Capturing/Digitizing in FCP

[Toetagger]

Here is the problem in a nutshell:

We recorded using a Sony HDV camera recording onto a DV tape. We then connected the camera to a external HDD using firewire and then the HDD to the laptop using USB. We did this because the MacBook we are working with does not have firewire. Now FCP is not recognizing the input. We have used this camera to capture on a powerbook like this but the HDD plugged into firewire and not USB, is that the problem? We do not have access to the powerbook like we do the MacBook that is why we are trying to use it.

Thanks for your time and thoughts.

[zactommo]

Your out of luck sorry.

Firewire allows daisy-chaining of devices like you did with the powerbook, but USB and Firewire are not compatible formats, and USB does not allow daisychaining of devices.

No matter what you do, THIS WILL NOT WORK! You need to get a computer with firewire if you want to capture digital video.

[cmchamp]

As Zac indicated, that won't work.
You will need to obtain somehow a computer with a FireWire (iLink, 1394a) interface. Additionally, if you are thinking of editing anything but standard definition, you'll be even more disappointed in the performance, or lack thereof, from the MacBook.

[cw4u]

Don't most HDV cameras have a USB in/out port as well? I know older cameras did. The quality might be poorer since the throughput of firewire is more than usb, but it still might be an option for him.

Can iMovie recognize USB devices like that?

[Toetagger]

I figured I was pretty much out of luck. We are working with SD because we aren't ready for HD. Last night we did a migration of the macbook to an iMac to see if that would work with getting final cut over there so we could at least capture through the HDD. If we capture straight to the iMac we should be able to transfer the file(s) to the external HDD and use them on any machine correct?

[chris2pher]

Yeah once the files are on a drive then you can edit them on a computer with out firewire.