ASAP! Final Cut Pro edit to tape to HV20 -- only audio!

[Almohada]

Hi,


I'm using Final Cut Pro 6.0 and trying to export to tape to the HV20.
I read the manual, as well as many other threads on here, but I've
followed all the steps and the only thing I could get is audio
when I export to tape.


Are there any other settings in Final Cut I should check?
Do you think this is a problem with the HV20, or FCP?


I need to figure this out ASAP. Hopefully this will help myself
and others with this same issue.

Thanks.

[MithrilFox]

When you open Edit to Tape, try the following:

Run about 30 seconds of Bars & Tone at the beginning. You never want to output anything valuable to the VERY beginning of a tape. Also make sure you have 30 seconds or so of black at the end of the content being edited to tape.

Then, try the Assemble option.

[Almohada]

I tried bars and tone without recording, but I only got audio.



Do I have to be recording on the HV20 to get a video preview in the LCD?

So after I press execute, I press the play/pause button, and then press OK from Print to Tape, I should get a video preview in the LCD?

[MithrilFox]

I haven't done a Print to Tape in a while...

But if I remember, I believe the software controlled the tape deck/camera. Just tell it what to do, and you shouldn't need to push anything on the camera.

WARNING: I may be wrong.

[Almohada]

Alright, I somehow got it to work, but it lagged for 1 second out of the whole 9 minute movie I want to print. So I tried doing it over again, but this time it pixelated the image for a few seconds throughout the movie at random times.

As I tried to do it again, it just wouldn't work. I've been trying for 7 hours now and I've
had no luck.


Can anyone help me? This is a joke. I have a $3,000 mac and a basically new HV20, what the hell is the problem? I need to finish this project ASAP.

[Almohada]

Alright, I got it to work again, but the first time I tried it, the audio was off sync and no glitching.


The second time I tried it, it is synced but it still glitches or pixelates at the same times it did when I tried it last night. What is the problem with this glitching? Should I try printing to a new miniDV tape?

[Almohada]

21,000 members and can't get help. I think I'm going to switch back to a PC and buy a nice standard-def JVC or Panasonic.

[Almohada]

Alright I think I found the glitching problem:

"Because of the GOP type of format (Groups Of Pictures) that HDV uses a dropout on the tape can (and probably will) cause a 15 frame glitch (1/2 second) whereas it would just be a momentary almost unnoticable glitch in DV. "


"

This compression groups several pictures into a "group of pictures," called a GOP, rather than each picture being it's own entity. 1080i HD groups 15 images into one GOP. 720p groups 6 images into one GOP.


This GOP method of compression means that HDV is not accurate for timecode or frames when capturing or outputting. (Editing HDV inside FCP is frame-accurate, however.)

"

[MithrilFox]

21,000 members and can't get help. I think I'm going to switch back to a PC and buy a nice standard-def JVC or Panasonic.

Can I buy your Mac Pro at a discount, then?

In all seriousness, the more technical the problem, the less likely someone is to have an answer.

You should not feel any entitlement to receiving an answer from anyone on here. Everyone is just like you, HV20 users and hobbyists. If no one has given a satisfactory answer, it's probably because no who knows has seen it or has the time, or everyone who has seen it doesn't have an answer.

Have you tried different DV tapes to rule out the possibility of a bad tape?

[Almohada]

I haven't tried a different tape because I'm not going to waste one at this moment. The film festival should pay for the films to get transferred to mini DV...that's not my problem, I already did my part.


Anyway, I found the problem:

"HDV uses a dropout on the tape can cause a 15 frame glitch (1/2 second)"

[MithrilFox]

I haven't tried a different tape because I'm not going to waste one at this moment. The film festival should pay for the films to get transferred to mini DV...that's not my problem, I already did my part.


Anyway, I found the problem:

"HDV uses a dropout on the tape can cause a 15 frame glitch (1/2 second)"

MiniDV tapes are highly reusable, as you probably know. There's no need to feel that a tape is "wasted" by outputting to another one. If indeed your tape has issues, which has happened to me and many others, you are tearing your hair out for nothing.

Basic troubleshooting dictates that we eliminate simple issues before getting too deep. A damaged/dirty tape is a possibility, and you could save yourself endless hours by just confirming whether that's the issue or not.

[Almohada]

I have confirmed that the tape is not the issue.

I took my sequence and saved it as a QuickTime Movie.
I imported that file into a brand new project and set all
the settings to HDV1080i60. When I did that, I scrubbed through
the timeline to see the glitches at the same spots they were
happening before.

Confirmed that my tape is NOT a conflicting issue.

[Almohada]

Alright, I re-digitized one of the clips where the glitching was happening. I placed it
back into the timeline at the same spot, and printed that section to tape....SAME GLITCHING ISSUE.


Even if I move that clip to another spot in the timeline and I print to tape...same problem.



What the heck is going on!!! Can this be fixed?!

[Almohada]

Still having problems... I think the audio was causing the glitching, but now I can't get FCP to recognize the HV20. I wasted 30 minutes waiting for it to conform, and when I hit record, it doesn't recognize it anymore. GREAT.

[Almohada]

Worst forum ever

[LBC]

Worst forum ever

You should of called your mother and asked her how to solve the problem.

[iThinkergoiMac]

Worst forum ever

While I'm sorry that you're frustrated by the lack of an answer (I know I would be as well) it seems like you're acting like we've done nothing to help. MithrilFox gave you several pointers, which I'm sure you followed. Just because it didn't solve the problem doesn't mean the forum has somehow failed you.

We don't have all the answers. It's not our job to solve your problems for you. It's just a place for people to share information.

[localstreethero]

Is it possible that the footage you are working with glitched during recording? If it keeps "glitching" in the same exact spot no matter what you do, maybe it has nothing to do with your mac or fcp, rather your cam/tape that was used during capture. Also, firewire cables do wear out, maybe thats why your $3000 mac can't recognize it anymore.

[Almohada]

I actually re-digitized the footage in the same place of the glitching, and it looks fine in the canvas, but when I print to tape it starts to glitch.

Hopefully this thread could help others with this problem as well.

[CycleWriter]

21,000 members and can't get help. I think I'm going to switch back to a PC and buy a nice standard-def JVC or Panasonic.

If you are dissatisfied with the service in here, just let us know and we'll gladly refund your membership fee and close your account.:hv20-smilie24:

[dearcatastrophe]

Worst forum ever

best laugh i had today, thanks.