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Home: Video University Forums: Canon All Camcorders:
The "Newbie" Questions Keep Coming...

Kenzilla
Novice

Sep 18, 2005, 4:19 AM

Post #1 of 5 (1290 views)
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The "Newbie" Questions Keep Coming...	Can't Post

Well after a 22 hour day, my first shoot is "in the can".

Guess what?

I didn't finish up even one tape. When the main subject only lasts less than 5 seconds, even with other video, in the pits, etc., it still doesn't take up much time. Not to mention that the temps were 105 degrees (I'm told) and apparently I was dehydrated because I often felt ill throughout the day.

Anyway, now I need to get the 1s and 0s onto my computer. My mobo doesn't have a firewire port so I'm going to have to go to Best Buy and snag an addon card.

Even once this connectivity is set up, what then?

One bit of footage was shot for technical analysis so the team is wanting to get it A.S.A.P.

What's the quickest way to get this done?

I'm going to get some editing software, probably Vegas but for now all I need to do is extract one roughly 6 second clip and save it in a common format to send to the racing team.

Thanks for all your help,

Ken

Edward
Veteran

Sep 18, 2005, 7:20 AM

Post #2 of 5 (1285 views)
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Re: [Kenzilla] The "Newbie" Questions Keep Coming... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Like you said, you need a firewire card. Put the card in your computer, turn on the computer, and it should be AUTOMATICALLY detected. Now plug in the firewire cable (you'll probably need a 6-pin to 4-pin which may be a separate purchase - the card will probably be 6-pin and the xl-1 is 4-pin). Turn on the camera and it should be AUTOMATICALLY detected. Then simply start the capturing program and tell it to capture.

You might want to look through the "Beginner's Corner" articles beginning in the 4th issue of my newsletters at www.jetdv.com which talk about using Vegas including how to capture.
Edward Troxel
JETDV Scripts & Newsletters @ www.jetdv.com

Kenzilla
Novice

Sep 19, 2005, 11:19 PM

Post #3 of 5 (1221 views)
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Capture Programs Not Recognising XL1s [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Turn on the camera and it should be AUTOMATICALLY detected. Then simply start the capturing program and tell it to capture.

I've been Googling this problem for a few hours and frankly I have never seen a computing problem before that seems so wide spread with so few solutions.

I obtained a firewire card, got it installed, it shows up in "device manager" with a "working properly" message.

When I connect my XL1s to it via the 4 pin to 6 pin cable, put it in VCR mode and activate the Play/Pause mode, neither WinDV or Ulead Video Studio recognise the camera.

Like I said, I've been searching forums for quite a while now and I've seen where people did all sorts of things to try to solve this problem to no avail.

I'm hoping that it turns out to be something simple but at this point I'm not sure that's going to happen.

I don't have another camera or another PC to try.

I thought I would throw it up here on the off chance I might run across a solution.

Ken

PhelpsArts
User

Sep 20, 2005, 6:59 PM

Post #4 of 5 (1197 views)
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Re: [Kenzilla] Capture Programs Not Recognising XL1s [In reply to]	Can't Post

One thing to look at is does the camera recognize the computer, i know i had this problem with my XL2 and i had to send it back for repairs. But you should check and if the view finder says something like DV-out or DV-in or somthing to that effect when you connect it to the computer it is a camera problem, if it doesn't it is a computer problem...

-Rob
Cameras - Canon XL2, Canon GL1
Computers - Dell 8300, Mini ITX customized(on site PC editing), Apple powerbook G4, Apple G5
Editing - Final Cut Studio Suite HD, Pinnacle Liquid, Pinnacle Studio Pro

Kenzilla
Novice

Sep 20, 2005, 7:15 PM

Post #5 of 5 (1195 views)
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Re: [PhelpsArts] Capture Programs Not Recognising XL1s [In reply to]	Can't Post

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Interesting, I would think it would be the other way around, if the firewire port on the camera is bad, it wouldn't matter whether what I have plugged into it works or not, the camera won't see it. If the port is good, meaning the camera does sense the connection and shows the "IN/OUT" message in the viewfinder, it must be the computer. I guess the key would be whether merely plugging in a cable to the port would create the "IN/OUT" signal, I guess if the connection has to be complete from a working device, then the message wouldn't show and it might not be the camera. I need either another miniDV camera, or another firewire device, one would check the camera, the other the firewire card.

I just found out today that the LANC port on the same camera is bad, unless there is an explanation for it working with a Sony and not working with a Canon. Plus the prior owner of the testing device hooked it to an XL1 before shipping and it worked fine.

Wow, all these frustrating problems and I haven't even begun to edit or author....

Ken