I am at my wits end. Santa Claus bought me an iMac and Final Cut Express. Oh Joy. However...

When I connect my Canon XH-A1 with firewire and click on capture: I get a window which shows the camcorder's output but nothing else. No info, no way to control the camcorder, nuthin'. I can't find any way to change this.

I've read the help files (Oh I hate "online" manuals Why can't they supply a book?) and am still none the wiser. I've ordered a "Final Cut for Retards" from Amazon but that'll take a while due to the holidays (Merry Christmas everyone, by the way).

Anyone know what idiotically simple mistake I have made?

From what I understand, the way FCE handles HDV (I'm a caveman happily living in the SD world) you don't get a preview when capturing and I'm pretty sure you don't get the regular clip selection options, I think you just get to capture the clip; this last part I'm not too sure of but I'm pretty sure you don't get the preview ... I'm sure people living in this century will chime in to correct me

Thanks Victor. Is this the case..? Anyone?

have you looked at this:

Capturing HDV (1080i) Footage in Final Cut Express HD (http://www.rippletraining.com/capturing_hdv.html)

this explains it quite simply.
Myself I have used FCE with an XH A1, but it's more than a year since I've switched to FCP... I don't remember the details of capturing anymore. But it does work, that's for sure.

Best,
Dino

Thanks Dino, it explains it nicely. In the handbook there are only illustrations with a different "window" showing various recording options. Now I can see that you only have one view when digitizing hdv.

Thanks guys.