fs-4 free run tapless timecode xl2

Stefan Day · August 27th, 2005, 01:45 PM

In checking in with the focus enhancements support line, I was turned on to page 18 of the firestore4 Pro manual. There it describes setting up the drive in Sync Slave mode. This gets me part way there on the code situation. Inflipping through the different display options to 'DV NTSC' instead of 'COUNTER' the code on the screen for each clip is the camera exported FREE-RUN.

AND YET, I still am not getting this time-code printed on the firestore clips when I bring them into the NLE(FCP4).

This is where we are so far, the folks at Focus are delving into it, I think it might be ironed out within the next week.

how blissfully exciting.

Shannon Rawls · December 20th, 2005, 02:28 PM

did this ever get worked out?

free run time code on tape and matched on fs4 clips?

- shannonrawls.com

Ty Ford · January 27th, 2006, 10:47 PM

[QUOTE=Daniel Kohl
Another problem I have found is getting the power up order right. If I power up the FS-4 before I power up the camera the SYNC SLAVE won't work immediately, I have to reboot the FS-4 (costing even more time). But this may just be a problem with my unit (I have abused it through testing and modifications).[/QUOTE]

Hmm, on my Xl2, I have to have the FS-4 Pro on and recycle power on the XL2 to get the FS-4 Pro to record. Something their manual and tech support weren't aware of.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Daniel Kohl · January 28th, 2006, 01:13 PM

I have to do this with my recently bought FS-4 Pro (which is new and not abused) together with the XL-1s and the XL-2. So this may be an issue with some (or all?) FS-4 units.

I wonder if other people are having similar problems.

Dan Euritt · January 29th, 2006, 12:02 PM

i have seen these weird boot issues also... if you are getting the "dv if" display in the viewfinder, what i've seen is that you typically do not have to reboot the fs-4, just hit the power-down button on the xl1s... using the button keeps you from wearing out the big rotary switch on the side of the camera.

what i've been seeing lately is that the fs-4 needs to be fully booted up before the xl1s is fired up.

Daniel Kohl · January 29th, 2006, 02:32 PM

I just read back over my original quoted entry. I think that I was groping in the dark at the time, trying to remember which power-up order was right.

My recent experience agrees with what Dan Euritt is suggesting. Power the XL- up and then the FS-4. If the XL- is on when before the FS-4 is booted (like when you are using the XL- to compose a shot and you turn the FS-4 off to save battery) then use the STANDBY button on the XL- to power down and then power up again after the FS-4 is fully booted. It's too bad that it's not "plug and play" (more like plug and pray) but this seems to work.

November 29th, 2006, 01:08 PM

Do you have a picture of this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Kohl

I also modified a four pin FW cable to fit behind the trigger on the XL-1s's grip.

I used hot glue to create a large surfaced connector which grips into the hole for the flash adapter.

Another thing that prevents the FS-4 from completely replacing tape is it's boot up time from when it is off to when it starts recording. This can mean missing a shot on the FS-4 that you would have gotten if you were shooting to tape as well.

Another problem I have found is getting the power up order right. If I power up the FS-4 before I power up the camera the SYNC SLAVE won't work immediately, I have to reboot the FS-4 (costing even more time). But this may just be a problem with my unit (I have abused it through testing and modifications).

Ty Ford · November 29th, 2006, 02:17 PM

Hmm, on my Xl2, I have to have the FS-4 Pro on and recycle power on the XL2 to get the FS-4 Pro to record. Something their manual and tech support weren't aware of.

The note is now in their FAQ.

Ty Ford

Daniel Kohl · November 30th, 2006, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stembridge

Do you have a picture of this?

Here are some pictures.

http://www.marq5.de/FS-4.html

Cheers,

November 30th, 2006, 09:13 AM

Is it tricky to do the right angle modification? The pictures look like this would be a good option; looks pretty clean at the end. Have you taken any pix doing the process by chance?
I have acytally not gutted a firewire cable before. Is something better done by a very expeienced person?
Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Kohl

Here are some pictures.

http://www.marq5.de/FS-4.html

Cheers,

Daniel Kohl · November 30th, 2006, 10:48 AM

Hi,

It is not much more tricky to gut a FW cable than it is any other cable.

...The contacts are just very small so you have to use a sharp soldering iron when you reconnect the wires.

I did the operation quite a while ago so I don't remember the specific problems I ran into. I think I managed to remove the plastic casing from the 4 pin plug without ripping the wires out, so I didn't have to remember which wire went where. It was more difficult bending the outer hard shield to a right angle without it breaking. That is also not such a problem, though, because the shielding can be removed from the inner core where the small contacts are, and you can work on it without risking doing damage to the more delicate stuff.

I didn't take pictures of every step - but I think if you have any experience with tinkering with electronic stuff and soldering, you shouldn't have a problem figuring it out... I'm no engineer.

August 27th, 2005, 01:45 PM	#16
Stefan Day Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Rhinebeck, New York Posts: 57	talking with firestore tech-support In checking in with the focus enhancements support line, I was turned on to page 18 of the firestore4 Pro manual. There it describes setting up the drive in Sync Slave mode. This gets me part way there on the code situation. Inflipping through the different display options to 'DV NTSC' instead of 'COUNTER' the code on the screen for each clip is the camera exported FREE-RUN. AND YET, I still am not getting this time-code printed on the firestore clips when I bring them into the NLE(FCP4). This is where we are so far, the folks at Focus are delving into it, I think it might be ironed out within the next week. how blissfully exciting. __________________ wooohoooo! let's make some movie!

December 20th, 2005, 02:28 PM	#17
Shannon Rawls Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 853	did this ever get worked out? free run time code on tape and matched on fs4 clips? - shannonrawls.com __________________ Shannon W. Rawls ~ Motion Picture Producer & huge advocate of Digital Acquisition.

January 27th, 2006, 10:47 PM	#18
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	[QUOTE=Daniel Kohl Another problem I have found is getting the power up order right. If I power up the FS-4 before I power up the camera the SYNC SLAVE won't work immediately, I have to reboot the FS-4 (costing even more time). But this may just be a problem with my unit (I have abused it through testing and modifications).[/QUOTE] Hmm, on my Xl2, I have to have the FS-4 Pro on and recycle power on the XL2 to get the FS-4 Pro to record. Something their manual and tech support weren't aware of. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

January 28th, 2006, 01:13 PM	#19
Daniel Kohl Contributor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Posts: 571	I have to do this with my recently bought FS-4 Pro (which is new and not abused) together with the XL-1s and the XL-2. So this may be an issue with some (or all?) FS-4 units. I wonder if other people are having similar problems. __________________ Daniel Kohl Frankenstein meets XL1

January 29th, 2006, 02:32 PM	#21
Daniel Kohl Contributor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Posts: 571	I just read back over my original quoted entry. I think that I was groping in the dark at the time, trying to remember which power-up order was right. My recent experience agrees with what Dan Euritt is suggesting. Power the XL- up and then the FS-4. If the XL- is on when before the FS-4 is booted (like when you are using the XL- to compose a shot and you turn the FS-4 off to save battery) then use the STANDBY button on the XL- to power down and then power up again after the FS-4 is fully booted. It's too bad that it's not "plug and play" (more like plug and pray) but this seems to work. __________________ Daniel Kohl Frankenstein meets XL1

January 29th, 2006, 12:02 PM	#20
Dan Euritt Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 1,132	i have seen these weird boot issues also... if you are getting the "dv if" display in the viewfinder, what i've seen is that you typically do not have to reboot the fs-4, just hit the power-down button on the xl1s... using the button keeps you from wearing out the big rotary switch on the side of the camera. what i've been seeing lately is that the fs-4 needs to be fully booted up before the xl1s is fired up.

November 29th, 2006, 02:17 PM	#23
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Hmm, on my Xl2, I have to have the FS-4 Pro on and recycle power on the XL2 to get the FS-4 Pro to record. Something their manual and tech support weren't aware of. The note is now in their FAQ. Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

November 30th, 2006, 10:48 AM	#26
Daniel Kohl Contributor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Posts: 571	Hi, It is not much more tricky to gut a FW cable than it is any other cable. ...The contacts are just very small so you have to use a sharp soldering iron when you reconnect the wires. I did the operation quite a while ago so I don't remember the specific problems I ran into. I think I managed to remove the plastic casing from the 4 pin plug without ripping the wires out, so I didn't have to remember which wire went where. It was more difficult bending the outer hard shield to a right angle without it breaking. That is also not such a problem, though, because the shielding can be removed from the inner core where the small contacts are, and you can work on it without risking doing damage to the more delicate stuff. I didn't take pictures of every step - but I think if you have any experience with tinkering with electronic stuff and soldering, you shouldn't have a problem figuring it out... I'm no engineer. __________________ Daniel Kohl Frankenstein meets XL1 Last edited by Daniel Kohl; November 30th, 2006 at 11:50 AM.