (Sony calls this iLink).  You connect your playback device to your computer, and in FCP choose the easy set up for HDV-108060i (if that is what you shot), or choose the correct Easy Set Up for the format you shot in.

     

    There are two things to be aware of:

    1) There are problems in some brands of cables and cable adaptors that convert a 4 pin Firewire to either a 6 pin or 9 pin Firewire connection. Don't get cheap cables.

     

    2) The default setting on many cameras is to downconvert the HDV to DV at the Firewire port. This is a menu setting in camera and any downconversion must be turned off in the camera menu settings. If the downconversion is left on, the camera will present itself to FCP as if it were a DV camera and not the HDV camera that FCP is looking for - and no connection will be made.

     

    MtD

  • by Jim Makichuk,

    Jim Makichuk Jim Makichuk Mar 10, 2015 9:15 PM in response to Meg The Dog
    Level 1 (140 points)
    Old Hardware
    Mar 10, 2015 9:15 PM in response to Meg The Dog

    Thanks, I did this several years ago, but can't find an HD cassette camera so far. The Z5U connection doesn't fit my cable, or at least I didn't push it hard enough, didn't want to break something. I loaded two hours before, but can't find the right connection.

  • by Meg The Dog,Helpful

    Meg The Dog Meg The Dog Mar 10, 2015 9:42 PM in response to Jim Makichuk
    Level 6 (11,118 points)
    Video
    Mar 10, 2015 9:42 PM in response to Jim Makichuk

    There are three types of Firewire connector 4 pin, a small squarish connector, 6 - pin, a rectangular connector with one of the short ends curved, and 9 - pin which is a larger square shape.

    Never force any of these connectors.

     

    MtD

  • by Jim Makichuk,

    Jim Makichuk Jim Makichuk Mar 11, 2015 8:38 AM in response to Meg The Dog
    Level 1 (140 points)
    Old Hardware
    Mar 11, 2015 8:38 AM in response to Meg The Dog

    I am very careful with connections, just have to find the right one.