Problems with 'Print to Tape' in FCP 5.1.4

[wolferic]

Can't figure this one out:

-Camera (turned on, in 'Play' mode) doesn't show up on list of 'A/V Devices' in 'Audio Video Settings' menu in FCP

-Camera WILL show up during 'Log and Capture' with no problems

-Can NOT use HV20 LCD to monitor during editing ('Refresh A/V Devices' under 'View' menu doesn't help; nor does 'External Video' > 'ALL FRAMES')

-Can NOT 'Edit to Tape' or 'Print to Video'

This was supposed to be a test of output: I was just trying to get color bars on tape so I can calibrate my broadcast monitors.

SYSTEM SETTINGS:
Mac PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz with 1.5 GB SDRAM
Latest operating system, all updates for FCP 5.1.4

FCP SETTINGS:
Audio/Video Easy Setup: 'HDV - 1080i50

HV20 SETTINGS
Tape inserted with HDV timecode
Readout says 'Stereo1' and 'HDV/DV' with small, firewire connector icon

Any ideas? Anyone tried laying back to tape with a PAL camera? Please let me know…

[wolferic]

Anyone have any experience with this?

[xzu]

-Can NOT use HV20 LCD to monitor during editing ('Refresh A/V Devices' under 'View' menu doesn't help; nor does 'External Video' > 'ALL FRAMES')

that one is same for me = on-the-fly monitoring won't work during editing operations. The stream is far different once it is on FCP timeline, and cannot be sent to the HV20. To get back to the HV20, FCP rebuilts the MPEG 2 _ TS Structured stream, with GOPs I, P and B frames.


I've succeded print to tape with my HV20. Just be sure to have DV setting "unlocked" into menu prior to firewire connection, so that HV20 accepts HDV input as well. And set your HV20 in VTR mode, set it to Rec/pause.

I don't see any "Readout says 'Stereo1' and 'HDV/DV' with small, firewire connector icon" (where should I see it ? - the HDV/DV indicator on my HV20 says "--" as I plug in firewire), and I've also used easy setup 1080i50 with success.

If nothing work at all, restart computer with HV20 already plugged in.
Let us know what's next...

[wolferic]

many thanks…I was hoping for your response.

I'll report back as soon as I get everything reattached.

That 'rebuilding' explanation makes some sense: I was trying to figure out why my computer needed ONE HOUR to 'conform' just 10 minutes of colorbars for output in HDV. (It also used a huge amount of disc space and all available memory).

[xzu]

(for all these reasons, I'm thinking about the decklink HDMI capture/display board : you can edit with an HDMI HD display, with hardware acceleration, as well as capture....+ the price is low enough for a low-cost production)

[wolferic]

Well, the problem is solved, but there was no easy explanation.

I checked and rechecked and rechecked the problem, but it wasn't until I switched to try a SD DV timeline that I solved the problem.

-The tape I was using had been run through the camera once all the way with lenscap on to register HDV timecode.

-When I plugged the camera in to the computer this last time and started up FinalCut, I got the box saying that the HDV1080/50i external device could not be found, even though the camera was on, in 'Play' mode and the cables were properly connected.

-Looking at the viewscreen on the HV20, I suddenly noticed that where I should see 'HDV' the camera instead registered 'DV' - AND there was a timecode break!

SO, what I can only assume happened was that in one of my earlier attempts to output HDV footage to the camera, FinalCut somehow was trying to output DV footage instead. This resulted in a single frame of DV timecode being put on tape, thereby screwing up my attempts to output HDV.

Seems strange, I know, since I would think that the camera would just record HDV material OVER the DV, but it took quite a few attempts before I finally got it all synced up.

I am assuming that this is some issue with FCP 5.1.4, and am hoping that it will be more straightforward in FCP Studio 2.

again, thanks for the help.

and XZU, did you really mean the $1000 Decklink card and not the $300 intensity? Isn't the only difference that the Decklink gives you analog in as well? And am I wrong in thinking that you can just capture analog through the HV20 (maybe with some loss of quality?)

[xzu]

and XZU, did you really mean the $1000 Decklink card and not the $300 intensity? Isn't the only difference that the Decklink gives you analog in as well? And am I wrong in thinking that you can just capture analog through the HV20 (maybe with some loss of quality?)

I was speaking of intensity ... highest priced card are for analog + HD SDI 4:2:2 input.... too expensive for a "HV20 buddy".

I've not tested the analog capture, but as far as I know : capture in YUV analog with hardware device will free you from the nasty GOP scheme of HDV. For consumer products, I don't think there is a big difference between Firewire HDV and analog component capture... but again I've not tested analog HD IN/OUT with HV20 ( I own an AJA Kona 3 at work, I could make the test some day ), I hope others can tell us what is best to have a workflow that offers a good ratio quality/speed for HD output (print to tape and monitoring)

[t2x609]

Hey guys...

I had the exact same symptoms as listed here. Although I just turned out to be an idiot, reading through this triggered some things and helped me solve the problem...almost.

Where I am stuck now is that I am sending video via FW through my HV20 and out to an external monitor to view my FCP edits, however now that I have it showing up on the monitor, it just freeze frames from the point I hit play. I have "all frames" selected under view. It freezes on the LCD of the HV20 as well as on the monitor.

Anything I am missing here, or not getting?

(btw I am new to phisically doing the editing. I have historically been a producer and had editors working for me. I have been around it enough and directed my crew while editing projects that I wanted to get ..."behind the wheel")

Thanks

[DarthVedder]

I also have this issue.

I have no problem capturing via firewire, but if i try to print to tape, after the "conforming HDV" and when the movie starts to play, i can never get it to appear on the screen of my camera.

I have the camera in play mode, then put it in VCR mode. The screen shows the HDV connection but never shows it as "HDV Input".

I tried this with a brand new blank tape right out of the package. I have been able to capture analog video from my DVR and TV, but am confused about how to set up my camera to capture my edited films back to HDV tape.

any help would be appreciated.. Thanks

[Lars Nelson]

I also have this issue.

I have no problem capturing via firewire, but if i try to print to tape, after the "conforming HDV" and when the movie starts to play, i can never get it to appear on the screen of my camera.

I have the camera in play mode, then put it in VCR mode. The screen shows the HDV connection but never shows it as "HDV Input".

I tried this with a brand new blank tape right out of the package. I have been able to capture analog video from my DVR and TV, but am confused about how to set up my camera to capture my edited films back to HDV tape.

any help would be appreciated.. Thanks

The instruction on the print to tape dialog box indicates that one must roll the camera in record and then push the "ok" button.

This is backwards.

Place the camera in record pause, then push the "ok" button. Only at this point can you hit record.

The HV20 apparently needs to see the video stream before it can get into record. Otherwise one will get the flashing red record dot till it times out and says something about not getting video.

Works for me, hope this helps....

By the way where and how does the mac store the conformed video file that it has so laboriously made?

I sure wuold like not to have to conform the project every time I want to make a second HDV tape of the same material.

Lars

[wolferic]

By the way where and how does the mac store the conformed video file that it has so laboriously made?

I sure wuold like not to have to conform the project every time I want to make a second HDV tape of the same material.

Lars

Lars - Thanks for the info. If what you say is true, it's a GREAT help for all of us to have it cleared up.

Regarding your second question, what files are you talking about EXACTLY? the files that FinalCut produces just before printing to tape (that take so $^%$# looooong?) I believe that they are saved in the 'Render Files' folder in the 'Final Cut Pro Documents' folder. Beware, though: FinalCut purposely uses an arcane file naming structure to save these files, and they can cause big problems if the wrong one is moved, erased or renamed. You can get some limited access to them through the 'Render Manager' function, but again, use with caution.

If these are not the files you are referring to, then I would do try this: do a 'Search' in the finder before you render for all files over say 100mb (I know, it will be a long list) and then do another after you think FinalCut has conformed your video. You should be able to compare the two lists and find the new files created with a FCP icon. Hope this helps.