HVX200 AND 200A and OnLocation CS4 for Windows

[jboswell]

Ok, I know, there are a TON of threads about this, but none seem to address the issue and I am shooting in 2 days so I am hurting to figure this out.

When I hookup my 200a to my computer via Firewire and put it into 1394 Device mode, nothing shows up when the camera is in any HD mode. As soon as I flip the switch on the back of the camera (over to VCR/DUB Tape), pop, up comes footage in OnLocation (after I turn the camera off and then on again.)

The problem is that it's all in SD... I try to set it to something higher than 480 and there are no other options in the Rec Format selector. Why?

If this works I am able to use 2 cameras for my shoot this coming weekend. I would really, REALLY like to use 2 cameras! Like, Really!

Anyhow, there must be some setting somewhere that I am missing because I see all these threads about people recording 720p right into OnLocation and it makes me insanely jealous.

Also, I will be running this camera (that is hooked into OnLocation) in 1080PA and it won't have a P2 card in it to record to at all, just want to verify this isn't going to be a problem!!!

Thanks for any help as usual everyone!

Joe

[Spec-Comm]

Here is a tested step-by-step procedure for this workflow.

1: Open Adobe Onlocation

2: Connect HVX200A via Firewire *Do Not Turn The Camera on Yet

3: Once Connected Turn Camera on in VCR Mode *Make Sure the Camera is set to P2

4: At this point Onlocation should finally recognize that there is a camera present

5: With no P2 cards in the Camera Press Record *The Camera should still be in VCR mode before you press record

6: Press Stop in Onlocation to stop capturing

7: Now a clip should be captured in the Shot List Panel. In that same panel you should see the Camera Make/Model, duration etc...

8: That's It export when you are done

This test was done in 1080P. :)

Sincerely,

Andrew Hoffman
Vice President
Specialized Communications Corp.
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858 (US)
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
andrewh@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com
www.twitter.com/speccomm

[David Jimerson]

If you're in the 720p "N" modes (Native), there is no signal over 1394.

You need to shoot in the 720p "P" modes.

[jboswell]

3: Once Connected Turn Camera on in VCR Mode *Make Sure the Camera is set to P2

4: At this point Onlocation should finally recognize that there is a camera present

5: With no P2 cards in the Camera Press Record *The Camera should still be in VCR mode before you press record


Little bit of confusion here. Turn the camera on IN VCR mode? You mean turn the camera on, THEN set it to VCR mode? Or is there a setting to have it automatically goto VCR mode when turned on? Either way, unless I am doing step 3 wrong, step 4 definitely does not work.

OnLocation (CS4) still doesn't recognize the camera (HVX200a) and when I hit Record (with no P2 cards in the slot) on the camera it just goes back into Camera mode.

I don't know if it being a 200a or using OL4 has any bearing here or not, but it is still not working.

Also, not in PN, in 1080PA.

Joe

[David Saraceno]

I've just turned the cam on.

I'm not certain of this, but I'm sure pa mode works with OL4.

Try 1080/24p and see if that is recognized

[jboswell]

Tried all the modes pretty much... 720 24/30p, 1080 30/24/p/PA

[David Saraceno]

Is this the trial version or the full retail version

What OS are you using on what computer?

[jboswell]

Full version, XP Pro 32b SP3.

Thing is, following the instructions above there is a failure, when I hit record in VCR mode it just jumps back to camera mode. Whenever I hit record in fact it gives me a 1394 Disconnect message.

As soon as I switch over to Tape mode everything works better than perfect, EXACTLY like it is supposed to, absolutely no dice in P2 mode.

J

[Spec-Comm]

It means to turn the camera, make sure that it's in P2 mode, then put it into MCR mode so that there is the P2 thumb nails on the flip out lcd screen. Then you use your Laptop as your VF and start shooting.

Andrew Hoffman
Vice President
Specialized Communications Corp.
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858 (US)
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
andrewh@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com
www.twitter.com/speccomm

[Spec-Comm]

I actually just tried it and you don't even have to go into MCR mode. I also confirmed that you hit REC button in Onlocation not the camera.

Andrew Hoffman
Vice President
Specialized Communications Corp.
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858 (US)
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
andrewh@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com
www.twitter.com/speccomm

[Spec-Comm]

I guess the new instructions would be as follows:

1: Open Onlocation
2: Connect HVX via firewire
3: Turn on HVX in (While in Record mode on Onlocation)
4: Press record in Onlocation
5: Press Stop in Onlocation

Sincerely,

Andrew Hoffman
Vice President
Specialized Communications Corp.
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858 (US)
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
andrewh@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com
www.twitter.com/speccomm

[jboswell]

I have seen a few other threads where people have had problems with the camera outputting HD to a firewire card. Pretty sure that is the case here, I can't think of anything else that is wrong. It totally works in SD just fine, it gives me absolutely nothing when I am in P2 mode, OL doesn't see the camera and the camera feels likewise.

The instant I turn it over to tape mode I have 4 different SD options and it is just happy as a clam to record stuff for me... Pretty sure it is a rosewill card, I will pull it and take a quick look at the model number just so it is logged, or maybe someone else can confirm it isn't the card.

Either way it was only 9$, pretty much what a firewire card should cost but who am I to argue, I guess if I can scrape up some money I will go get a 40$ card and see if that changes the situation.

J

[WorldStuntTeam]

HELP!!!!

I have been using Adobe OnLocation to record DVCPRO HD footage directly to disk but I cannot get it out of the program???!!! I try the export feature but it takes hours if not days to export a 10 minute clip and after it does it won't play right??!!!

I don't understand why I can't just record direct to disk with onlocation and have the files immediately available to work with and import into FCP. I am using Adobe CS4.

I need some learning tutorials but all I have been able to find our the ones for older versions of OnLocation and the interface is COMPLETELY different now. Please help!!

[jboswell]

C:\Documents and Settings\%currentuser%\My Documents\Adobe\OnLocation\4.0\%projectname%\Clips

When I capture SD footage (because thats the only footage I CAN capture) it just writes it to AVI's in that folder there... All I do is double click those AVI's and they play fine, I would imagine you can just drop those directly into Premiere or AE or FCP, shouldn't be a need to export anything.

J

P.s. Replace %currentuser% with your username and %projectname% with the name you gave the project in OL4.

[David Saraceno]

Where have you set your project folder?

The clips are recorded there.

[OnLoMark]

Mr. jboswell is correct: you don't need to export. You can access clips directly through the OS file manager. To jump straight to the project folder, go File Menu > Open Project Folder.

As for jboswell's problem getting OnLocation to work DVCPRO 1080, a series of diagnostic questions/suggestions:
1) Is XP "seeing the camera"--that is, does the OS make the sound indicating it found a new device? (OnLocation depends on the OS to establish communication with the camera, so if the OS gives no indication that it has connected, then the problem is upstream of OnLo.)
2) What length is the FireWire cable? With DVCPRO, you should go no longer than 4.5 meters. 3) Even if your cable is not too long, I suggest trying another one just to rule it out as the culprit.
4) If you have access to another HVX200, try hooking it up to see whether the camera's the problem.
5) Try installing OnLocation on another computer. DVCPRO is supported in trial mode, so you don't have to worry about burning an activation.

Incidentally, the sequence in which you connect the camera and launch OnLo shouldn't matter. In testing, we both launch OL with the camera already hooked up and connect the camera after launching the app.

Lastly, OnLocation should work fine regardless of whether there's a P2 card in the camera. The only impact is that hitting Record at the camera will not cause OnLo to start recording.

[jboswell]

1) Yeah XP is seeing it, I get the "Device has been attached" sound. Also, it works fine in SD mode so it definitely sees it, although, maybe that is the problem, some incorrect setting in HD mode? Though I have tried all the modes in 720 and 1080 I think and played with settings galore.

2) About 5 feet of cable. Again, works in SD and works when I offload from the camera to a HDD... HD, nothing. I did however try another cable (a 12" cable) that didn't work either.

4) This I do not have access to, which is part of the problem I suppose, I had the opportunity to, but I forgot, it has been a busy day. It would've told me straight away if it was the card I think.

5) The only other computers I have are render nodes and a Mac laptop, I suppose I can plug it into the Mac and that would tell me if the camera is jacked up, but I am fairly certain it isn't. Regardless I will see about doing this tomorrow.

Thanks for the suggestions though, very much appreciated on all fronts.

If anyone has any other troubleshooting ideas I am all ears!

Joe