Final Cut Express HD Not Recognizing HV20

[Chaseplace]

Okay ... a Mac newbie here. Recently went crazy and bought a MacBook Pro (after 25 years as a PC-only geek), a new copy of Final Cut Express Had 3.5, and of course, my HV20. Shot a couple of tapes worth of video in Hawaii last week. Bought a new firewire cable (4-pin to 6-pin) and connected the HV20 to my MacBook Pro (yes, both are turned on!) but the software doesn't think anything is plugged in.
Also, I can't find any information about which "protocol" to use for the HV20. The FCE HD asks me which protocol I want to use as default and I don't have a clue. I've tried several that are in the menu and none seem to recogninze my HV20 signal.
Help!! My wife thinks I spent several thousand $$$s on something we can't even use to make movies of our grandkids. I'm in deep doodoo if I don't get this working soon.
Gulp.

[wolferic]

Since you are using the $$$ sign instead of the euro, I assume that you have an NTSC camera.

Try these settings: In Final Cut, under the Final Cut menu look for 'Easy Setup' and select 'HDV - 1080i60'

Under the 'File' menu look for 'Log and Capture' (if it's grayed out, recheck your cable and make sure your camera is on). If the 'Log and Capture' window is open, try the controls and see if your footage plays back. (You should at least see timecode in the upper right window, even if there is no image.

Good luck. The setup is often the most difficult part of Final Cut, I have found.

[skinnyboy]

Also - make sure you plug the camera into the computer BEFORE you launch Final Cut.

[Chaseplace]

Okay, I tried both suggestions and was able to capture video. The key seems to be to connect and turn on the HV20 BEFORE launching FCE HD. I also had to reset the protocol in FCE for Apple Codex 1080. That did it. Unfortunately, my joy was over when I got a "end of tape" message about 3 minutes into the capture of a 35 minute tape. I spent another 45 frustrating minutes trying to figure out why -- checked several posts on this site --- and then felt like a complete idiot when I realized that my battery on the HV20 was dead and had shut off the camcorder. Doh! I'm learning. Slowly, but I'm learning. Thanks again for the help, folks. This is an awesome resource!

[mayhem]

Why buy FCE for $350, when you can get Uber FCP and seven other great programs in FCS 2 for $699. (academic) or upgrade for $499.

[HDNUT]

Why buy FCE for $350, when you can get Uber FCP and seven other great programs in FCS 2 for $699. (academic) or upgrade for $499.

Question on that.... I have the older version of Final Cut Express, I just bought the new one but haven't cracked opened the shrink wrap yet. My question is can one get Final Cut Pro Studio 2 Upgrade via academic for $499 if you only have Final Cut Express?

If that is the case I will take this back tomorrow... Still pissed off that I sold my old computer (G5) with my older version of Final Cut Pro 5.1 on it, asked the guy to send me back my disc but that never happened. I do however still have my cases with the serial numbers from Final Cut 5.1 and Final Cut Pro 3, I guess I didn't toss everything out...

Also Final Cut Express is $299($150 Academic) or just $99 dollars of the Upgrade...