capture now HVX200 to fcp 5.1
 

hello all,
I'm a bit confused by reading several postings mentionning you can use FCP to capture on the fly (capture now) the HVX200 footage.
I just receive the camera and a new macbook pro, to my disapointment the express card slot is different than the powerbook G4.
I tried several settings to get FCP to capture the footage from the HVX200 on the fly, but can't get timecode to pass through.
I'm using a firewire cable, DVCPRO HD 720p60 capture set up and DVCPRO HD firewire for device control preset.
I see picture in log & capture window but capture now won't work.
Can anyone sheds some light on this?
many thanks
e.

Eric,

Capturing to the MacBook Pro is absolutely possible. Wait until next week and I'll have a full review for you about performance and setups.

thanks Robert,
any chance I can get some inside info, before next week.
I have a shoot in LA next Tuesday. I was only able to get one 4gig card and I Know I'll be shooting long interviews.
many thanks
e.

Eric,

I won't be testing MBP setups untll next week however, if you follow the guide I set forth for the PB with the exception to the LaCie FW800 card you'll be 90% there:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=59680

Unless you purchase the SIIG Express Card 34 to FW400 adapter you'll have to use an external FW drive as your hub between camera and MBP.

Robert
Thanks for quick reply,
First off, english is my second language so excuse my spelling.
I understand the hardware setup but it seems to me that the capture now function, is not possible in FCP with the HVX 200
connected directly through firewire.
The point of doing this is, being able to capture directly to disk and not being stuck to stop your recording every time your P2 cards are full. In my case, I was only able to get one 4g P2 cards.
let me describe my set up first:
- HVX200 connected though FW to MacBook Pro.
- shooting mode: 720p 30P - (PN modes won't work in this setup)
- FCP capture preset: DVCPRO HD 720P 30
- FCP device control: DVCPRO HD Firewire
so far so good, you see picture in the Log & capture window.
If you click capture now nothing happened, FCP is waiting for TC.
If you click capture now while the camera is recording FCP capture picture for about 2s before aborting with the "Capture now has reach the end of the tape" warning - + even if this set was working, you're still stuck to stop recording once the P2 card is full.
So to me it looks like the camera only sends TC when in VCR mode.
I tried all the 1394 control set up of the camera, having TC set to FREE VS REC RUN with no luck.
I hope you can prove me wrong, if not, we'll have to wait for available P2 card or FireStore drive.

Eric,

You're missing one very important part of the "capture now" process: You must set your capture presets to "non-controllable device", then FCP doesn't look for timecode. Barry G. can help you with the advanced pulldown features of FCP 5.1 for the HVX.

hmmm I thought I tried that already, but I'll run a test again tomorrow.
thanks a bunch Robert.
e.

robert,
you were absolutely right, it works when FCP is on "non controlable device" mode.
I was able to capture 45mm straight into my macbook.
thanks again
e.

I tried the same thing, except i had it on Uncontrollable Device Using 720P60I, and tried to do a capture now, but when i do that it says there is no communication from the Camera


My setup

Powerbook G4
FCP HD 5.01:
DVCPRO HD 720P60I
Capture Settings :Uncontrollable Device

HVX
720P60I
Connected VIA Firewire 400

The one thing i was wondering do i need to have the camera set for 1394 host mode to do this or is it ok to have it as 1394 Device?

Or am i missing another setting, that must be what it is.