Capture to post
 

What's the best way to import to post production (Adobe Premiere)? Perhaps a more direct question is, is it possible to use a cheap mini-dv camera to do the importing? Just swap the tape from the A1 and put it in the cheap-o camcorder to do the capturing?

The reason, as you can probably tell, I would want to do this is to put less wear-n-tear on my A1.

Is it possible to film/record on the A1 and then use another device (mini-dv camcorder) to connect to the computer and do playback/capture with?

Thanks.

You can do that if the other cheapie miniDV camera is an HDV camera, and if you shoot in the 1080i mode only. If you shoot 24F or 30F, then the only other cameras that will play the footage are the Canon HV10 and Canon HV20.

If you shoot SD, then you can capture with most any miniDV camera.

No, HDV tapes can only be played in equipment that understand HDV. DV-only equipment won't work.

You could always look for a used HV20 on eBay for a few $100.

Bummer... I have an old SD Sony... Maybe I'll have to look for that.

What do you all do, then? Is it standard to just use the A1 to do the capturing for most of you?

I'm shooting in HD, so the latter isn't an option. But regarding the frame rate, what about shooting in 60i?

That's what I do. Rather than logging every in and out point, I capture in approximate 20-minute chunks and let FCP divide the clips for me. I could capture an entire tape at once and FCP will divide it into individual clips. But it really doesn't divide it. I mean, it does as far as the interface is concerned, but the captured media will be a single piece. I like 20 minute chunks because then the capture scratch files can be stored on DVDs for backup if needed.