FS-4 Pro HD Record problem
 

Looking for advice (as Focus appears to be on vacation...<???>) <I have left a message on their machine.>

Using the following setup:
Sony HVR-A1U cams in HD (1080i) with no tape firewired into
FS-4 Pro HD units using LOCAL control as the Sony's do not offer the tapeless control.
FS-4's are writing as M2T.
We are using Adobe Premiere for NLE on a Dell desktop.

We have two of these setups, and it appears that both setups are producing the similar problems. And since there is no way to check confidence record on these, we dont know we have a problem until contents are transferred to desktop computer.

When recording, all seems fine for a while. On occassion, a lip sync problem will occur when starting a new record session. I dont think that this ever happens in the middle of a recording. Also, on occassion, as the recording starts, we only get a split second of material. The rest of the clip looks as if the connection had been lost (gray screen with repetitive lines).

I am trying to gather more info as I dont directly use the equipment, but we have two identical setups, and they both seem to have similar clip recording problems...<argh>

Seems like we are having a problem when using these in SD mode saving as AVI as well. Although not identical, but still probably a link problem between the FS-4 and Sony. I cant seems to find any settings to change that are obvious!

Looks as if the clips are actually recorded onto the FS-4 this way. As dup'ing to computer using a different firewire cable still produces identical problem.

Using tape appears to be OK - using the Firewire link to desktop.

Changing cables does not change problem.
Using a different FS-4 on a differentn camera does not change problem.

<HELP ME!>

Any ideas welcome!

Thanks, Ken.

Hi Ken,
Is your setup such that you can be sure there is possibility of firewire connector breaking up on camera end? The problem you describe sounds a lot like what I have seen when connection between camera and FS-4 has been disturbed because of bad cable or connector being touched or otherwise disturbed during recording.