One thing about the new AVCHD cams is there is no longer a Firewire port. What are my options/quality for live signal capture? I'd like to use the tools that OnLocation provides, but don't know if I can with the HMC150.

Nope.

Best bet would be to look at HDMI streaming to an HDMI capture card or HDMI solid-state recorder. OnLocation doesn't yet support HDMI boards like the Intensity Pro, but I can only assume it's just a matter of time.

Look at Cineform. They support the Blackmagic board and dirert HDMI capture. Should look awesome.

It's a pitty that AVCHD cameras don't allow for live capture via USB. There's really no reason not to include that capability with the cameras.

It's a pitty that AVCHD cameras don't allow for live capture via USB. There's really no reason not to include that capability with the cameras.

There's plenty of reason to not include it -- USB protocol doesn't allow for it.

Firewire was developed with two protocols, A/VC and SBP2. A/VC is for Audio/Video Control, and is used for streaming video devices. SBP2 is "Serial Bus Protocol 2" and is for file transfer. USB doesn't support any sort of similar A/VC protocol. USB only supportes frame-and-packet transfer, essentially similar to SBP2.

how about watching live from PC, is it possible? Can I use for broatcasting live, I think not :)

Use an HDMI capture board, or an analog capture board, and then yes you could do it.

But it isn't gonna happen from the USB port.

I have a related question.

I have a firewire 800 port on my apple but my firewire cable has gotten messed up. So can i transfer the footage to another apple which does have a firewire 400 port, then dump this on my hard drive and transfer it by USB to my apple? Will this cause any loss of quality/frames??

thanks

Once the footage has been captured and turned into a FILE, you can transfer the file anyway you like to another hard drive for editing without issue.