Can an old PowerBook G4 import HDV Footage?

I have a PowerBook G4 1.5 Ghz, running Leopard.
I want to install Final Cut Express 4, in order to import HDV video.
Do you think I can do this with my old computer, or do I need a new and faster one?
I looked at the "system requirements", they say the software needs at least a G4 processor running at 1.25 Ghz, then it should be all right. But they don't say anything about HDV and G4 processors.
I'm asking because I want to be sure, don't want to buy the program and then find out I can't use it...
Thank you

Hi(Bonjour)!
I do HDV on an iMac G4 1 gig of RAM, but the capturing process is longer than with my G5. The rendering time for HDV is longer than regular DV and on a G4 is very long, but can be completed. 1 gig of RAM is short for HDV as 2 gig is recommended.
A dedicated, 7200 rpm, hard drive is recommended to do HDV and maintain a high rate transfert speed. I suspect that the internal one in your book cannot keep the pace. Think about an external.
Michel Boissonneault

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Debug Event when importing HDV footage

In short:
When I try to import HDV footage into a project (.mpeg format),
I receive the following message:
Premiere Pro Debug Event
premiere pro has encountered an error.
[..\..\src\time.cpp-105]
Subsequently premiere fails to import the files...
I first noticed this problem last week, so I thought it might
be related to a product update. But even when uninstalling Premiere
Pro and re-installing it (thus being version 3.0) the problem
still exists. Updating to 3.2 doesn't solve the issue either.
Does anyone recognize this issue?
regards,
Reinout van Schie

Perhaps
this?
Cheers
Eddie
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How can I set FCPX to import my footage as Pro Res 422?

I am having difficulty getting nice clean chroma keys due to the fact that all my footage is being imported with the H.264 codecs. I have the project properties to render as Pro Res 422, but that as I understand it, will only change my footage for the final output.
I tried to find a place in the Properties->Import to see if I can tell FCPX 10.0.8 to import the footage at a higher quality so that the keyeing effect creates better masks. Where can I set FCPX to import my footage as ProRes 422?
I would greatly appreciate anyone's input as I have been trying to figure it out and am at a complete loss at this point.
Thank you so much in advance for your help!
~Heather
PS:
Here is where it says my footage is H.264 - where can I change this?

I do always check the optimize media box, but still have a hard time smoothing out jagged edges on greenscreen footage. I assumed it was because the keyer was being applied to H.264 footage instead of ProRes 422 footage.
Which codecs is the effect being applied to if I drag it onto the clip in my timeline? I am doing playback with optimized media if that makes a difference. It is quite possible I confused myself.
Thanks for your help, Tom!

Importing HDV Footage: System Hang After Indexing Finished

Running Premiere CS6 with updates.
Generally solid application, but the first time I crashed it this year, was during import of HDV footage. After the footage indexes, and the thumbnail pic changes from 'media pending' to the actual footage frame, the mouse pointer freezes. The keyboard is frozen too. Can't even bring up the Task Manager in Windows 7 64. Is HDV even supported anymore? Maybe it's an invalid format? The file plays fine in VLC, so I don't think it's corrupted. But egads, I've never seen an app hang Windows 7 before!

I've confirmed that the hang does not happen with Canon HV20 footage, only Sony HVR-V1U footage. Any footage shot by that camera will hang not only Premiere, but the entire OS. I have to power down the machine to regain control.
What's so different about Sony's implementation of HDV that it is incompatible with Premiere?

Importing HDV footage - seems you don't want to use Premiere (?)

Hi everyone, and good morning.
Well, after many great posts, and lots of help here, I think I realize something....
If you own a camcorder that does HDV footage ( like my Canon H20 ), you must use something other than Premiere to import your original footage from the camcorder, if you wish to do any type of editing in Premiere later on.
If I understand what you have all told me that is.
For clarfication, last week, I imported my first HDV tape using Premiere, and the resulting file was a very high quality .mpeg file, however, it was not editable in Premiere at all. The audio and video were totally out of sync.
So, I then re-captured the original video from the camera into Pinnacle Studio 11, and this resulted in 2 files, a video and audio file. ( .wav and a .m2v file ). These files import into Premiere very well, and the audio and video is perfectly in sync from beginning to end.
With all this said, is there any point at all in keeping the original .mpeg file that I originally captured from the camcorder into Premiere ???
At this point, I don't see any advantage to this, but thought I would ask. I've read numerous posts that .mpeg is just not great for editing, etc,etc, so perhaps I should just delete this file, and keep going the route I'm now using ( capturing the original camcorder footage with Pinnacle Studio 11 ) (?? )
I also wonder, if one only owns Premiere, then what on earth do you do, if you have an HDV camcorder ? ( perhaps all of you that own one of these camcorders, capture the video footage from the camcorder, in a program other than Premiere ? )
Thanks for any info you may wish to give,
Dave.

I am not so sure the problem is always restricted to CS3 captured footage. I convert from AVCHD to HDV (usually using Elecard, or Procoder etc) and find that if I stitch the output into a longish single HDV file then although that hdv file plays ok in a player, and is in sync - it loses sync when imported into PP CS3 - but is OK in other NLEs (well Vegas) Seems to me that CS3 cannot hold sync if (some) hdv clips are simply longish. Bad bug!- although seems it's being worked on according to similar threads

Can an old Powerbook G4 titanium run OS 10.4

I have got two questions:
- Can I install Mac OS 10.4 on my old Powerbook G4 titanium and upgrade to OS 10.4.9 or OS 10.4.11 for free?
- If my old powerbook can run OS 10.4.9 or 10.4.11 will I still be able to boot in OS 9 since I have a few programs that I use regularily?
Best regards
Thomas

The upgrade to Tiger 10.4 is not free. You have to buy the Tiger installer. Tiger install DVDs are in short supply. Tiger is no longer available at the Apple Store but is still available for $129 by calling Apple Phone Sales @ 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753). For other sources, do a Google search for MA453Z/A and M9639Z/A . Also look on eBay. Be sure & buy a retail version (black with silver X) and not a model specific version (gray).
Also check this web store http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/rpcart/index.cgi?command=dispitem&type= sku&sku=19521
Possible alternative - OS X Tiger 10.4 Upgrade DVD $74.95
http://www.yourmacstore.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=376&bc=no
 Cheers, Tom

Importing HDV footage created in Episode Pro

Episode Pro (latest update) creates HDV files that i can't import in Fina Cut 6 (latest update).
It happenend since updated Itunes to version 10. It seems to have stopped working at this moment
now when importing footage in FCP i get File error: unknown file type. It did not happen before
Any idea?

Open it in Quicktime and hit command-I and the codec and all other vital stats will be given in that window.
Likely the FCP file used a ProRes codec, and those will not open in FCE. FCE uses only the Apple Intermediate Codec for HDV material.

New Warning Signal w/ importing HDV footage

macbook pro
FCP 6
Sony HDR
I am importing footage from a HDV source into FCP, something I've done numerous times. When I go to do a batch capture, it only imports one or two clips, and then I get a message saying that the capture is being aborted, and that I need to check to see if the receiver is playing and that the data has stopped importing. After I hit continue, it starts to import again no problem. The footage isn't negatively affected (as far as I can tell). This is more annoying than anything, and I have never had this problem before.
I have used 2 different cameras, but the problem still persists. I don't understand this. If there were a problem, I wouldn't be able to capture anything.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
John

Hi Shane, thanks for pointing out this article and helping me get the semantics correctly. I have the HV10 and have no difficulty using the HDV, 29.97, HDV - 1080i60 FireWire Basic to digitize, as mentioned in the article. Also, it is a tricky bunch of cameras and it took a while to get all the settings OUT on the camera as well as in FCP and be able to digitize.
Jared, I will check after the holiday to see what other settings I may have had to use...do check your camera to see if you shot 24fps, though that would not cause this issue, it sounds like camera and fcp settings are the problem.

FCP7 - Computer shut down after 5 minutes of importing HDV footage

Hello,
I've searched around forums for a couple hours now looking for people with similar problems as mine.
I've taken about 10 minutes of 1080i, 24p, footage on my Canon HV40 camera. I'm capturing the footage in HDV-Apple ProRes 422 1080p24 using my own main harddrive (with the OS installed on it) as my scratch disk. After about 5 minutes of capturing, my computer just shuts off. No error, no pin wheel spinning.. just complete shut down. I turn it back on, try it again, same thing... right around 5 minutes it crashes again.
I've tried deleting Perian out of my quicktime library folder, using software update, deleting quicktime and reinstalling the newest version... I'm about to test it again after having trashed my Final Cut Pro settings. I've read that having my scratch disk be the same as my OS main disk could be the problem... which is really unfortunate because I have a lot of room on my main disk set aside for this and I didn't really want to have to buy an external hard drive.
Anyway... long post, but I'm just trying to describe the whole situation here. See my specs in my profile please. Can anyone help me?
Thank you!

God I hate to see someone throwing money at a project without a definante answer, but I would venture to say your processor and ram are really somewhat of the problem. You will find in other threads here, people with better processors and more than twice the RAM you have are still having problems when dealing with HDV. Sure HDV is made affordable to film, but it would seem that you still need good hardware to back that camera if you are looking to edit.
Also, for future reference, I have read by tons of indie filmakers that while its ok to have 1 TB drivers, it is somewhat better to run 2 500 GB drives so you can backup your work in a couple of different places. I don't know if you are using tape or hard drive/memory cards but if you are moving towards a NLE workflow (tapeless) more hardrives are better than large hard drives for storage safety.
I know for positive, many editors and film makers are begging for a software for logging and capturing that improves naming of files, and also automatically backs up the footage in two different places so the cards or hard drive for the camera can be formatted and reused.

Issues importing HDV footage

I have a canon HV20 and it seems like FCP6 has been super picky on HDV imports.
The footage I am trying to import was on new tapes and there were no stops in the tape.
Everytime I go to import them there is always a part or two that gets splitup and drops a few seconds.
So to fix this I have to go back and try in reimport the lost area. I am using Firewire basic and standard HDV import settings. This is getting very frustrating I never had so many issues with importing.
Thanks in advance!

I've confirmed that the hang does not happen with Canon HV20 footage, only Sony HVR-V1U footage. Any footage shot by that camera will hang not only Premiere, but the entire OS. I have to power down the machine to regain control.
What's so different about Sony's implementation of HDV that it is incompatible with Premiere?

HDR-HC1 - import as DV from HDV footage

The HDR-HC1 is able to export HDV footage as DV through in-camera conversion. However, when I try to import as DV into iMovie I get no image.
Can anyone else get the HDR-HC1 and iMovie to import HDV footage as DV??? If so can they please post the magic setting you need to use in the camera and the sequence of steps to setup a new iMovie project so that it can accept the DV stream?

It's slightly tricky to solve, but with a bit of logical thought it can be done (..I've just tested it for you ..but I'm sure you would have found the answer with some persistence..)
Firstly, of course, set the camcorder (..in the 'Standard Set' menu..) to "i.Link Conv - ON (HDV>DV)" ..so that it converts HDV to DV as the video finds its way out down the FireWire cable.
Then create a New Project in iMovie 5.0.2 (..that's what I'm using for this test..) as 'DV Widescreen' ..because that's the 16:9 shape of the original HDV.
When you connect your camcorder, iMovie will show that it's incompatible with the project! ..Why? ..Because the camcorder's own screen is showing "HDV1080i" in the top-left corner, because that's the original tape format which it's playing. (Make sure, by the way, that the 'Standard Set' menu is also set to "Auto" in "VCR HDV/DV", so that the camcorder isn't forced into HDV playback, but just plays whatever format is on the tape.) Make sure that the camera is NOT connected to iMovie - yet!
Now scroll down the camera's menu to "TV TYPE" and choose "4:3". [..I found that if I was set to the - obvious - 16:9 (i.e; widescreen) the next step gave a squeezed playback in iMovie..]
Start playing your movie on the camcorder, and - while it's playing - with iMovie onscreen, plug in your FireWire cable. Wait. The project should be fooled into thinking there's simply a camera - e.g; an iSight - connected, and will display your video onscreen, and instead of an 'Import' button onscreen, it should show a button marked 'Capture from camera' or similar wording. Click that button, and it'll import.
Don't be dismayed if the footage appears to be squashed in the 'thumbnail' picture in the right-hand clips pane of iMovie. When necessary, click on the 'Capture' button again to stop importing, stop the tape by touching the HC1's screen, and wind forwards or backwards to the next clip you want to capture, then touch 'Play' on the HC1 screen, and click 'Capture' again on the iMovie screen.
The second or third thumbnail clip should display in proper widescreen shape in the right-hand clips pane. Don't stop till you've finished all* your capturing/importing, though you may click Apple+S to Save your project from time to time.
When you Save, or finally Quit after importing all the footage you want, and you then then restart iMovie, any squeezed thumbnails should expand to be their proper shape in the clips pane. You can then play and edit clips as normal ..though they may at first 'overflow' the normal iMovie playback window, and temporarily obscure the Timeline counter.
I mentioned, above*, to keep going till you've captured all your clips, as you probably won't find it possible to import more clips this way once you've Quit from that project ..because once iMovie has labelled the project as "iSight" (..because you've fooled it!..) it will say that you're using an incompatible camera when it next detects your HC1 camcorder.
So you have to fool it, and then - during that period of importing - import all the footage you want.
That's what's just worked for me, anyway.
In summary; there's a bug: even though you set the camcorder to convert the HDV footage to DV, nevertheless, iMovie 5 seems to read the original format of the tape (..what appears on your HC1's playback screen..) and thus believes that what you're sending it is not DV but is HDV. I don't know if the bug is in iMovie (..a possible failure to read the format that's coming down the FireWire cable..) or is Sony's fault (..possible failure to deliver the correct info from the camcorder). So don't necessarily blame Apple without knowing the reason for this camera-to-program communication error.
You may try sending a bug report to Apple - via iMovie Feedback - but Apple's already on iMovie HD version 6, so little may be done to adjust iMovie HD 5 now.
iMovie HD 6.0.1 has a very similar bug (..not absolutely identical, as it may display 'HD' just below the Timeline - having detected it - but may accept that the camera is set to 'DV'..) and so a bug report to Apple, just describing your versions as plain "iMovie HD", may produce an improved version 6.0.2, but I've no idea if they'll update version 5 to remove this apparent inability of iMovie to recognise that the camcorder has been set to deliver DV from the original HDV footage.
So experiment at 'fooling' iMovie HD 5. I managed to do it ..but "your mileage may vary"..

I need more help importing Z1 HDV footage

I'm trying to import HDV footage that was filed on a Z1
I tried to log and capture the footage from a tape reader with the HDV 1080i50 Easy Setup preset, but the screen was blank. I could see the footage on the tape reader screen but not in Final Cut.
I tried using different fire wires and different MACS but still no joy. As a final resort I tried a different MAC without changing the Easy Setup and leaving the project on the DV Pal preset, and it worked.
Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong? If I captured the project using the DV Pal preset, wouldn't the footage be overly-compressed? Or Am I thinking about this all wrong? The footage is definitely HDV!
And while I'm here does anyone know of any material that I could 'study' to help me understand the setups/compressions etc. I find it really confusing!
Thanks again
Ian

Most likely the camera is set to downconvert to PAL and iLink is switched on.

IMovie 09 versus FCE 4 for editing Canon 25f HDV footage

I have two Canon HDV cams. I film 25f (I'm in PAL land). I have used iMovie 06 with no problems for DV editing via this old PowerBook, but for HDV I need more guts so am about to buy an iMac.
I have just purchased Steve Mullen's excellent "The Ins And Outs Of iMovie 09" and note with disquiet his comments to the effect that later versions of iMovie 09, and a new iMac comes with version 8.0.3., will treat Canon 25f (and 24f) as if it were interlaced footage. As a consequence those who require the best possible edit, say to produce a BD, will have to avoid all but the most rudimentary special effects.
I gather that this is in part (or wholly) down to Apple's presumption that those using iMovie 09 aren't bothered about " quality hard copy portable media" and simply wish to flit home movies around the internet or watch them on their " Macs".
Given that this negates the visual quality provided by HD in its various guises, does FCE 4 avoid these limitaions of iMovie 09?
Ron

Thanks but not an answer to my question!
I appreciate that picture quality is determined by the camera, the lens, whether DV/HDV/FullHD/Progressive/Interlaced etc and not least by the cameraman/woman's skills.
In addition, unless I've got something very wrong, the NLE system will, to a variable extent, via compression/expansion of the original source material during the editing process, degrade the final edited images so that they will never be exactly the same as those input to tape, smart card, hard disc whatever at the filming stage.
I would like to know whether such "image degradation" is the same whether one uses iMovie 09 or FCE.
(I think I am right in saying that FCP provides the least "image degradation" of all the Apple NLE systems.)
Ron
ps there is nothing particularly complicated in filming birds. Long lenses are a must, as is a good tripod (my recently purchased Geman video head costs as much as FCP) and good knowledge of the subject matter i.e. birds and how they are likely to behave. Problems include camera movement, wind is a nightmare, over/under exposure, and focussing difficulties.Everything bar white balance is manual on my XLH1. Birds as well have a habit of not keeping still.
Editing for me ought to be straightforward. No fancy FX but a need for good dissolves cutaways and the like. A high proportion of my clips are about 10 secs. in duration.

Importing HDV Material in Final Cut Pro 4.5

I'm using Final Cut Pro HD (4.5), quite an old version,
and I want to import HDV footage, shot with a "SONY HDR-HC7E" camera.
Is it possible?
Are there any settings to use?
In the "easy settings" section, I see there is DVCPRO HD, but I guess it's not the same thing.... or is it?
I'm not an expert.
Thank you for your attention

FCP 4.5 does NOT support HDV as HDV was released quite a while after 4.5. You'll need FCP 5.0 or higher to work with HDV. DVCPro HD is not the same as HDV at all.
-DH

Can't import HDV 720p from my Sony HDR HC1 camcorder to my FCP 5.0.1 help

I have footage that was shot on a contractors JVC HDV camera at 720p. I play it in my Sony HDR HC1 and i can view it and it plays awesome. It even recognizes its 720p. But i try to import it into Final Cut Pro on my IMac G5 or powerbook G4 17inch and it can play the camera but not capture footage. I have FCP version 5.0.1 How can i get this video into my editing software ive tried it on imovie as well and cant import video but i can control the camera. Please help.
Do i need to buy the updated FCP i noticed doing some research there is a FCP 5.1 now that i heard nothing about?
Thanks for the help in advance.
powerbook g4 17inch, powerbook G4 12inch, imac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Get a hold of the JVC camera the footage was shot with. When FCP 5.1.2 is released (this month), you'll actually be able to capture the footage directly... problem is that the JVC recording is short GOP, and FCP currently only supports LONG GOP... You will need to upgrade to capture the footage directly, or buy this: http://www.lumierehd.com But in any event, you'll need the JVC camera to capture it's recordings, now or in the future.
JVC's iteration of HDV isn't the same as Sony's... that's the problem. PLUS FCP doesn't support any recordings of the JVC format except 1080i60 as of now. 5.1.2 will change that I believe. IBC was where this new update was announced I think, and you'll need to "cross grade" your FCP 5.0.x version to FCP 5.1. to get this update down the line... Yeah, I don't like the situation either, but there it is... Canon's HDV and JVC's HDV are very similar FWIW...
Jerry

Can an old PowerBook G4 import HDV Footage?

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