Do any of these devices record from the HDMI out or HD-SDI out of cameras to avoid the compression?

Nope. You'll need to step up to a Convergent unit for that. Quite a bit more money, quite a bit better results.

I was afraid of that..I love their nano/xdr, but the cost is still a bit much. Fair for sure..just more than the avg middle-class worker can afford in these tough times. I wish there was something similar for about 1K price range. I think CineForm is working on something near that with their awesome codecs..I hope. But the nano is very nice.. if I can muster up the cash I'll prob get that with a canon S100.

Hi all,

I purchased a Firestore FS-4 ProHD 80 Gig, NTSC but I sent it to Focus and converted it to PAL, software is version 2.0 and tried to use it with my Canon XL-H1a camera. Before I purchased it I contacted Focus USA and they told me I can still use it with my Canon XL-H1a camera. I filmed some tapeless in Quicktime format and I downloaded the .MOV files to my computer but I can not see them, I open them with Quicktime player in PC, there is audio but no video just black screen, I filed HDV 50i, I even downloaded CineForm plugin for Quicktime v7.6.4 and still the same.

Please let me know what I have to do to make it work
By the way what is the difference between Quicktime format and M2T, which one is better?

With kind regards
Mitchell

I've NEVER gotten the quicktime recording to work. I never bother with it.

for me the FS-4 has been a love-hate story. I have had problems getting it to work with my Canon XL2. The documentation is, IMO, woefully inadequate, leaving the user to stumble around a lot.

The first unit I got was just not working properly and it took me a while to decide that it wasn't just my newbie operator error.

I have learned to make good recordings with it. Even with 16:9. (not 24P) Quicktime doesn't know how to make a Canon XL2 anamorphic frame 16:9. Not a problem in FCP, but simple QT exports don't size correctly. To do that, I use Quicktime Pro and reset the 720 to 820 in properties. The aspect ratio, while not precise, is close and full frame. If you really need ACTUAL PRECISE aspect ratios, I don't think it's going to happen unless you export from FCP with Compressor.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Okay, I have been playing with it last couple of days and this is what I have done.

PAL 50i - HDV
I recorded Quicktime, doesn't have picture and only audio, I imported it to Premiere CS4 (PC), just audio was imported.

Then I recorded in M2T, I can download it to Adobe Premiere CS4.

It is amazing, not many people know any thing about it, I even contacted Focus and they haven't been much help.

Which one is better for PC, M2T or Quicktime?

Cheers
Mitchell

http://www.iconfilmproductions.com.au