Capturing footage from a camcorder memory card into FCP 7

I teach high school video technology. We are using FCP 7 and are awaiting the upgrade to 10.
In the past, we connected canon camcorders to the macs using a firewire and utilized the log and capture option under the file menu to put footage from miniDV tapes onto the computer to edit.
We just purchased canon FS400 cameras that use a memory card to store video instead. We have 18 computers and only ONE allows us to use the log and transfer option under the FCP 7 file menu to import footage from the memory card to the computer so the kids can edit what they shot. We have connected the camera to the computer using the USB cord that came with the cameras. However, there's only a message that comes on the camera LCD that says not to disconnect the USB cable or the power source until you safely end the connection from the computer.
When we launch FCP and select the log and transfer option from the file menu, nothing happens. on the one computer that DOES work, log and transfer allows the footage on the memory card to pop up after a little while and we drag it where we need it to go and it uploads to the computer.
I'm thinking it has to do with the computer settings. I tried the software updates on one computer and nothing changed. Still unable to import/capture. Please help as the district tech support can't get to us anytime soon and my students have planned and shot 2 different productions they can't even edit yet. I don't want to keep planning and shooting if they can never edit. Thanks so much for ANY reply.

h s video tech teacher wrote:
i'm not sure what you mean when you say "make sure you see the cards mounted on your computer."
You know when you insert a CD or external firewire drive, it appears on the desktop and in the browser windows? That's what should happen with your camera media. You may have to set the camera differently, try a different cable, etc., until you can see the media.
Wait until the computer recognizes the media, then launch Final Cut.

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I can Import the footage as an NTSC 720x480 signal.
One consistent answer is to make sure that in camcorders menu settings that the IN/OUT REC - iLINK SET is set to off.
No Luck, no communication with FCP in that mode.
That being said when cameras ilink is on I can import 740/480 NTSC video, not HDV.
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The video was shot in 1080i 30p onmini DV. With my Sony HVR Z7U Ican only import the video into FCP as a NTSC 720x480 signal. It looks great butnot in HDV?
I believe I have tried most every setting in my FCP audio video settings to import the HD footage into FCP. FCPseems to only recognize the camcorder in the NTSC mode.
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Device Control     - HDV FireWire Basic
Video Playback   - Only gives none or NTSC choices(I chose Apple FireWire)
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With the iLink on - I get the same window alert. Unless I capture in NTSC
For me FCP will only log and capture the footage when the Capture and Device Control Presets are set to a NTSC format and the camcorder ilink is on. Hence an NTSC 720x480 signal is imported. Not HDV?
Come on, I know this a common problem and I must be missing something very simple. Please Help! Many thanks.
Gary Boland
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Mac G5
Someone mentioned using log and transfer. I use this with all my Compact Flash HD videos. I have found no info for importing HDV from mini DV in log and transfer with a (my) camcorder.

Gary, this is the Final Cut Pro X forum. You might try the other forum for FCP. Still, I have the Z5U Sony which is nearly identical to your camera except for the zoom as I recall. I think we have the same menu system. I see to recall there is a menu option that sets the output file format. Also you can set it to record in SD as well as I recall. I read my files in from tape to FCP X easily ... in high def. Best wishes.
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http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en
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I'm a bit new to Final Cut Express but ran across the following problem:
When I try to capture footage from my Canon XH A1 HD video camera, FCE does not recognize that there's any connection or that the camera is plugged into my MacBook Pro via the firewire cable. When I plug in my Sony VX2100 it does recognize this camera and I'm able to capture footage when I use that camera, but no luck with the Canon.
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Capturing footage from a camcorder memory card into FCP 7

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