Batch Capture - Ingesting Footage of a Public Hearing

I have a unique video verité project and I'm trying a unique approach to the Log and Capture process for it, and I'm asking for a little advice...
On Thursday, I was recruited to record a nearly-five-hours-long public meeting at which over 150 people spoke. (1,200 in attendance) Fortunately, the meeting had a pro-grade P.A. system, and the hosts offered a box to plug in for audio pick ups on the P.A., so I used my wireless mic system to feed the speakers' voices directly into my new Canon Vixia HV 40 camcorder; I recorded the whole thing in HDV onto 5 tapes. The audio was clear as a bell. This project has a vaguely C-SPAN feel to it.
Now comes the challenge. This was a non-stop, live-on-tape meeting. The only time I stopped was the switch to newer cassettes. The organization I am helping asked me to find a way to ingest this footage as quickly as possible, figure out how to get it onto regular DVD media, and ship it out to a couple of volunteer organizations so that people can digest the proceedings and get organized for future plans. There is no time for frills or FX or anything but a plain brown wrapper on these DVDs.
I switched my HV 40 over to output down-converted DV streams. I started up Final Cut Pro 7 (I previously used FCP 4.5 on other projects) and got the log-and-capture process going. One thing I noticed during the Log and Capture process on the first tape:
I decided to Log the video using the Batch Capture process. All five 60 minute tapes have been thoroughly logged now. I wanted to use Batch Capture so that it would be easier to isolate individual speakers by clip if necessary; I logged consecutive back-to-back clips of four speakers apiece on each of the tapes, each tape is logged to a different logging bin for better organization. (The logged clips are each typically 8 minutes duration.) I intend to make sequences in Final Cut, each sequence will be a different DVD disc (Disc 1 of 3, for example) and I will insert the clips consecutively into the Timeline to form a complete show.
During the Logging process, I noticed something odd: doing everything on the fly, one clip will end on a specific frame and the next logged clip will begin on the very same frame as the previous clip ended. Shouldn't consecutively logged-on-the-fly clips with an end point followed by the beginning of the next clip on the next frame afterwards? Should I adjust the clip frame-times in the Browser by offsetting them by one frame to make them flow properly?
Thanks in advance,
--WA
[NOTE: 5 tapes used, 5 logging bins logged, meeting was just over 4.5 hours in length.]

Since saving time is essential in this case, I would have logged each tape as one clip, captured that tape and move on to the next. Drop two full clips in one Sequence for DVD 1, play out the Timeline to a stand-alone DVD recorder in real time, and move on to the next one.
Once they had their 'no frills' DVDs, you could then go back and make subclips of each speaker if needed.
-DH

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Well.... NEXT TIME you'll know to always have adequate pre-roll on your footage.
THIS TIME, first, change the inpoint on the batch capture that contains the offending portion to a place where you can reliable capture the clip you need. Then do a capture now of the head of the tape up until the new in point of that clip. Be sure to give yourself adequate overlap so you don't lose any frames.
Does that make sense?

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Which format of HD? There are many...
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you'll also need big fast hard drives in an array.
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Unable to locate timecode in batch capture

Hi there, I have been working on this problem for a while and would really appreciate some help.
I have a documentary project I have been working on for some time and have completed the EDL. I am now trying to batch capture the footage again in full res and am having problems with a couple of the tapes.
First the specs:
The video was shot on a Sony HDR-HC1 in HDV(1080) mode.
I am using this camera to capture the footage.
I am trying to recapture the footage in a sequence with the easy setting on HDV1080i50.
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If anyone knows a workaround for this that will help me avoid having to edit the footage all over again I will be extremely grateful.
Thanks
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HI I have the same problem, the capture window says: Waiting for time code, the device must set in vcr mode and then This operation could not be complete as there is no video, the F!#!%$$ problem is very illogical ,at this mooring I do batch capture without a problem but since the second tape this problem starting, I update to FCP 6.0.4 and,. @@#%#@%#$ the first tape capture but the second not capture and the problem starting againd, note that IMOVIE capture the tape and work very well, iI replace fire wire, camera VCR and , I trayu with Canon, Sony, JVC and the problem persist , I have quicktime 7.4.5, FCO 6.0.4, note that I have two Macs with the same problem in both macs IMOVIE work like a PRO edition Software but FCP is very bad, I have with this problem a long time, I formated Mac, reinstall FCS2 many timers and the problem persist. IS not a problem whit easy setup or wherever , I download the FireWire SDK from Apple and test all connection with the applications of sdk and in all case , the camera and the fire wire are OK, the problem is with quicktime and FCP, If any one is working OK with FCP and DV NTSC devices and JVC PRO HD devices, please tell us HOW DO. I'm working with FCP since 2000 and in this month FCP makes me very UNHAPPY.

Batch capture logged clips makes subclips that are invisible in sequence

Any ideas?
I log a series of clips (the icon is the square master clip icon). They are offline until I batch capture. However, once I batch capture, they become subclips(jaggy-edge subclip icon). They can play in the viewer and they are viewable in Quicktime. However, once I put them in the sequence, they are only black, even after rendering. HOWEVER, if I do a capture now off of the SAME tape w/ the SAME settings it will play just fine (after render) in the SAME sequence.
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Okay, finally able to do a couple of tests. I started a new project w/ settings for capturing good ol' NTSC DV, logged some footage and then batch captured (ntsc footage) -- no problem at all. The clips were clips, not subclips. Then I went into a project for DVCPro HD 720 30p, and pulled some clips from my original low res project into the HD project. Made those offline, then batch captured those at the full HD resolution. Not a problem there either. Then I went back into the original low res project, made a clip offline, recaptured it at full HD res, no problem. Soo.... I think there is some connection between what I've been capturing at my "low res HD" setting and the problem of turning the logged clips into subclips upon capture.
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Also, how can you mark somthing "helpful' if it has already been marked "solved"...it is not undoable, correct?
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Recommendation for HDV vtr or camcorder for batch capture

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So I just take the clip offline and recapture. This usually works. Sometimes I will manually cue the deck up to about one minute before the "in" point, and this helps the deck/Premiere find the correct timecode.
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(But note this is for CS3, although I assume this part is the same with CS4.)

Where does my footage go if i abort a batch capture???

does anyone know where to find this hidden captured footage.?

If you've actually captured any footage, it will be in your Capture Scratch folder:
Final Cut Pro > System Settings > Scratch Disks (will tell you where the media files are).
Andy
G5 Quad. 8 GB. 250 & 500 GB Int'l Drives. G-Tech G-Raid 1 TB. FCP 5.0.4 (Studio) Mac OS X (10.4.6) Sony HVR-Z1E . . . I mark my questions Solved or Helpful - and I LOVE FCP.

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So far so good.... that is with all the Panasonic HMC footage.... BUT we recently started shooting on the Canon 5D2 and 7D as well and this simply isn't working.
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Both MacPro and iMac are running identical versions of FCP and identical (latest) versions of the Canon L&T plug in ..... and YES we copied the entire CF card to a folder - just like we do with the Panasonic HMC stuff.

Hi Andy, compressor is current chugging away, so we'll get going for the edit I am sure. Only 600 more clips to go
I've tried everything I can think of in terms of recapturing. Even on the original Mac Pro that the footage came in to, if I copy the entire project folder (including the 'cards' folder) from one RAID to another it fails to recapture in the original project using the original codec (ProRes 422), but if I point it back to the original cards folder it works fine. It seems to be 'moving/copying' the cards that is causing the problems.
I've checked the dates and sizes on the copied files and they are all the same, and since recapturing to the original project at the original settings doesn't work once moved I am completely stumped....!

Batch capture problem

I'm trying to batch capture my clips, so i logged them all but when i select them all and choose batch capture an error comes up after a while and says "end of tape reached". The only footage i have on my tape goes from the beginning of the tape to about three minutes in. Can someone please help me here.
thanks,
Paul

Don't know if you are still looking for a solution to this but...
You most likely set your in point very near the first code on the tape. FCP needs to roll back a few seconds, before the in point, in order to ensure the deck gets up to speed before the capture begins. If it rolls back and can find not code before your in point, things get confused and FCP will not do the capture. This is also why, when shooting, you should always roll at least 5 seconds before the action starts.
Try moving the in point forward at least seconds.

Batch Capture Changes Media Start, End, and Duration

Hello all... For some reason, when I batch capture from an imported batch list in FCP 4.5, the program changes the media start, end, and duration just slightly once the capture has completed. Does anyone know why this might be occurring?

OK... I don't believe it has to do with drop frame or non-drop frame issues, and here's why... I ran a series of tests.
The footage was originally shot with two cameras, an A Cam and a B Cam, which were Jam Synced together. The original A Cam tapes were log and captured normally. But for the B Cam tapes, we exported a batch list to excel, performed a rename function where _B was added to all file names and reel names, and brought the data back into FCP by importing a Batch List at 29.97.
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LOGGED: MS (05:50:39:26) ME (05:51:41:01)
CAPTURED A CAM: MS (05:50:39:17) ME (05:51:41:07)
Then, I undid the capture so that the timecode would revert back to the precaptured state. I placed the B Cam tape in the deck and ran the capture again, on the same clip, in Batch Capture mode. The program changes the media start and end yet again, but this time, changed it in a different way:
LOGGED: MS (05:50:39:26) ME (05:51:41:01)
CAPTURED B CAM 1st Attempt: MS (05:50:39:16) ME (05:51:41:06)
So then I undid the capture again to revert back to the logged settings, and put the EXACT same tape in the deck, and ran the batch capture in exactly the same way. This time however, FCP didn't change anything. It logged the clip correctly. I tried it yet again, in the same way, and it did it perfectly again:
LOGGED: MS (05:50:39:26) ME (05:51:41:01)
CAPTURED B CAM 2nd Attempt: MS (05:50:39:26) ME (05:51:41:01)
CAPTURED B CAM 3rd Attempt: MS (05:50:39:26) ME (05:51:41:01)
So I ask again... what is up with FCP 4.5?

Batch capturing entire tape...recomended???

Is it a good idea to attempt to batch capture a tape in its entirety? I am having problems doing this...I do a lot of events that last often over 2 hours. Instead of capturing footage in clips, I just capture the entire tape. When I'm done with the project, I simply make the clips offline.
I'm in the process of reviving a project now, and one tape in it's entirety(55 min approx), captured OK, but I am having problems with another tape. I am getting a broken timecode error, when I don't see how this is possible...because I let the tape freely run. Also, under the logging info, the media ends before the tape ends, which means that is space left on the end of the tape without any timecode. Yet when I batch capture, it still goes to the end of the tape.....isn't a batch capture suppose to go by the clips media in and media out points?
All help is greatly appreciated.

I do this often. There are two shools of thought on this method -
Capturing entire tapes allows one to scroll through non-linearly and make subclips. The advantage to subclips is that they are serachable and you can add comments. The downside to this method is that the files are large, and you may be capturing much more metarila than you need. I often do this when working on docs with very high shooting ratios. The most recent one had 190 tapes for a 1-hour program, which led us to use offline RT for our cutting format and then recapture for online.
Logging and capturing single clips fives you the advantage of starting out capturing only what you know you might use, you can input the logging info at the start, and will have several small clips that may be easier to manage. Since at some point you'll have to familiarize youself with the matreial anyway, you might as well do it at the logging stage.
Several factors can contribute to perceived TC breaks - reusing tapes, camera stops, shooting format (HDV, for instance, will show a TC break each time the camera stops). If you are capturing whole tapes, you might do well to let FCP create new clips on TC breaks and just let it roll. Make sure the TC format matches between your tape and settings (DF vs. NDF)
Regarding rolling off the end of the tape during capture, you might be very close to the end with the clip you are capturing. You might try lowering the post-roll value in the device control preset in your A/V settings.
Hope this helps -
Max Average

Batch Capturing in HD

Hello,
Digitizing HD footage has given me some real problems. I've used the "Log and Capture" feature and it worked to an extent, though because you're unable to name the "reel" for the this footage you are left in the lurch if the media becomes disconnected. I've been trying to log clips and batch capture the old fashioned way, but it still creates new clips within my "In" and "Out" cues. This is would be acceptable, except about 7 seconds are cut off at the start of each clip. If anyone knows a way to disable the creating new clips function, that would be EXTREMELY helpful.
I've tried adjusting the setting in the user preferences and it's done me no good. Even after i changed "Make new Clips" to "Warn afterwards." That preference only causes the batch capture to crash. Again, if anyone can help that would be huge.
Thanks again.
Brendan

The HDV capture setting has a start/stop detect. (It makes a new clip each time you started and stopped the camera.) Not sure why you lose seven seconds at the beginning of each clip, I thought that only happened when timecode breaks and dropped frames were detected. But anyway, rule of thumb when you can, always start the camera rolling BEFORE you need it to. Get at least 10sec at the beginning of each clip and roll out for at least 10sec when you are done. Ample handles to cover just such an issue.
Of course this doesn't help your current project, so let me go get an A1U and see what is going on. I'll try to post back soon, but someone may just beat me to it.

Won't do a batch capture?

I have been capturing footage all day and all of a sudden have come across an odd problem. I have just logged about 14 clips. They all have "media start" and "media end" times in the browser. The timecode is fine on the dv tape itself. (there are no jumps or weird things happening)
It will let me capture by selecting just ONE clip and going to:
-Batch-
-Selected Items in Logging Bin-
But it keeps giving me an error message when I try to do a batch capture of all 14 clips. It says that I may not have enough pre/post roll footage for the capture, but I do. And if I didn't it shouldn't be allowing me to capture clips one at time using the "batch" setting.
Not really sure why this is happening? If anyone has any ideas I would be really grateful! Thanks guys.
-Chelsea

Normally it can restore from the latest backup . . . if it was a successful one.
Why are you doing this? Is your Mac running? Can you get to +Enter Time Machine?+
If so, note the date and time of the latest backup.
How are you doing the restore? Booting from your Leopard Install disc, selecting Utilities then +Restore from Backup?+ Note that the list of backups there may not be shown in your local time zone -- they're in Pacific time. Does this match what you saw via +Enter Time Machine+ (adjusted for any time zone difference)?
If you're doing something else, what?

Timecode error in batch capture

I've searched this problem but still haven't found an answer. When I batch capture, I get a "Timecode error" and on about half the clips I logged I have to cancel out of the capture. some work,some don't. It's not a problem with the pre-roll at the beginning of the tape; I left plenty of room when I set the in/out, and the first clip is now captured anyway so it can't be the start of the tape. But every time I try to capture the rest of the clips, I get this error with some if not most of them. I've changed the setting to NDF and it doesn't seem to make a difference. I'm only capturing in the middle of the tape now, so the beginning and end have lots of space. Please someone tell me how to stop this! I just upgraded to Pro and it's my first attempt at batch capture, so I'm pretty disappointed that it's such a waste of time.
Thanks, smart people!

Great, now you made Studio go and have some fun on the weekend.
X is right eliminate things one at a time.
You didn't let us know what drive you are capturing to.
If capturing from the camera doesn't work, it may be that you are experiencing the "multiple FW devices on one FW bus issue" in which case you might try looping the camera or deck through the drive, works for some, but more likely you will need to install another FW bus via the card slot on the laptop.
By the way, this really doesn't sound like a drop/non drop issue, but look at the timecode display of the footage on tape. If the last 2 numbers are preceded by a semicolon,,, it's drop frame.
Now, I believe someone mentioned the US Open!
rh

Please help, trying to Batch Capture in CS4

I am very new at this and I have been looking at the help guide for hours to no avail. I am trying to batch capture from a Mini DV camcorder, I logged all of the clips and batch captured them, but once it is finished all of the files say Media Offline in both preview screens and the status when I scroll over is Capture Failed, even though it says it is finished. I don't know what else to do. Am I doing something wrong?

Ok, sorry for being so unhelpful I just don't know where to start...
How/where did you log your footage?
What do you mean log? Just shooting it?
What are your capture settings (post a screenshot, if you like)?
Posted screenshot
Are you able to connect to the camera from the Capture panel?
Yes
Can you control it?
Yes.
Do you see a preview as you shuttle?
I can see it sometimes, then sometimes it will not show. It always looks like it does in the shot with the lines through it. If it disappears I have to turn the camera off and back on to see it
Did you use the same camera to shoot this footage?
Yes
Will the tape playback in the camera itself?
Yes
Are you positive the footage on the tape isn't HDV?
I am using regular DV tapes on a regular DV camera, so I’m pretty sure it isn’t...

Batch Capture - Ingesting Footage of a Public Hearing

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