Mac Workflow confusion

Chad Terpstra · July 14th, 2006, 08:11 AM

I'm fairly sure I have the A model. I bought it in May from B&H a while after the update. There's also an "A" sticker on the bottom by the serial #.

I'm still a little confused as to what the other TC generators do. REC seems to record it sequentially like regular DV. What does REGEN do again?

For my wedding work I've designed the workflow to where I capture all the tapes whole (just to have everything there). Then I do a start/stop detect from within FCP (I love that feature). This puts a marker on every start/stop. Then I either dump in a whole tape to the timeline or go through and set in/out points and grab clips from the viewer. Either way having the start/stop markers is invaluable as it tells me how long I can multi-cam a given sequence (toasts, dances, etc.) and when to expect a cut to move on to the next clip.

I haven't done an HD wedding yet, but I'm glad I tested before I did. I wouldn't mind having each clip separate (though that would amount to A LOT of clips after a 12 hour (14 tape) tape wedding). But I can't afford to lose those 5 seconds from each clip.

You mentioned that HDVxDV can capture over the breaks. That might work for me, but then I’ll lose the ability to do a start/stop detect in FCP (I think). Hopefully there is a fix/solution in the works. Otherwise it looks like I'll be learning a different workflow for HD.

Tim Dashwood · July 14th, 2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad Terpstra

I'm still a little confused as to what the other TC generators do. REC seems to record it sequentially like regular DV. What does REGEN do again?

REGEN works like a normal miniDV TC reader/generator. However, you need to make sure that if you stop the tape to review, you put it into record over existing TC, and not on empty tape. Otherwise you will have a timecode break. Therefore post-roll is as important as preroll with REGEN mode.
The idea with REGENerated TC is that there will never be a timecode break because it reads what it already on the tape and then continues it with frame accuracy. It didn't seem to work perfectly on the HD100, but seems to be better on the HD100A.

REC mode TC generator is similar, but it doesn't read what TC is already on the tape. Instead it just remembers what TC value you left off with when you hit pause/stop and continues with that TC when you hit Record regardless of position on the tape.

Obviously FREE RUN TC is continuously generated. This is useful for "time-of-day" recording with multiple cameras.

Chad Terpstra · July 14th, 2006, 11:40 AM

Thanks for updating me on those TC options. I think I understand them now.

It seems that the problem is on the end of FCP because it believes the TC is broken. Under "User Prefs" I went in and changed where it says "On timecode break..." to "Warn after capture." Previously it had been "Make new clip." Instead of continuing to capture over the breaks it stops at the first start/stop and says "Capture was stopped due to a problem with the incoming stream. This might be a problem with the tape. All media up to this point has been preserved.” But yet the timecode is continuous on the camera.

I tried this recording under REC and REGEN and both had the same result. Capturing to AIC was able to capture all the footage, but it would create new clips at random -in the middle of a recording (possible minor tape dropouts?). This could also be attributed to my slower computer.

At some point I'm going to have to call Apple to get an "official” answer and maybe have someone from Pro Care troubleshoot w/ me. Any pearls of wisdom from anyone else would be appreciated in the meantime.

Dan Adlerstein · November 24th, 2006, 07:29 PM

Sorry in advance if this is a basic/stupid question....

But is it possible to use the DVHSCap workflow for inputing my JVC hdv 720p 24p footage if I have FCP 4.5 and MAC OSX 10.3.2? I've downloaded the FireWire SDK 23 from the Apple site but cannot for the life of me figure out how to get into the DVHSCap program for inputing. No applications from the FireWire SDK will open. Do I need to download Xcode to run it? I tried but alas I need at least 10.4. How can I run DVHSCap. Am I missing something?

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

David Knaggs · November 24th, 2006, 08:54 PM

Hi Dan.

Perhaps you could try downloading the FireWire SDK 20 package. I've given a link for it earlier in this thread (Post #8). It contains a very workable version of DVHSCap. I don't know if it will work with OS 10.3.2 or not, but it certainly worked well on my earlier computer which was running OS 10.3.9. (And I think I was running FCP 4.5 at the time.)

Perhaps it's worth a try.

Dennis Robinson · September 21st, 2008, 10:04 AM

[QUOTE=David Knaggs;505953]Hi Drew.

CAPTURE:
Capture the .m2t files from the camera or deck using DVHSCap. It is part of the “FireWire SDK 20” package and can be downloaded from this page:
Apple Developer Connection - Development Kits

Hi David,
I am beat. I have downloaded the DVHSCap many times but all I get is the installer. Where is the bit I need to open this program so I can use it. This is driving me mad. I open the file and it gives me the 4 icons, the installer FirewireSDK20c.pkg, the tigerDevToolsFirewireExamples and the readme one plus the program logo. What do I do from here?

David Knaggs · September 21st, 2008, 04:41 PM

Hi Dennis.

Double-click the FirewireSDK20c.pkg icon and it should give you the Installer window for SDK 20. Just select "Macintosh HD" as your destination for the installation and, hopefully, it should be pretty simple from there.

After the installation, if you look in:

Macintosh HD>Developer>FireWireSDK20>Applications

you should then find DVHSCap. Drag the icon into your dock and you should be good to go!

Dennis Robinson · September 21st, 2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Knaggs

Hi Dennis.

Double-click the FirewireSDK20c.pkg icon and it should give you the Installer window for SDK 20. Just select "Macintosh HD" as your destination for the installation and, hopefully, it should be pretty simple from there.

After the installation, if you look in:

Macintosh HD>Developer>FireWireSDK20>Applications

you should then find DVHSCap. Drag the icon into your dock and you should be good to go!

Hi David,
Thank you so much. I spent hours working on this and it took me 60 seconds to do what you told me. Why cant the people who make these things explain it better? Thank you.
It means the difference between shooting a person to cam this morning without breaks in the capture. I am sick of losing gaps on capture and usually with a presenter to camera I have to tape in SD which of course doesnt match the rest of my footage as I always shoot in HDV.

September 21st, 2008, 10:04 AM	#21
Dennis Robinson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 250	[QUOTE=David Knaggs;505953]Hi Drew. CAPTURE: Capture the .m2t files from the camera or deck using DVHSCap. It is part of the “FireWire SDK 20” package and can be downloaded from this page: Apple Developer Connection - Development Kits Hi David, I am beat. I have downloaded the DVHSCap many times but all I get is the installer. Where is the bit I need to open this program so I can use it. This is driving me mad. I open the file and it gives me the 4 icons, the installer FirewireSDK20c.pkg, the tigerDevToolsFirewireExamples and the readme one plus the program logo. What do I do from here? __________________ Dennis Robinson G5, , 30 inch display, FCP6 Studio 2, JVC-GYHD111

July 14th, 2006, 08:11 AM	#16
Chad Terpstra Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 320	I'm fairly sure I have the A model. I bought it in May from B&H a while after the update. There's also an "A" sticker on the bottom by the serial #. I'm still a little confused as to what the other TC generators do. REC seems to record it sequentially like regular DV. What does REGEN do again? For my wedding work I've designed the workflow to where I capture all the tapes whole (just to have everything there). Then I do a start/stop detect from within FCP (I love that feature). This puts a marker on every start/stop. Then I either dump in a whole tape to the timeline or go through and set in/out points and grab clips from the viewer. Either way having the start/stop markers is invaluable as it tells me how long I can multi-cam a given sequence (toasts, dances, etc.) and when to expect a cut to move on to the next clip. I haven't done an HD wedding yet, but I'm glad I tested before I did. I wouldn't mind having each clip separate (though that would amount to A LOT of clips after a 12 hour (14 tape) tape wedding). But I can't afford to lose those 5 seconds from each clip. You mentioned that HDVxDV can capture over the breaks. That might work for me, but then I’ll lose the ability to do a start/stop detect in FCP (I think). Hopefully there is a fix/solution in the works. Otherwise it looks like I'll be learning a different workflow for HD.

July 14th, 2006, 11:40 AM	#18
Chad Terpstra Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 320	Thanks for updating me on those TC options. I think I understand them now. It seems that the problem is on the end of FCP because it believes the TC is broken. Under "User Prefs" I went in and changed where it says "On timecode break..." to "Warn after capture." Previously it had been "Make new clip." Instead of continuing to capture over the breaks it stops at the first start/stop and says "Capture was stopped due to a problem with the incoming stream. This might be a problem with the tape. All media up to this point has been preserved.” But yet the timecode is continuous on the camera. I tried this recording under REC and REGEN and both had the same result. Capturing to AIC was able to capture all the footage, but it would create new clips at random -in the middle of a recording (possible minor tape dropouts?). This could also be attributed to my slower computer. At some point I'm going to have to call Apple to get an "official” answer and maybe have someone from Pro Care troubleshoot w/ me. Any pearls of wisdom from anyone else would be appreciated in the meantime.

November 24th, 2006, 07:29 PM	#19
Dan Adlerstein Tourist Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Yok, NY Posts: 1	Sorry in advance if this is a basic/stupid question.... But is it possible to use the DVHSCap workflow for inputing my JVC hdv 720p 24p footage if I have FCP 4.5 and MAC OSX 10.3.2? I've downloaded the FireWire SDK 23 from the Apple site but cannot for the life of me figure out how to get into the DVHSCap program for inputing. No applications from the FireWire SDK will open. Do I need to download Xcode to run it? I tried but alas I need at least 10.4. How can I run DVHSCap. Am I missing something? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

November 24th, 2006, 08:54 PM	#20
David Knaggs Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 826	Hi Dan. Perhaps you could try downloading the FireWire SDK 20 package. I've given a link for it earlier in this thread (Post #8). It contains a very workable version of DVHSCap. I don't know if it will work with OS 10.3.2 or not, but it certainly worked well on my earlier computer which was running OS 10.3.9. (And I think I was running FCP 4.5 at the time.) Perhaps it's worth a try.

September 21st, 2008, 04:41 PM	#22
David Knaggs Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 826	Hi Dennis. Double-click the FirewireSDK20c.pkg icon and it should give you the Installer window for SDK 20. Just select "Macintosh HD" as your destination for the installation and, hopefully, it should be pretty simple from there. After the installation, if you look in: Macintosh HD>Developer>FireWireSDK20>Applications you should then find DVHSCap. Drag the icon into your dock and you should be good to go!