How should I capture HDV from a Canon XH-A1 onto the Firestore for dumping to a Final Cut Studio 2 machine? I remember trying QT once with my Mac and Premiere and it couldn`t be used. Anyone know which to use? QT or M2T?

Use the Quicktime HDV setting.

Gary

I just purchased a FS-C to use with my Canon XH-A1. I use Canopus Edius Broadcast as a NLE app. I find that when I import HDV m2t footage to the timeline the resultant playback studders miserably.
I have been told that m2t files will cause this effect and that it is better to use the Canopus HD. But since using the Canopus HD involves capturing from tape, it kind of negates the value and purpose of the FS-C.
My computer has 3 gigs of ram and is a quad core 2.4GHz. It would be pretty disappointing if this is the best FS-C and Edius can do!

Hum. The problem may have been a faulty Maxtor media drive. When I tried to defragment it it froze. I pulled it out of my machine and ....no more problems!

I am PC based. I am doing a shoot where the footage will be delivered and edited with Final Cut. I want to deliver the best possible files from my FS-C which should be the Quicktime HD option the Firestore has. Unfortunately I can't preview the HD Quicktime file on my PC. Is there a way or does Apple reserve that to a Mac?

This actually goes back a few posts but I was wondering if those who replaced their small HD's with a larger hard drive, is it possible to change from FAT32 to NSTC thereby avoiding the 2 gig (or is it 4 gig) limit?

On another thread there were posters that changed out the smaller drives in their Firestores to a larger drive. Has anyone tried this with the FS-C? Also apparently when drives are replaced they need to be re partitioned. Anybody try NTFS rather than Fat 32?

Interesting discovery is that when using the FS-C with an A1, the FS-C will record SD whether set to SYNC or TAPELESS. This comes in handy because I am switching between my Panasonic DVC 30 and the Canon (with no tape in it).

Edit the above
I could not repeat the sync/tapeless as mentioned above. Sorry may have led some astray. I find that I do need a tape in the Canon to have the FS-C record in SYNC mode. All of the "tally " lights on the camera and FS-C work properly. I need to set TAPELESS not SYNC on my A1 (with no tape in it) for everything to work flawlessly.

I just received my FS-4 HD (60GB) and WD 120gb PATA drive with the intent of upgrading the hard drive. When I opened the FS-4 I found that the interface was no longer IDE, but instead SATA. But what's even more distressing is the fact that factory installed is an 80GB. Of course, the system boots to the 60GB recording times suggesting that the system may be limiting the space of the hard drive installed and this may be permanent, i.e. it doesn't matter if I install a 300gb SATA, it will be formatted to 60GB by the firmware.

Please tell me someone out there upgraded a newer FS-4 HD, with the SATA interface, and had success formatting the extra space...

Please...

UPDATE:

My math sucks and I was wrong. My 60GB model is using all 80GB of the hard drive (365 mins in DV mode = 80GB). After the Focus Enhancements bankruptcy announcement, I wonder if they just aren't clearing out product - putting extra 80GB hard drives into 60GB models to liquidate instead of ordering more 60GB drives...

The sticker on the back plate also says "FS-4 Pro HD" though I do not have a Pro model.

Hmm..

Regardless, there is still hope that I can swap out a SATA drive and take advantage of the extra space. I'll post an update when I find out more.

UPDATE: I installed a 160gb WD SATA drive into my FS-4 HD (60gb), formatted the drive, and was left with 595 mins of recording time (~10 hours or 120gb worth of space). So it appears that installing larger hard drives into the new SATA FS-4s yields the same result (with 120GB max recording space) as with the older ATA interfaced models.

Note: Upon firing up the unit after installing the new hard drive the screen locked at the login splash screen with the statement "please wait." I hit the select button and it took me to the main screen but it still said "please wait." I menu'd over to the format screen and told the unit to format the drive. It did with no problems and now the device boots as normal.

Cheers.

keywords: mod, modification, upgrade, firestore, hard disk

Jaymes
I not quite following you. You said that you formatted the 160 gig drive and then when the FS was booting up you had to format again? It sounds like you had to format it twice in the FS?
Also if you had installed a 120 gig drive does that mean that you would have got 120 gigs (I am assuming that 160 still will only give you 120)... is that right? You might as well installed a 120?

Jaymes
I not quite following you. You said that you formatted the 160 gig drive and then when the FS was booting up you had to format again? It sounds like you had to format it twice in the FS?
I can see how the second update confuses the timeline. No, it was not formatted twice. The unformatted drive was installed and I went through the onboard format routine outlined above. The update was meant to detail the formatting method the SATA enabled FS-4 HDs seem to require.
Also if you had installed a 120 gig drive does that mean that you would have got 120 gigs (I am assuming that 160 still will only give you 120)... is that right? You might as well installed a 120?
Presumably. Yes, it seems I would have been better off installing a 120GB drive - but for the sale price of the 160GB WD Scorpio, it would have cost me a tad more for the 120GB model. I would suggest to anyone upgrading their FS-4 HD SATAs to install the most cost effective drive 120GB and above in capacity, but know that the max volume size is 120GB.

OK thanks Jaymes

I hope when I try this it will work for the FS-C (Canon specific firestore)!

The power brick for my unit has suddenly started producing a humming noise when it is plugged in - historically for me with electronics this has been the warning sign of an imminent failure. Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips or successes? Any thoughts on obtaining a new power brick? I am assuming I can order one from Focus Tech, but wanted to check for options anyway. Thanks.

You should be able to pick up another power supply that is 15V 1.2A. Just take the old p/s with to an electronics supplier that has this particular specification. I believe the DTE unit has the electronics and controls for charging the lithium ion battery.

I had a weird thing happen. I was doing a live video shoot and the battery on my firestore was almost dead. There happened to be an outlet next to me, so I plugged in the power supply. The "charge" light then started blinking and the only way I could get the firestore turned on again was to remove the battery and go AC only. Did I fry the battery somehow?

I just upgraded the HD to 160GB with a normal IDE drive in my FS-C.
All went well and it did its format at the first start up. What has become apparent now though is that I have two partitions - and when connected to my iMac two drives pop up on the desktop when connected.
The second to appear is always the one woithy the footage in it.
I asked tech support at Focus about the two partition scenarion and they confirmed that as the first partition fills it will auto flow to the next.
When not connected to a camera - it states I have 695 minutes of space - but then connected to my XL-H1 the space count drops - presumably the recalculation at the bit rate the Canon kicks out.

Have to say, the response and help from Focus was very rapid, knowledgable and very polite which brought more enjoyment from owning the unit.

Hello,

I have pre-ordered a Canon A1 and am very interested in a tapeless solution for it. I called Focus Enhancements and they said that the FS-C would be compatable.

My problem is, I can't seem to find a vendor for it. FE says they only shipped to Canon. I called Canon and they said they would not be carrying it. B&H doesn't carry it. A google returned no retailers.

Is this thing on the market yet? I have read a post about somebody already having theirs. Where can I buy it? Is it buggy?

How about this..
Canon FS-CV 100GB Portable DTE Recorder with Metadata 1379V742 - (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/595004-REG/Canon_1379V742_FS_CV_100GB_Portable_DTE.html#specifications)

i just ordered mine

anyone tell me if this will work smooth and trouble free I hope. I'm a news stringer here in Portland Or I'm sick of tape now I just have to figure out how to get the video to the news stations from the drive other then carrying the drive from station to station any thoughts.

Good morning, I have canon xl2 and I cannot synchronize the camera with focus enhancements fs-c, version 2.1.0.04032307, could someone please tell me, what could it be ????

Thank you very much for the attention received.

Good morning, I have foscus fs-c, does anyone know how to change the internal 2.5 "hard drive, exploded focus fs-c manual.

Thanks a lot.

Good morning, I have canon xl2 and I cannot synchronize the camera with focus enhancements fs-c, version 2.1.0.04032307, could someone please tell me, what could it be ????

Thank you very much for the attention received.