FCP & Live HV20 Capture

[CodyPChristian]

Hey HV20 users, glad to be a part of this community.

I've been in the video field for almost a decade now and I'm finally getting the chance to move to HD, so since I'm back on a low budget I went with the HV20. Seams like a great camera for its price and what it can do, big jump from me from the Canon ZR line and the Canon XL2 line.

Anyways enough of that onto my issue:

I have two issues/questions:

1. I have a big habit of live capture (camera to FCP 6) without tape, so direct live capture, however when I try to do this using the HDV preset and non-controllable device like I do for most cameras, FCP gives a warning saying I have to use a HDV Capture Preset & HDV Device Control Preset in order to Log & Capture HDV Footage.

Any help on this would be very helpful since I do capture to HD more than I use tapes, thanks!

2. What is the best HDV Codec & Settings to use in FCP with the HV20?

Since I'm new to both HDV and the HV20, it would be nice to know, thanks.


Thanks again community! Take care, cheers!

[bytehoven]

Hello...

I mention this in another thread.

http://hv20.com/showthread.php?t=6545

You can only do live camera recording with the HV20 set to DV wide or DV Normal, with the FCP device control set to "Uncontrolable Device"

However, you can use QT to make a New Recording from the FILE MENU in any of the HV20 formats. Check it out. You are limited to the DV and Apple HDV codecs, but ti works just fine.

I was even able to use the composite video input on the HV20 with a TV tuner, to pass the video signal thru the HV20 -> FW -> Mac and record off the air broadcast.

Check out my thread above for more details.

REgarding codec choices, what kind of work are you doing? How much space can you allow for your digitized footage.

The Apple ProRes HQ is the best, but probably way more power than the HDV -> FW 4:2:0 signal deserves. This is the choice if you want to switch to a true 1920x1080 format for integration with other generated elements like motion graphics or CG to maximize their quality.

Apple ProRes maintains the 1440x1080 16:9 format if you are going to master back to HDV.

Like the ProRes formats, the Apple Intermediate Codec will provide for quicker render times and further save on storage space.

The HDV codec will take up the least amount of space, but will add to any export processing time, or post efx rendering time in applications like After Effects.

There are other importing options if you use something like an Infinity Pro HDMI card or Cineform's NeoHD, but I won't cover those here.

Good luck with your new toys!

[funwithstuff]

Hello...

I mention this in another thread.

http://hv20.com/showthread.php?t=6545

You can only do live camera recording with the HV20 set to DV wide or DV Normal, with the FCP device control set to "Uncontrolable Device"

Actually, that's not true. With the latest version of FCP 6.0.2, I've been able to do live HD captures with my HV20 set to HDV (progressive). It also works in HD in Quartz Composer. I should say, though, that live captures were less stable than tape-based captures, that is, Final Cut would occasionally crash when stopping capture.

[CodyPChristian]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Mind sharing your settings and such Funwithstuff?

bytehoven, How's that setup of preset keep the HDV settings?
Also as far as compression and such, I need the best codec that will give me both HDV and HDV24p at the highest quality and best for use with FCS2 and efx software like AE3.

Thanks!

[bytehoven]

Actually, that's not true. With the latest version of FCP 6.0.2, I've been able to do live HD captures with my HV20 set to HDV (progressive). It also works in HD in Quartz Composer. I should say, though, that live captures were less stable than tape-based captures, that is, Final Cut would occasionally crash when stopping capture.

Please describe how you were able to capture a live HDV camera signal with the HV20 in FCP.

I thought I tried everything, but I would love to hear what I over looked.

Thanks

[CodyPChristian]

Yes, please do funwithstuff. Thanks

[mattias]

Please describe how you were able to capture a live HDV camera signal with the HV20 in FCP.

the obvious method is to have a dummy tape running so that there's timecode, but i've also been able to switch the camera on and off a couple of times while in the log and capture window which sometimes sets it to a mode that works. annoying to say the least. it's obviously possible so why don't we get the option?

/matt

[crazyworkins]

Looks like funwithstuff forgot to tell how to capture HD straight to FCP. Anyone else know how to do it?

I'm trying out the HV20 for the first time, and have it connected to FCP 6.0.4 on an Intel iMac through firewire.