Nice discussion on Capture Now (for the Pro's?)

Question

Hi All,
I want to talk about Capture Now.
Let me first state that I'm a believer in Batch Capture after doing Logging clips.
But,
I many shows I'm working on will not be captured by me, but by the directors, assistant directors or researchers/editors (not video editors) and camjo's.
Shooting on DVCam there are timecodebreaks in the tapes.
So I write them comments about how to handle the camera to prevent Timecode breaks.
I write them reports about how to do easy setup, System Settings, Proper User Preferences, etc. And I'd like them to Log before capturing. Let tape roll at leat 5 seconds before pressing Capture Now. All reasonable.
Given the available time they capture whole tapes and sometimes provide me with spotlists.
Let's NOT discuss all the above. It's obvious I know how it should be.
Well now I want to have the discussion with you about the difference between Capture Now and Batch Capture concerning tapes with Timecode breaks:
If there are Timecode breaks in a tape and you give an Inpoint at the beginning of the tape. Outpoint at the end. In User Preferences set on Timecode break 'Make New Clip'.
Then, FCP will encounter Timecode breaks. Stops and starts to capture a new clip.
Now my questions are:
1• Do these captures differ from clips captured with Capture Now? (concerning sync, timecode accuracy, etc.)
2• Is FCP able to recapture those clips in case of data loss? I mean. After a TC break FCP starts to recapture using the preroll time, right? Is that the case in both 'Capture Now' and 'Log and Capture'? Is this preroll enough to do a recapture? Or should one set a longer preroll during the capturing in order to recapture with a normal preroll-time in the case of disk-damage?
I'm asking all this because I'm doubting about the advantage of Log and Capture over Capture Now when it comes to tapes with Timecode breaks.
Any insight would be appreciated
Best Regards
Rienk

Answer 1

1• Do these captures differ from clips captured with Capture Now? (concerning sync, timecode accuracy, etc.)
Nope. As long as you give your footage a reel name, and you have deck control to get timecode, you will be fine and accurate.
2• Is FCP able to recapture those clips in case of data loss?
Sure. Just as long as you give yourself enough PREROLL, or that you don't use footage that is 5 seconds from the start of the clip.
After a TC break FCP starts to recapture using the preroll time, right? Is that the case in both 'Capture Now' and 'Log and Capture'?
Yes...with CAPTURE NOW it will give itself the needed PreRoll if it just continues the capture. LOG AND CAPTURE, you assign the in point so you assign the pre-roll.
Is this preroll enough to do a recapture? Or should one set a longer preroll during the capturing in order to recapture with a normal preroll-time in the case of disk-damage?
If you can, manually set the preroll. But if you do a capture now, stop on TC breaks and then continue, it adds enough.
I do this a lot. Name the initial clip name to be the same as the tape, then capture, and sometimes I get one long clip, sometimes I get it broken up. Then I watch the footage, rename it if needed, or just add descriptions in the OTHER fields, and then edit. CAPTURE NOW is fine when you have TIME OF DAY code...perfect for it. You just need to make sure you have a REEL number, and enough PREROLL.
Shane