Can not capture from Sony HDV 1080i (recording in 60i)

Question

Can not capture from Sony HDV 1080i (recording in 60i)

Hello

We are trying to capture from the above camera to a Mac Dual G5. We are using FinalCutPro 5.1.2. We are using a FireWire 400 cable to connect to the front of the computer (have also tryed back of Cinema Display). The footage was captured in HDV1080/60i, and we have tried the corresponding formats in Easy Setup (Basic, standard, Apple Intermediate).

The problem: we can control the camera from the Log and Capture windows, but when starting capture, no data is coming in, and the program therefor gives up after a few seconds (displaying a no data error message).

We have tried Batch and Now capture. We can log clips, and get the correct time code, but can not capture those clips due to the no data problem.

PowerMac 2 X 2Ghz, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Nov 8, 2006 1:06 AM

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Answer 1

andynick

Level 5

4,961 points

Nov 8, 2006 1:28 AM in response to Hans Karlsson

This is a good workaround for curing your camera recognition problem with FCP (if that's what it is):

First, check that your Easy Setup / Timeline / Camera or Deck Settings are all exactly the same, then making sure your camera or deck is in VTR mode, try to capture again.

FCP uses a different form of QT than iMovie for capturing, so if the camera works in iMovie (or if it's listed in System Profiler) but not FCP, it obviously means your Mac can see the VTR but FCP can't, so you need to do this QuickTime fix.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301852

Follow the instructions carefully and you should have things running in no time - it's quite safe but you must Trash the Receipts AND re-install QT from the link provided.

If the Camera / Deck isn't recognised by iMovie or System Profiler, try resetting the Firewire Bus . . . Turn off the Mac and disconnect the power and all Firewire cables. Leave it for 30 mins then connect back up.

Still not working? Try a different Firewire cable.

Failing all this, try resetting the PMU (Power Management Unit). The method varies from machine to machine, so visit the Apple site and search for it in support.

Don't use iMovie for capturing - it doesn't give you a timecode and that's very important.

Let us know how you get on!

Andy

Quad 8GB. 250+500 HDs. G-Raid 1TB. NORTON. FCP 5.1.2. QT 7.1.3. Sony HVR Z1E Mac OS X (10.4.7)
"I've taught you all I know, and still you know nothing".

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Answer 2

Nov 10, 2006 4:40 AM in response to andynick

I found the solution. Perhaps others are falling into this trap as well, so I hope this will be of help. We tried everything we could think of. The problem still persisted. Then I remembered one thing.

The reason I didn't recollect sooner was simply that I hadn't been using FCP for a while, and I have this nasty habit of forgetting how to use programs quite quickly.

Anyway, when I was using FCP the last time, I was capturing with my little iBook at home. It can't handle HDV, so I set the camera to convert down to DV. I had fogotten to change that setting. So when I tried with the Dual G5, setting the capture to HDV, the program naturally couldn't see the incoming video - although it could see the camera and control it. It took half a day to figure this out, so I hope this will save you a few hours if you have the same problem.

Cheers

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