Shooting hi-def

Hello everyone. I was wondering if I wanted to shoot hi-def on my Sony FX-1 but down convert (I think that's the right way to describe it) to standard def for final output. How can I accomplish that? Are there any threads on here about that or references I can refer to? Thanks
Erv

Plenty
But here is the short version
Read the FX-1 manual first and get familiar with your camera. Understand you have to control the
i-link/firewire port (IN & OUT) to properly down convert or not.
Open the menu and find In/Out Rec, then scroll to i-link Conv, then set On for DV or Off for HDV.
Good Luck
Z1

Similar Messages

Off the top of anyone's head, is H.264/MPEG-4 AVC safe for editing?

Hi. My Samsung MX20 camcorder outputs as MP4, and I tried converting it to AVI because I thought that there would be more trimming tools for AVI. I tried probably 3 or more MP4 to AVI converters, and all AVI ouputs never played properly in Elements. I had the following 2 problems happen to me that have been addressed already in the forums:
Premier Elemenets 7 playing clip too fast, audio normal...
http://forums.adobe.com/message/2613385
.AVI video not importing correctly. Imports as audio only.
http://forums.adobe.com/message/2712057
In addition to these 2 things, I got random stuttering with other AVI files.
I couldn't figure out how to trim and export with VirtualDub without blowing up the size, so I gave up on that. I recently found good MP4 cutting software, such as Yamb, so I thought I was good. But after testing it out, the sync was off. I tried other splitting software, but there were problems also with the MP4 that was output.
I’ve decided to not convert, split, or touch the original MP4s.
Here’s my Gspot:
http://i.imgur.com/TdaGn.png
I downloaded the K-lite codec pack and ffdshow, but my windows media player doesn’t play the camcorder files, which I don’t’ mind, because VLC and Quicktime do. The camcorder files play in Elements 7, but I think there’s some choppiness that is due to my slow computer.
I was just wondering if H.264/MPEG-4 AVC is a red flag in the same way that Divx and Xvid are.
I saw a description of a Sanyo Xacti VPC-E camcorder that outputs as AVC/H.264 also, and that product comes bundled with Elements 4. 7 should be compatible right?
Thanks.
I probably shouldn’t post since the original MP4s play, but I’m just wondering if this type (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) may be problematic later on.

I can't find any evidence in the specs for this camcorder that is shoots in AVCHD video.
From the specs it appears that the camcorder shoots standard-def video. Beyond that, the specs are pretty vague, so I have to take your word for it that it saves video as MP4s.
Unfortunately, if it is not saving to the AVCHD standard, the video is not likely to be compatible with Premiere Elements and you will not be able to edit it without converting it to a more standard format, like DV-AVI. This could well explain why you are experiencing the other challenges you describe.
The FAQs to the right of our forum describe how to convert to DV-AVIs. Super, which is free, may work -- but Quicktime Pro, which costs $29 from Apple.com, definitely will.
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/415317?tstart=0
Also, which project preset did you choose when you opened your Premiere Elements project? That too could be relevant.

External Harddrive ethernet vs Firewire 400/800

What would be better to invest in a ethernet harddrive or a firewire 400/800
I do need an external harddrive for video editing, mainly 1080i Hi-Def video as I have a Sony HVR A1 and am shooting hi-def.
Thanks
Justin
Durban South Africa

Firewire 800. Ethernet hard drives are very unlikely to provide an uninterrupted flow of video.
For what it's worth, your camera records HDV which has the same data rate as DV.
x

Best camcorder for use with iMovie 08?

Yes. I have done a search.
I would like to find a good quality camcorder, preferably hard drive, that I can also use to record directly onto iMovie 08 (like you can with the built-in camera).
Help. Any ideas would be welcome.
Sadly I bought a Sony DCR SR85 60GB HDD Camcorder because my videographer friends told me not to buy anything but a Sony.
I was astounded to find out that I was unable to record directly onto iMovie. Oh well. Further iMovie has to convert the file after it is downloaded from the camera's HD. I'm disappointed. It's on eBay now.
PS: I have now seen the list http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014#2 Thanks.

You can do that with any FireWire camcorder - well, certainly in iMovie HD 6 and previous ..I haven't tested that in iMovie '08.
Sony aren't really in direct competition with Apple, as Apple don't make camcorders ..and you may remember that the head honcho from Sony burst onto the stage during SJ's MacWorld address the other year (2005..?) and was introduced by Steve as he announced iMovie HD, because Sony was overwhelming happy that iMovie could import hi-def material from Sony's new hi-def Z1 and FX1 cameras. Apple and Sony worked together to ensure that iMovie could handle hi-def video shot with Sony camcorders.
But perhaps I'm not the best person to respond here, as I don't think much of hard disc camcorders; the compression's higher than with miniDV tape, a head crash can mean that you lose your entire discful of video, it's often more finicky to import ..the only time I use a hard disc for recording video is if I use a 'FireStore' piggy-backed onto a miniDV camcorder.
A computer with a spinning hard disc inside is a fragile thing to use as a monitor, if your rig has to be moved: it's only sensible if you're in one fixed spot while you're recording. If I'm shooting with the camcorder on the end of a pole, I just run a video-out cable from the camera to a mini monitor (..or even to video glasses!..) so that I can see what I'm shooting with the remote camera: drop your Mac and you're really in trouble!
To use your Mac as a monitor, you should also first calibrate the Mac's screen so that its colours and brightness ("gamma") match that of the camcorder, otherwise you might adjust the camera to match what you see on the Mac, and end up with over-exposure, or the wrong colours.
So maybe you might rethink why you want to use your Mac as a monitor. And continuous capture to a Mac's internal disc while shooting may put too much strain on the system (..as the Mac will want to do various 'housekeeping' jobs while the video's coming in, such as indexing files, swapping memory to and from disc, etc). It may be better to capture to an external disc ..which Canons don't like to do: they like to be the only FireWire device in the circuit. But as you want to capture to a hard disc camcorder, maybe capture straight onto the Mac isn't what you have in mind.
So, all in all, why not think again about what exactly you want to do, and why. And Sonys work perfectly well with Macs, in my experience..
P.S: Any hi-def camcorder will need to have its video 'converted' during import into iMovie, as hi-def video is severely 'compressed' into a non-editable format, and it has to be uncompressed during import so that it can be edited. That's not just Sony camcorders; that's every type of hi-def. The conversion takes a lot of 'horse-power' during import, so shooting hi-def and simultaneously importing it in real time into iMovie can be difficult.
(..Maybe that's what you're trying to do, as you said "..I was astounded to find out that I was unable to record directly onto iMovie. Oh well. Further iMovie has to convert the file after it is downloaded from the camera's HD. I'm disappointed.." ..all hi-def has to be 'converted', standard-def miniDV tape doesn't, but standard-def AVCHD, as from a hard disc camcorder or a camcorder which records to internal memory chips or onto a miniDVD, does need conversion during import..)

Audio Sync Issues Rendering Non-Standard FPS Sources

I am using Premiere Pro to render clips taken with my Samsung Galaxy S3 which shoots Hi Def 1080p (1920x1080). The problem is that it is not precise with respect to fps. It shoots somewhere between 29.85 and 30 fps. When I play the video on VLC or WMP, it plays back fine; however, when import the video into Premiere, a video of 6 minutes or so has a lag (or advance, as the case may be) of up to a full second or more with repect to the audio track by the end of the video. Since neither track grows or shrinks and the sync issue is progressive as the video progresses, it is not a simple matter of moving the audio up or down in the timeline or changing the speed of the video.
How does one properly use video that is not a standard frame rate? Surely this is a common problem with a simple solution that I am not aware of. Please help!

How does one properly use video that is not a standard frame rate?
You don't. You shoot video with a video camera that records to any of the standardized formats PP is capable of working with.

What should I get, HDV or AVCHD camera.

I'm looking to get a new camera and I'm looking at most likely getting a Sony camera. I'm wondering which will work better and easier with Final Cut. I'm just stuck in deciding between a Hard disk drive camera that will record in AVCHD or one that records on mini DV tape in HDV. Im mainly looking for which has higher quality and greater ease of use.
Thanks

What version of FCP are you running? AVCHD support is officially limited to FCP 6.0.1 and I'd be wary until the accepted wisdom is that this is a straightforward workflow with no quality loss.
You state that your primary objectives are output to the web as video podcast or to DVD. As such I believe you're wasting your time looking at both proposed formats.
AVCHD workflow is unproven IMHO, HDV is wasted on video podcast/web output and you'll struggle to find a Blu Ray burner to output BluRay DVDs and the red dye HD DVDs you can output will only work in 1 player.
HDV editing brings it's own difficulties as stated and suggesting the HVX-200 with its associated P2 cost is plainly ridiculous for your budget.
I ain't impressed with 3 x 1/5" CCDs either - whatever the camera.
Get a 3 x 1/4.7" CCD Panasonic PV-GS500 (or GS400 if you can find one) or Sony DCR-HC96 for straightforward Standard Def workflow unless you want no inexpensive external monitoring or long render times (without converting to a more editing friendly codec via capture card = more expense).
There's life left in Standard Def and you'll still get decent quality if you're on a tight budget and wait till HDV/HD/AVCHD or whatever becomes cheaper/easier to work with in the future.
Camera technique is more important than format - don't forget, if you're shooting hi-def for large screen viewing (and it's pretty pointless if you aren't), focus is so much more critical for one thing - I'd much rather work with and watch stuff shot by someone who knows one end of their DVX100 from the other, rather than some eejit who knows nowt but is using an expensive all-singing, all-dancing Hi-Def offering.
IMHO, of course.

Premiere Elements 7 and .MTS Files

I hope someone can help.. I have a new Panasonic SDC-HD1 that shoots High Def .mts files. Adobe Premiere Elements 7.0 recognizes them and I can even drop one onto the SCENE LINE and it shows up. HOWEVER, any other .MTS files I drop onto the scene line, do not show up there.. THEY do show up on the TIME LINE but on different LINES under VIDEO 2 VIDEO 3 VIDEO 4 VIDEO 5 etc etc etc. NOTHING shows up on the scene line. how do I resolve this so the videos show up on the scene line so I can add transitions etc? the program seems to work fine with regular SD video clips and my 720P MP4 files. it just has an issues with the .mts files..
ANy help would be appreciated...

Paul LS - I have a similar problem but can't find the right project preset or customize an existing project preset. As in Dave Hauss' original post, when I drag files onto the Sceneline they are bunched together in one scene, and when I switch to the Timeline they appear on separate tracks, e.g., Video4 and Audio4, Video5 and Audio5, etc. I have a new Sony DCR-SR220 hard disk drive camcorder that shoots standard definition Widescreen NTSC Video, 720x480 frame size, 16:9 ratio, and the audio is Dolby 5.1. The preset under NTSC | Hard Disk, Flash Memory Camcorder | Widescreen 48kHz only has Stereo audio, not Dolby 5.1. If I try to pick a preset for 5.1 audio, such as NTSC | AVCHD | HD 1080i 30 5.1 channel, then I can't edit the incorrect video settings from HD back to SD. Is there any way to truly customize an existing project preset, or create a new project preset from scratch, to be able to use the Sceneline? Thanks for your help.

FCE to Mobile Me Gallery

I edit my Standard Def video in FCE, export a QT movie reference file using current setting out of FCE and bring it into imovie 09 so I can post my video to my mobile me gallery. I'm pretty disappointed with the quality once it is up on mobile me. I know I'm still shooting standard def footage, and high def wouldn't degrade so quickly, but it seems like my video looks normal out of FCE, but bringing my reference file into imovie, it seems like the video gets degraded and posting to mobile me, the video gets degraded yet another time. Final result, very degraded standard def video.
A couple of questions:
1. Does my workflow make since? Is there a better way of doing this without all the degrading steps?
2. Is imovie looking at the original file which is 7.5gb even though my reference file is 350mb? Or is the degraded image I see in imove due to me using a reference file instead of a self contained file.
I know this is a FCE forum, but I'm assuming other FCE users are using imovie to post to mobile me.
Thanks so much for the help.

I've found the HG21 to be a great camcorder if you're looking for an AVCHD workflow. It works well for recording both interlaced and progressive 1920x1080 footage, both of which are fully supported by FCE. The built-in mic is acceptable, and the manual focus is excellent. The camera shoots extremely clear quality footage in well lit environments but like many AVCHD cameras doesn't fare as well in low-light. Since AVCHD is transcoded to AIC upon ingest, you'll need to make sure you have a large external media drive to store your footage on. Here's a couple videos I recorded with it and edited in FCE in case you're interested in seeing what it can produce:
http://vimeo.com/5494472
http://vimeo.com/8158419
If you have any more specific questions about the camera, I'd be happy to try to answer them!

Sony HDR-HC7 camcorder and PB Ti with IMovie HD

Hello everyone. Im in the army and I will be deploying soon to Irak. Im looking for a good digital camcorder that will work with my PB. Im running Tiger with IMovie HD . I have been looking at different web sites and one that i like is the sony (nothing particular) HDR-HC7. Now the problem is that it is a high definition camcorder. I really dont know if my PB can handle the format or any software that it will require. Besides I dont know a lot about computers and cameras. The reason for the camera is that it has firewire connection( my PB has usb 1.1), image stabilization and good reviews for low light operations. I am a pilot and I'll doing a lot of flying at night. It also has a remote and good still pictures capabilities. Any advice or other suggestion on a good camera will be appreciated. Im I going to have issues with this particular camcorder? Anyone has this equipment setup? Can anyone suggest a good camcorder in the price range of 1000 dollars that will work with my PB? Please any advice and suggestions will be appreciated.
Gonzo

Good camcorder. But importing hi-def HDV will be -s-l-o-w- on your PowerBook, and especially on your 400 MHz G4 PowerMac.
You really do need at least a Dual G5 or a new Intel-powered machine for importing hi-def in real time, and lots of memory (1GB or more).
Hi-def also uses up much more space on your hard disc than standard-definition 13GB/hour video. So you'll need (a) more space, and (b) more patience!
When hi-def has been imported and edited the only reasonable means to create a hi-def DVD is to use Apple's (expensive) DVD Studio Pro software, or external software and hardware such as a Blu-Ray burner. (No Macs presently come with these ..and your existing Macs certainly don't have them.)
So you can shoot in hi-def with the camera ..but using that hi-def material may be problematic.
HDV isn't too good when you're shooting anything fast-moving (..because of the way the compression works..) so shooting from a pilot's seat in hi-def may give inferior results compared with shooting standard-def! ..It may look a bit sharper, but the detail won't really be there, and it may judder, compared with standard-def.
For fairly static shots, hi-def is much (about 4x) sharper.
So, the camera's good, but you may need to upgrade all the rest of your Mac equipment to match the camera's capability if you use its hi-def features. You can, of course, use the camera in standard-def ..but then that defeats the purpose of spending the money on hi-def, doesn't it..?
NOTE that all miniDV-tape camcorders have a FireWire connection, and so do your two Macs. USB is just for transferring photos, not video. Sony call the FireWire connection either 'DV' or 'i.Link', but it is normal FireWire, nevertheless. You'll also need a separate 4-pin-to-6-pin FireWire/DV/i.Link cable ..Sony doesn't put one in the box with the camcorder ..and I don't think many of the other manufacturers do, either.

What camera would you recommend

What a great source of information this group is.
In my quest for knowledge on iMovie HD 6, I have been lurking and reading just about everything posted. I can't help but notice the variety of cameras, and formats that are being used.
Since I'm at a point of upgrading some of my equipment, I thinking maybe it should include a Camera. I'm sure there must be many makes, and models that would work better with iMovie than what I have, but are there any that would also help in my editing process too?
I couldn't find a list of cameras that have been recommend, so if there is one, please point me at it.
In lieu of this, or along with this, maybe you would like to brag on your favorite camera, and share the make and model, and why it is your favorite.
Of the different formats, Is there one that is better than the others.
TIA for any information you provide.
Lee

Note that importing hi-definition video from an HDV camcorder will be -v-e-r-y -s-l-o-w- if you're using a G4 iBook. You really need a multi-processor G5, or an Intel-based Mac to import and edit HDV, and for the computer to be able to handle hi-def video in "real time".
So if you're sticking with your G4 for now, you want a tape-based miniDV camcorder which shoots Standard-Def widescreen (16:9) as well as regular 4:3-shaped video. If you may be getting a new Mac in 6 months or a year, you could get an HDV-and-Standard-Def miniDV camcorder, and just use it in standard-def for now.
Note that AVCHD camcorders (not ones which use DVDs, but ones which record onto memory chips or hard discs) are only compatible with the new iMovie '08 running on an Intel-based processor, and NOT with iMovie '06, nor iMovie '08 on an older PowerPC processor ..so you would never be able to import AVCHD video directly into any version of iMovie on your G4 iBook (..though you could turn the AVCHD video into iMovie '06 compatible video if you download a separate program called Voltaic ..click on that blue link for details).
So; tape-based miniDV for use with a G4 iBook (..and iMovie HD '06..), or a newer format of camcorder (AVCHD, hard disc, solid-state memory) or tape-based HDV only if you're going to update your Mac at the same time.

MJPEG HD and 24 fps

I use iMovie 5 because I like it better than 6 and because I use of ton of picture correction plug ins since I do a lot of film transfer work.
I am considering having an old 16mm film transferred into high definition. The film is 24 fps. The transfer company uses Motion JPEG HD as the codec and will maintain the 24 FPS speed.
Will iMovie 5 accept this codec? Will I be able to import the file, do my picture corrections and then export the file and maintain the 24 fps speed throughout? Lastly, will QuickTime play this codec at this speed?
Thanks.

Providing a 24fps facility in video-editing programs is really for working in the opposite direction: it's primarily ..or was originally.. for people who want their cheaply-shot video material to be capable of being easily copied to film for showing in movie theatres. (..It was for documentary makers, and was introduced as a gimmick on cheaper home camcorders, although now mainstream movie makers - e.g; Danny Boyle and "Slumdog Millionaire" - use the facility to shoot hi-def video at 24fps and then transfer that to film after editing..)
If you're starting with film - e.g; 16mm at 24fps - but want to show that film on video equipment (..Blu-Ray, computer screen, whatever..) there's no need to keep it as 24fps, as long as the transfer to video at some other frame rate doesn't spoil the clarity or resolution.
iMovie can't handle 24fps, because it's a normal camcorder video editor. And MJPEG isn't a normal video codec.
But QuickTime can handle all sorts of MJPEG, because it's a Playback/Editing/Preparation program which deals with almost every sort of moving image you can throw at it: its specs ..or the specs of QuickTime Pro.. list all these varieties of image handling (click that blue link).
"..will QuickTime play this codec at this speed?.." ..Should be able to.
Here's the QuickTime Pro FAQ ..just ask in the QuickTime Discussions for further info ..or QTKirk will give you more info here in iMovie Discussions.
But you're unlikely to be able to edit your MJPEG/24fps transfer in iMovie. You can edit, however, in QT Pro. Final Cut Pro can edit just about anything.
iMovie, though, is for common video codecs, such as DV, HDV, AVCHD, H.264/MPEG4 as used in various movie camcorders, and it isn't intended for specialised codecs which aren't found in common camcorders. iMovie 5 certainly won't handle 24fps. The current iMovie '09 (which doesn't support the various effects plug-ins for earlier versions up to iMovie HD 6) accepts the widest range of codecs of any iMovie version, but can't handle 24fps.
You won't get very high definition from "..an old 16mm film.." because the frame is small, most 16mm optics (the lens for shooting the film, unless it's very recent) weren't especially good, it'll have to go through further optics to be captured, and the quality will probably be not appreciably higher in HD than it would be in standard definition video. Unless, when you say "..an old 16mm film.." this is a reduced version of a 35mm original, such as, say, Bessie Smith singing St Louis Blues. (That's a poor quality YouTube version.)
If it's a home-shot 16mm, then there's probably little point in transferring it to hi-def, and not much point in keeping it at 24fps.

Best quality for editing fcp with p2 standard definition and canon elura 100 widescreen

I am editing on FCP 7. Three cameras were used. Panasonic HPX 500 set in standard def 4x3, another small panasonic that shoots standard def was used only it was set a 16x9 and an even smaller Canon NTSC Elura 100 was set on widescreen (16x9). My mistake is I want them look the best they can (at 16x9 or 4x3) when burned to DVD. I would prefer to go with 4x3 and crop the 16x9s. I have a Mac Pro 1,1 ; 2 Dual Core Intel Xeon 2.66 gHx and AJA Kona card. The question is: What is the BEST setting for log & capture of each device and what is the BEST sequence setting to build my project on. Right now everything looks like it has a soft shadowy image (basically low quality image - probably because it is mostly low quality... even the HPX 500 looks bad because I expanded it to fit the 16x9 screen of my sequence. And here's a strange event, even though my sequence setting is 720x480 the screen aspect ratio comes out 16x9... go figure. I seem to know less and less about this business every day. If anybody is willing to offer some advice on how I can make Chicken Salad out of this Chicken Shi_, I'd love to hear it. I hope it's just a settings problem on the ingest or sequence side.
Thanks,
KennyRay

Wrong forum. This is the FCP X forum. You should post your question in the Final Cut Studio one.

Problems with Final Cut Pro HD 4.5

Hi gang
I posted something similar a few weeks ago about this problem, and since then, my problem has only gotten worse. Here's the basics: I'm using FCP HD 4.5 on a MacBook (apparently that's trouble right there.) I did the thing where you change something in the properties to get around the required video card. So the program works, right? Sure.
I shot some video on a Cannon XL-2 (which I thought was Hi-Def, but apparently it's not.) The camera was rented, so I obviously don't have it anymore. I have been trying to import the video on to my laptop, via an external hard drive (like 30GB) using a Sony Handycam (borrowed from my office.)
The first problem was that there was no audio on the tapes shot on the XL. I'm going to go ahead and say that some how....that was my fault. Not sure how, but I'll take the blame. Now, I'm trying to import this silent footage, and I keep running into a problem, and that problem is this: the important stops after a few seconds, and there's a message about how there is some kind of error on the tape. This is super frustrating, and I think when I was working on this the other night, the tape eventually just stopped showing video, even though something is obviously there.
Now, here's a few questions. Is it because I'm using a somewhat small external hard drive that may not have enough space on it to keep processing the video? Is it because I'm using a different camera to try and get this video? Should I try using another Cannon, or should I go as far as to track down another XL-2 to rent? Is it something wrong with Final Cut? Some setting or something?
If someone could help me out, I'd appreciate it.

The XL-2 does not shoot 'High Def". It records DV in either 4:3 or 16:9 anamorphic formats.
Here's my standard "so you are using a Canon camcorder to capture and it isn't working" routine:
Not all Canon cameras have connection issues, but hanging around this site I've come to recognize their ability to connect in FCP is the most problematic of all the camera brands. If you have a Canon camcorder, and can not get it to connect up with FCP, the following is a way to sort through the issues and get it to work. Some are elegant - some are ugly.
Before we go any farther
-you should be using 'Firewire Basic' as the control protocol. If you aren't, go change it and try again.
-Also, verify that you have a solid installation of Quicktime. You may want to reinstall it using the 'delete receipts' method. Do a quick search here on the site - it is mentioned daily if not hourly.
With some confidence that the software installation and camera settings are correct and it still won't capture correctly, you are most likely a victim of the dread 'Canon firewire bus incompatibility problem'. Simply stated: Canon cameras do not play well with other devices on the same firewire bus. And, since all the firewire ports on a Mac connect to one bus - well - you get the picture.
The most direct solution is to purchase another, non-Canon device to use as your capturing machine. The Sony DSR-11 is highly recommended for DV work. A deck will save wear and tear on the camera's lightweight drive mechanism and will allow you to permanently connect a NTSC/PAL monitor for proper viewing. (If you are working with HDV, you will have other issues ...)
Beyond replacing your tape playback device, the path you take depends on the model of computer you own.
1. If you have a G5 tower or a MacPro, capture to a second internal drive with only the camera attached. If you need to move material to firewire drive, disconnect the camera. A second internal drive is quite inexpensive these days if you do not already have one.
2. If you have a G5 tower (PCI) MacPro (PCI), G4 powerbook (PCMCIA) or MacBookPro (Expresscard 34) with an available slot, purchase the appropriate firewire card for the slot. Connect your camera to the card and you should be good to go. The new card creates a unique bus and will avoid collisions with the external drives.
3. If you do not have a slot or a second internal drive and you are stuck with the camera, welcome to the camera/drive shuffle.
- shut down and remove the external hard drive(s) from the system
- connect the camera directly to the firewire port of the computer
- start the camera then the computer
- capture to your internal (system) hard drive
- shut down the camera and computer
- disconnect the camera and reconnect the external hard drive(s)
- start hard drive(s) and computer
- move captured files to external hard drive(s)
- edit
If you output back to tape or wish to view your work on an external Video (NTSC or PAL) monitor, you need to set up the camera to use the firewire out as the A/DV converter or VTR - which means reversing the steps:
- copy the file back to the internal drive
- shut everything down
- disconnect the external drive(s)
- connect the camera to the firewire port (and the TV to the camera if needed)
- start the camera then the computer
- play the file.
One caveat here - You may have difficulty getting the file back to tape without dropping frames. Playing files off of the system drive is very demanding and they may have a hard time keeping up.
All in all, if you do not have the option for second bus (i.e. iMacs, eMacs, iBooks, MacBooks) you may want to think about a computer with expandable options next time.
There is the option of capturing using iMovie, but that brings on it's own set of problems and is not recommended.
Good luck.
x

Cameras to use with FCE

I'm interested in upgrading from Imovie seeing as I know it like the back of my hand and feel limited by it at this point. I'm looking to get a new camera in the spring of this year, and I'm wondering what kind to get if I want a good one for a good price that would be great with FCE 4.
Does everybody use Mini Dv cameras with this software? I don't see these in stores, and it this point to me it seems like they are old, clunky, and outdated. I'm no expert, but that's just the impression I get from them, so why are those the primary cameras used with FCE?
So if anybody can answer these questions, and provide me a list of a few good cameras (Mini Dv or not) that would work with the program and not cost a fortune, I would be much obliged!

FCE can work with DV, HDV and AVCHD camcorders.
Most consumer/prosumer camcorders on the market today are AVCHD camcorders or a variation of AVCHD. Be aware - if the camcorder doesn't have the *AVCHD logo* or doesn't *specifically state in the specs* that it's AVCHD, then it's probably not AVCHD. Even if it says it's H.264 or MPEG4/AVC that does not automatically make it AVCHD - a lot of people have been burned not watching out for this.
DV is, as you said, on the way out. 4:3 aspect ratio & standard def; however, decent DV camcorders can do anamorphic 16:9 and it turns out quite nice. So, you can do widescreen with many DV camcorders. HDV is still around and has a loyal following. There are some very nice HDV camcorders - Canon HV20/30/40 for example - and they're not too expensive.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even though you shoot high def with HDV or AVCHD, when it comes time to burn a DVD of your video it will be standard def - because DVDs are by definition standard def. To burn hi-def optical disks, you have to get a BluRay burner, BluRay authoring software (DVD Studio Pro, Toast) and of course BD media. It's not cheap.

Hd footage to idvd

I shoot weddings in hd 1440x1080i I edit with that type of sequence and then export to h.264 and usually export 1280x720, then dragg it into idvd and burn my dvd.
Should i be just exporting my h.264 file to sd 720x480 (16x9 view ) so it will be stretched and boxed on a widescreen tv?
im not sure if i am placing unneeded time and strain on my machine exporting in hd format when im not putting it out to blue ray...
also is h.264 the best output? i dont have a preference , I just want what is the best for use w idvd.
is output to quicktime movie better and why?
Hoping to find a better workflow because i am getting dvds that are skipping at times and im thinking its because of the way I output to the hd file and burn to standard dvd,
Thanks and appreciate any guidance.
TIM
using final cut Express latest version

The very best you'll get from iDvd is Standard Definition. You are not over-taxing your mac nor the software (assuming you have the available HDD space). However, in a manner of speaking you're currently going after mosquitos with a bazooka instead of fly swatter ... if you know what I mean.
Have you considered using alternate software /Roxio Toast 10 Pro instead of iDvd? At least you'll have a blu-ray option here whereas iDvd doesn't offer this.
That is if you're shooting hi-def and this is what the couple has come to expect from you in terms of a finished product. But if not, then use iDvd (or at least you'll be safe in terms of expectations). You have to make the choice yourself based on what you promised the bridal couple. Did you show them a demo prior to booking their wedding? If so, what did you show them exactly that made them want to hire you for their special day?
Hope this info helps but if not just come on back.
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Message was edited by: SDMacuser

Shooting hi-def

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