What is the best way to capture to FCP
 

I'm renting three Canon XL-H1 cameras to film a live disco concert here in Miami this Saturday the 13th 2008 and edit at a later date. I'm filming this event in HD at 29.97.

For post-production will it be best to use the H1 camera as a deck? or should I use any other external hardware? like a VTR deck or the AJA io HD hardware since it has SD-SDI and HD-SDI i/o ? also quick question with the AJA IO HD device I wont need one of their KONA cards right on my G5 Powermac?

another quick question: What is a better choice to shoot this live concert in 29.97 or 59.94i ?

marlon,
I'm in Pembroke Pines and own an H1 and an A1, with matching presets. I have lots of experience shooting with the canons, and also have another shooter if you needed. In addition, I have a steadycam style rig, a jib, and 35mm adapter.
get in touch if you'd like me to work with you on the sghoot.
Bruce S. yarock
Yarock Video & Photography
yarock at a o l dot com

Canon XL-H1A affordable decks 4 24p,30p,60i in1080
 

So does anyone know of an affordable deck that i can buy to transfer footage shot in 1080/24p or and of course 30 going into final cut pro. Or perhaps is it easier to find one to go into avid media composer? I have been using my camera thus far and need 2 stop doing that. I only have around 2000. Please help!

Get a used HV20.

Yep....
 

Way to go.


CS

So by transferring the footage through another camera, would I lose any picture quality shot on my xl-h1a? Also Sony Vegas? I prefer to use either Final Cut, Avid media composer, or Adobe Premiere, but for the most part I am the best with Final Cut, okay with avid and still learning Premiere Pro. Your method sounds to good to be true. I looked up the price and the camera is cheaper than any deck I have seen. Again what is the catch?

Thanks for your help

RL

The catch is.................
 

there is no catch.

It's a tape deck, which just by sheer coincidence, has a lens and other stuff attached - hey, it's free, don't complain.

You can't lose quality as it's all digital from start to finish.

It will work wth any software that can handle Canon's 24f, Avid rings alarm bells but not sure why.

Check out the other 7,475 posts asking exactly the same question and have got the same reply.

It works.


CS

The catch about the camcorder is that it has fiddly little buttons & a less robust tape transport than a proper tape deck plus it cannot be mounted into a rack or even sat firmly down onto the desktop without rolling around.

The catch about a tape deck is that one does not exist that can handle Canon's 24F pseudo-24p recording mode.

I have been weighing up the pros & cons of a dedicated deck versus HV20/30 & the above points certainly don't rule out using a camcorder & if you are shooting 24F it's a lot better than wearing out an XH-A1 but to be honest it's not ideal.

Cheers

Nigel Barker

I have my HV20 on a tripod next to my workstation. The only time I touch it is to put in the tape otherwise I simply control it from HDVSplit.

I use the HV20 a lot more than the XHA1 since the XHA1 is used only for paid jobs. The HV20 is used as a deck, b-roll to the XHA1, personal projects, and the family travel camera. I've taken it to Death Valley and as far as Europe. It's a work horse and greatly undervalued in the used market.

I can count with my fingers how many drop outs I've encountered with my HV20 used with low end Sony tapes. I was at a camera store the other day and overheard the salesman telling the customer that they "had" to buy highend Sony HDV tapes for this camera.

If by chance it dies on me, it is cheap enough to buy another one used.

Nigel,
You want to check the latest greatest decks HDV decks from Sony as they have been supporting more of Canon's formats than they did formally. See the Sony HVR-M25A Deck. Not an inexpensive solution

Good news on that, the 3.5 release of Avid Media Composer finally supports Canon's 24F format.

Thanks for that tip. Evidently Sony have finally released a tape deck that handles all possible HDV formats whether 24F/24P/25F etc. If money were no object I am sure that it would have a place in my set up but unfortunately the price is just a touch too rich for me even for the convenience of using a deck rather than a camcorder for capturing.

What is it?
 

So great I need one. What is it? I searched high and low and I read nothing about the Sony HVR-M25AP being compatible with the Canon 24/f and 30/f. So I would definitely appreciate the knowledge of the deck supportive of Canon. No matter what the cost. I know enough people with canon's who would pay small fees just to not have to transfer on another canon camera or their own for those frame rates. Thanks for the help and can't wait to see the deck I need.

Randy Larioz
randylarioz@yahoo.com

It's the Sony HVR-M35.

However it is a bit more expensive than using an HV10/20/30/40 as a deck.

Thanks everyone
 

I would like to thank everyone for your help on finding a deck. It is actually the Sony HVR-M25AU and has been out for only a couple of months. It can handle 24f 30f 60i at 1080i and many other formats. The cost at B&H is 3300. There is only one other model that can transfer the footage from your Canon but that model is 4700. I just don't see the point, personally, to use another camera to transfer footage. Heads are still being worn out. True it is a cheaper solution but for me the Sony deck will do the work for me. I already have a couple of dozen filmmakers wanting to use the deck and are willing to pay to transfer their footage. Again thank you, hopefully this deck will pay for itself over time.

This is a myth -- you're *not* going to "wear the heads out" by using a camcorder as a deck.

I have nothing against buying and using a VTR, but the main reason for having one isn't to save the heads on
a camcorder; it's to keep the camcorder in the field where it belongs, instead of tying it up in the editing suite.

To add to Chris's comment. In my opinion the main reason to use a deck in the editroom is the tape handling, response and control by the computer is usually much better than a camcorders. This can make a huge difference in logging and capturing footage.

Received the Sony HVR-M25AU deck today and transferred some wedding footage shot in 24f on a Canon XL-H1A. Not one single problem, knock on wood.

Good to hear -- thanks for that report, Randy!

Good evening,

listed at 3000 dollars its pretty steep, but it does a lot of great things!! however for a few hundred more you can get an xha1 and ue it and also have a second high quality camera if you do not already!!

I would love one, but i think the xha1 is the option for me!!

Phew this piece of advice puts my mind at ease Chris - and thanks for redirecting me to this excellent thread. Am halfway through capturing nearly 120 hours of tapes from my Canon XHA1 and was worrying that I'd wear the heads out - just a myth as you say but sometimes you hear it from so many people it starts to stick! I mean really, all the camera is doing is playing a tape (in my capture workflow) from start to finish, with no shuttling back and forth involved. Piece of cake for such a sophisticated piece of equipment! (well I'd like to think so!) :o)