Time limit for non timecode tape capture in FCP X?

Question

Level 2

174 points

Time limit for non timecode tape capture in FCP X?

I am copying Hi8 tapes thru a Sony D8 camcorder thru Firewire. I can get the video into FCPX. I have only done a few minutes worth up until now. I cannot find the place where I can limit the capture time as I have in previous versions of FCP when capturing from a non-controllable device. I want to leave the system capturing and know that the capture will stop at a predetermined length of time and not just keep capturing until the hard disk space is used up.

How do i do this?

TIA,

Pete D.

Changing over to FCPX from FCP6 is proving to be a real pain.....

iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12.6), 16GB RAM

Posted on Feb 7, 2018 1:10 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Alchroma

Level 7

23,918 points

Feb 8, 2018 7:54 AM in response to Peter Durso

In short, FCP 6/7 rules do not apply with FCP X.

There is no non controllable device setting, it's manual control all the way.

FCP X is totally different in the way it operates.

My advice, forget what you know regarding FCPro.

FCPX is a whole new game.

Al

Reply

Answer 2

Peter Durso Author

Level 2

174 points

Feb 8, 2018 7:52 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Hi,

When importing a HI8 tape there is no data stream of the camera's counter through Firewire. The capture in FCPX just continues until I tell it to stop manually. Since I posted my question I have done a complete import and that is what happened. A 45 minute recording on the tape produced over an hour of video in FCPX (image and then grey screen).

I'm starting to grok the concept that I have a lot to unlearn. However, having said that, being a user and a former programmer myself I don't for the life of me understand why there isn't a timer function on import. I'm not yelling or whining that last bit. Above and beyond any differences between FCP7 and X I am exasperated since the capture screen has a pretty large and prominent time counter right on the capture screen!

I know nothing gets fixed here. I'm just venting.

Thanks for the guidance, guys!

Pete D.

Reply

Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,815 points

Feb 8, 2018 7:55 AM in response to Peter Durso

Capture will stop when the data stream runs out.

You have a lot of options on where to store your media. First, it can be external or managed, i.e. stored inside the library bundle. External media can be either in a location assigned in library properties, or left in place, unless it's coming from a camera or camera archive.

That'll probably raise more questions.

Reply

Answer 4

Alchroma

Level 7

23,918 points

Feb 7, 2018 10:32 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

As I recall, old school Final Cut would want a file size for this operation, so it knew what it was dealing with otherwise it would grab all space on a disc and end up causing dramas.

FCP X simply requires where to put the file. This is an option in the Import window on a capture by capture basis.

Tom has mentioned some options in his post.

The Library can indeed hold everything within it's Package Contents, in fact it has to know where everything is even if files are not physically in the Library -sounds like Double Dutch- FCP X calls these files Sym Links.

That's the difference between Managed and External.

Managed has the physical files within the Package Contents, External has Sym Links pointing to the physical files that can be anywhere on your active system.

You have total control over where your stuff goes.

When you create a Library this is a good time to set it up from the default, click the Library icon in the Browser:

With the Inspector open this should appear:

Then choose as desired:

Al

Reply

Answer 5

Peter Durso Author

Level 2

174 points

Feb 7, 2018 2:31 PM in response to Peter Durso

Thanks...

Will the application just keep capturing past the end of the tape until the hard disk fills up? Does the application recognize when the video signal stops altogether and then stop capturing? I was used to managing the location of my files, spreading them across disks for efficiency. Whether that warmed or not I am used to telling my programs where to put files. Do I understand that once I tell FCPX where to put the library files that everything esle ends up under the same folder as the library? Last question, I promise.

thanks,

pete

Reply

Answer 6

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,815 points

Feb 8, 2018 8:03 AM in response to Peter Durso

When you said through a camera I didn’t think you meant literally as a live recording. That’s not supposed to work at all in FCP as no timecode stream comes from the camera. What exactly are you doing?

Reply

Answer 7

Peter Durso Author

Level 2

174 points

Feb 8, 2018 10:21 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

I am importing a HI8 tape using a Sony Digital8 camera through FireWire. The D8 camera does not send any timecode when it is playing a HI8 tape. There was a parameter in FCP6/7 that allowed capture to be limited to a set time. I could start an import then start the tape and the capture would stop when it hit the capture time limit. So if I knew there was about 45 minutes of video I could set the parameter to 50 minutes, start the capture and then go about my business, even go to dinner. Now, even though the video is being captured just fine, I now have to set a timer on my iPhone if I’m not going to sit right there during a capture. With the captures I have done to this point the capture continues after video runs out. I will be capturing HI8 tapes for a while but I’d like to know if the capture will be any better when I move on the the next project and I have to capture from a miniDV tape camera? Will FCPX read the end of the recording when the timecode stops And then stop the capture?

Thanks!

Pete

Reply

Answer 8

Alchroma

Level 7

23,918 points

Feb 8, 2018 2:49 PM in response to Peter Durso

DV video will give device control in the Import window but that's about all.

FCPX is more about solid state media handling rather than tape.

That's why we only have the basics regarding tape capture. FCP legacy versions were all about tape capture as SS media was not mainstream then.

"Thank you Mr. Apple for catering for the old schoolers" 😀

Al

Reply

Time limit for non timecode tape capture in FCP X?

Similar questions