My new DVX100A - question?
 

Hi everyone.

So I made the trek to EVS and got the DVX-100A.

Been tinkering around, and coming from an XL-1 there's a lot more to do in that regard. I admit, it is more than I imagined!

Anyway, aside from all the reading I'm doing, one quick question.

When in 24p mode is it normal to see at the beginning of each shot some digital "aliase" that moves left to right, couple seconds in length? I imagine it has to do with the pulldown conversion. I also noticed this sets FCP3 into saying there's timecode breaks.

Thanks and off to more reading.

well, I guess this mosaic thing is not only a 24p thing but an inherent part of the camera's overall functioning.

the manual said in playback this occurs, at cue or review, as part of the digital medium and is normal. it does not occur during recording.

I guess this is something I'm not familiar with from the XL-1 days.

...

Could you perhaps clarify a bit - I'm not sure I know what you see. I don't really experience timecode break problems or any strange artifacting between shots.

Do you mean when you're switching between, say, 60i mode and 24p mode? Or do you get it each time you hit record?

well, it is not during recording at all.

instead, when I cue the tape to play it just before each shot I see a second or two of mosaic, which starts from the right side and moves off on the right side of the LCD - in the manual it states this is normal. I just don't remember this specific kind of mosaic with the XL-1.

as far as timecode breaks. I got these with the XL-1 too. I believe it is FCP 3.0.4 that I'm running, I can turn off the warning window so as to not get the error during capture.

hope this clarifys.

thanks

Hmmm... I don't think I've ever experienced this. Anyone else have any insight into this one?

I found this description here:

"So I'm imagining that the t.c. breaks you're encountering are probably not the result of the usual review/repositioning flubs that generally produce such complaints."

This seems to be the issue, these "usual flubs" thing.

I am running FCP 3.0.4 with 24p, not advanced, and it seems each clip causes this timecode error. trick might be to start and stop capture before each of these flubs?

Mason,
(I received your email but it's generally most beneficial for the whole community's benefit to keep such conversations public.)

By "... the usual review/repositioning flubs that generally produce such complaints." (as you quoted from a past post of mine) I was referring to the fact that new and inexperienced camera operators eager to see their shots often play back portions of a tape and then are careless about repositioning the tape to the end of the last shot before shooting again. This causes a time code break which later causes misery during capture and editing.

I, too, have not experienced this "mosaic" break-up that you're describing.

so I went down to EVS and with no problem I got a new camera.

I guess it was a faulty camera. Glad it worked out and I tried the new one in the store, all looks good so far. To be honest I'm now a little nervous but hopefully with time and performace my confidence will be back.

thanks to all

Good, Mason!

This is also an excellent example of why we say that our sponsors, such as EVS, are the best in the business. They back their sales and really put more than lip-service behind "customer satisfaction".

Ah, now it all makes sense.

Unfortunately, factory defects happen now and then, and occur commonly throughout all manufacturers. But good service and a good return/exchange policy - well, now that's definitely not so common.

Good thing you bought from EVS! I can't imagine what kind of creek you'd be up had you purchased from those dirt-cheap shady dealers.