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This sounds exactly like what I went through with the second unit I had. Contact Focus and have them do a return. They said mine was the first they had seen do this.
Good luck. |
FS-4 to jvc-110u HELP!!!!!!
I am bugging out here because I am having a problem with the FS-4 I just got. I bought a JVC-110U off of eBay used with only 24 hours on it. The camera came with the FS-4 40GB hard drive. When I follow the directions to the “T”, the direve will not sync up with the camera and record. No matter how I set up the settings it just wont sync. It just keeps trying to sync. But when I put it and the camera into DV mode, it looks like it is synced but it won’t record manually or with the camera giving the commands.
Has anyone had a problem similar to this? The camera arrived late and I expected to have a bit more time with it before I was going to shoot. But I have a job tomorrow and don’t know what to do. Please help!!! -mike- P.S. I also have a different problem with using this camera with avid. I posted this differently and if you feel you can be of any assistance, please go there and take a look at it. http://www.avid.com/exchange/forums/...ad.aspx#270875 |
Hi Michael,
This might seem stupid, but are you sure that your firewire cord is plugged into the DV/IO cord, and that the cord is still good? Ive gotten the comp IO and DV/IO confused alot in the past. The FS4 can be tricky to setup at first but if its not the system then you should start thinking about the firewire port being blown out on the HD110- its very easy to do this. Id try testing getting footage from the tape using DVHScap- just a minute or two so you can rule that out as a possibility. Alan |
Probably not what you want to hear but it does sound like a firewire port issue on the JVC HD100.
It is a well known problem with the HD100 that the firewire interface can be destroyed by plugging or unplugging the firewire cable in with the camera and PC switched on. Also selecting HD/DV on the firewire out selector switch can cause the interface on the cam to fry too. On the Menu screens make sure the output is IEE1394 (Dont have the manual with me so cant say which screen it is on.) With the cam and pc switched off, select DV on the firewire out switch turn the pc and cam on. When the pc has booted up it should detect the camera and offer you some choices. If this does not happen, first try a new cable (cheaper than paying for someone to check the cam out initially). If you are lucky and the computer detects the cam, then the DV side of the firewire is OK. Time to test the HD side. Windows does not recognise the HD signal so its up to the NLE to do this. Switch off the PC and camera, then select HD output on the firewire switch. Turn on the computer and camera, then load up AVID. The cam should be on before the NLE is loaded well thats the case with Liquid anyways. Another option is to make sure that the output is on HD or DV and in the Firestore make sure that you are set to the correct input signal. I dont think it converts the input. Hope this helps Ian |
FS4Pro HD XDCAM EX
Are we going to see a dedicated HD only recorder for the new Sony XDCAM EX camcorder. PS. If it were possible you would sell tones of these if you could convert HD to SD in such a recorder as the FS4 that would allow us to record to SxS in HD and have a copy in HD or SD.
My thoughts. |
Firmware upgrade?
Hi,
where did you get your firmware upgrade for the JVC GY-HD111E? Thans , Mike Quote:
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Overlooking anything? FS-4 Pro HD 60GB
I am wanting to buy an FS-4 Pro HD hard disk for my one of my Z1U's, and another in the future.
I am looking at buying the 60GB hard disk from videoguys. I thoght the cheapest, and safest way to buy would be, to get the hard disk from videoguys with the Educational Special... http://www.videoguys.com/FireStore.html ...and then, buy the kit from BHPhotoVideo... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...t_Kit_for.html Am I overlooking anything? Do I need to buy anything else? I am in the 9th Grade, so I would be eligible for the Educational Special. Would you suggest me to buy something else? Thanks for everybody's input, and feedback!!! Also, does anybody see anything on the horizon, or anything already out there that is much more for the money? Joseph Hutson nearsightedproductions.com |
I bought the FS-4 Pro HD kit from Videoguys and was very happy with the accessories (camera mount, several cables, high capacity battery). It's the same kit BH has in your link,
The FS-4 Pro HD works great in both SD and HD modes. The only problems is that if you try to use the Retro Cache in M2T HD mode it may produce corrupted files. It did with my Canon A1 and Sony HC3. If does, however, work in HD in Sync mode with no Retro Cache. In tape-less mode the Retro Cache works, but one does not get a tape backup. Buddy |
I will use Quicktime.
Thanks for the info. I don't think I would shoot m2t files, because I am using a mac...therefore I will use Quicktime HD, Quicktime, or Quicktime24.
Thanks again for your input...by the way, how much did you spend on your FS-4? Did the price tag of $1195 for both the kit(with 3 hr. battery, and mounting kit) look good? It is a special bundle the Videoguys are offering. Any others want to give any feedback? Check out my new website, and let me know what you think. nearsightedproductions.com |
FS-4HD record without a Tape
Hi
Just got the FS-4HD and run into 2 production work. I have read all the setting pdf and info from Both FS-4HD and V1E. All is prefect on location shot and record as much as what I need. Only I setting I still missing in action is the V1E connect to FS-4HD the NO tape flashing on my V1E. I have used just FS-4HD record in NO tape. But still flash when press record saying no tape. Do anybody did it in V1E with NO tape loaded and not flashing on screen display when DVinput? |
help firestore fs-4
help....
when i start up my fs-4 the screen is blue only....looked at the website but can't find (or overlook?) a re-set option. what can be done....help please.... |
How reliable is the FS4 Pro these days?
I am going to be using in the a DSR 450 and was wondering if all the negative comments in the past have been addressed
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We had to send our units back for mods, as there was an issue using them with the DSR series. A shielding issue where a high pitch wine from the HD was recorded in the audio track. We have also had other issues as well.
Just make sure you shoot to a DVCam tape as a backup. All the best! |
what mods were done?
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I'm guessing some additional shielding.
All I know is after we got the units back, the audio problem stopped. Another issue using them with the DSR series, is sometimes the 1/2 indicator in the viewfinder, which shows the camera and HD are recording at the same time, will indicate that both are recording fine, while in fact the HD has locked up. |
DC Input replacement
Got a Silver FS-4 which the DC input has gone faulty and needs to be replaced as the battery won`t charge, anyone got any idea as to what the part number is or where I can source one, as Focus want me to send the whole unit for repair at major cost. I`ve just done this with a HP laptop and have upgraded in the past the FS-4 from 40 gig to 80 gig so I`m not affaid to get my hands dirty. Also Im in the UK, so a supplier in England would be great.
Cheers Sean. |
Timelapse with XL2 + FS-4Pro60HD
When recording time lapse with the FS4 and my XL2 do I need to press the record button on the FS4 front panel instead of using the camera record button as I do for continuous footage?
If so do I have to switch the FS4 control menu option to local, or can I keep it at Tapeless, as I do for continuous footage. If anyone does timelapse on an XL2 with the FS4Pro your full settings would get this poor geezer out of a lot of trouble! Many thanks Andy |
I use JVC with the DR-HD100. but its all the same as far as the basics go (obviously the communication with the cameras is a little different). I would assume that the FS-4 will allow you to just hit the record button on the camera in order to start a timelapse. thats what mine does. but if you want to make sure, its not much harder to just hit the front panel controls. just make sure its recording and that your camera is plugged in to it and you should be fine.
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see if your camera has "dv control" in its menu options, if so enable it and your good to go.
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Thanks guys but I tried this the other day and the timelapse failed to be captured.
The XL2 is set for dv control always, and the tape backup recorded the scene in normal time fine but the FS4 didn't record a single frame - I had set it to record 1 frame every second to get a x25 cloudscape. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the FS4 rec button had to be pressed to do timelapse, but I can't find where I read it!! |
i use it with a canon h1 and it does timelapse fine by pushing record on the camera. Make sure your settings on both are the same. For example, if i leave my H1 in HDV mode it can`t record timelapse because thats SD only. I know your cam isn`t HDV, but check similar settings and make sure you`ve activated timelapsing and tapeless recording
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were you able to put the real time footage all on one tape then? if so (and if it is anything like the DR HD100) hook up the FS 4 to your camera, put it in local mode, put the camera in VTR mode and play the tape, meanwhile capturing with the hard drive in time lapse mode.
essentially you are just doing it all over again, but if you screw up, you can just re-rack the tape and try it again until you get it right. |
Yes Ian I did capture it all!
I've found out why it didn't record the timelapse footage in the first place - suffice to say you are reading a reply typed by a plonker who didn't read the manual properly...................doh!.........lol! I would have 'cocked' the shot up anyway as I'd guestimated the framerate at 1 frame every second, which in my crazy brain would equate to x25 normal speed (I'm PAL) - playing around in PremProCS3 Speed control and uping to 1000% (x10) looked just right for what I was after..........doh again! Only just bought the FS4 and it's the time-lapse facility I've bought it for - so I need to get framerates sorted in my head. I know that most of my finished sliptime clips will be around 30 seconds in duration, at 25fps out of the NLE that would be 750 frames. Here's where I start to come unstuck: If I need to film a process that's 10 hours in duration then that would equate to 25x60x60x10 ie 90,000 frames in realtime. Or if you like, 10 hours is 36,000 seconds, so cramming that into 30 seconds, or packing 90,000 frames into 750 frames gives me a required speed increase of x1200. Now my pathetic maths tells me that if I set the FS4 to record 1 frame every 48 seconds, after 10 hours I'll end up with my required 750 frames. Or have I gone completely mad?........Arrrggghhhhhhhhh!!! There's got to be a simple way of working this out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
you lost me when you said math....
I suck at that. sorry I cant help with that angle. good luck with figuring it out though. hope it works out well. |
Quote:
When you shoot a timelapse how do YOU personally decided what fps you are going to use then - surely the rate has to fit the job at hand - shooting timelapse on a city street might be okay at x10 normal speed, but say a 20 hour shoot of flowers blooming would require a massively different fps, as at x10 speed it would still take 2 hours to view in real time. |
well, I have never really shot timelapse until recently. and that was when I got the firestore. so it has all been trial and error for me. I have found that for a 20 hour shoot, usually the 1 frame every second works great. here is a page I found on calculating timelapse, it may not help you too much because you are PAL, but it could help get you on the right start.
http://www.videomaker.com/article/2384/ I think it is pretty old, but not much should have changed. hope that straightens things out a bit for ya! |
Thanks Ian!
Your 20 hour shoot would therefore have given you 48 minutes of video where everything was moving 25 times faster than normal - so you would I presume use small clips taken from that sequence. I think you and I are approaching this timelapse thing from different angles and that you're probably more interested in it's creative use. Where I'm comming from is the 'show the process in full' angle - fungi sprouting on rotting wood etc where I know the finish clip length before I even start. Cheers for the input Ian - when I've got something worth showing I'll let you know! Best Regards Andy |
Upgrade to HD for FS-4
Hi I was just wondering how i go about upgrading my FS4 to record HD clips. I looked at the Firestore website and it was priced at $299!! That is about £150.00 stg. A new FS4 HD costs about £500.00!!! Is it just a cd with upgraded software and if so why does it cost so much?
Thanks for any help. |
Because it is their software. They are not selling you a CD, they are selling their intellectual property.
Mike |
FS-4HD will not connect to computer
I select DD drive, connect the 1394 cable to the FS and press enable.
After a few seconds the FS-4HD reboots and ends up at the first menu page. I have been using this unit sucessully for a year now and this is the first time I've had this problem. I've checked the computer and it seems to be okay, but I do not have another device to check it. Any thoughts? Thanks, Joe |
Found the problem. I have three channel 1394 card. By using another channel it works normally.
Joe |
Sean have you tested the battery. Does the unit power ok with the charger etc it may just be a bad contact with the battery. Fro opening mine i think they are quite fragile. I currently have an FS4 which is not working as clips are always corrupted when stored on the hard drive. Someone swapped it for another and now it does not work. Drop me an email for a chat. Kettlo@aol.com. I need to ask you something about your upgrade.
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Fs-4
Def not Battery contacts, I`ve also got the seperate focus battery charger and the batts charger fine on there and work fine with the FS-4, but wont charge using the dc input, I`m going to order some generic DC input plugs today so when the unit is fixed I`ll post where and what to buy.
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fs-4pro hd 80gb
Hello I just buy fs-4pro hd 80gb and I confused about the upgrade to use Quicktime hdv 1080i/60 for finalcut user. I have a new one the fimware is the 2.0.0.04...., my question is Do I need anyway the upgrade? it cost $40.00
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Your NEW Firestore should have already included the upgrade....
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FS4 HD with sony FX-1 or HDR Hc-3?
Hi will the FS4 HD work with either a Sony FX-1 or HDR HC3 without tapes?....Initial attempts don't seem to....
thanks Len |
found the answer....
OOPS....I found the answer myself on the Focus product compatibility sheet on their site......Both cams work but only with a tape in the drive.....
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You can always press record on the Firestore to control start/stop. I'm capturing straight to a laptop, using a remote to control start/stop on the computer. Its not too inconvenient, although its a bit of a pain to always have to look down at the computer to verify that it is indeed recording.
Basically, there are workable options to go tapeless with any camera. -Terence |
start/stop on firestore to control recording
thanks....I'll give that a try....
Len |
Hey Len,
I hope that Firestore is working out for you. If you need any additional support, please feel free to let me know. Thanks Kit |
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