problem capturing FX1 into Vegas 6

[jbeale]

I have a Sony HDR-FX1 camera (HDV 1080i mode) connected via firewire to my WinXP SP2 box. I am using the trial version of Vegas 6.

According to the Vegas Video Capture 6.0 help file, I should select "IEEE 1394/MPEG2-TS Device" from the DEVICE drop-down list. The problem is that I don't have such an option. All I get is:

The device 'Microsoft AV/C Tape Subunit Device' could not be opened.

Do I need a special driver installed for this camera? I didn't get any CD or software with the camera. Thanks for any help!

[jbeale]

I found the answer- contrary to the instructions, for the trial version of V6 apparently you must capture from within V6 instead of checking the "use external capture" config setting. From within V6 the HDV capture works fine.

[Jib Armed]

The problem is you bought an fx-1.

[thisiswells]

Jim Armed, bro. Why the harsh words?
John Beale has been a contributing member of video communities online for many years.

[Jib Armed]

Its nothing personal, I used that camera for two months on a feature I shot and I swore to myself I would never touch one again. Sorry John, no harm intended.

[Philipp]

Its nothing personal, I used that camera for two months on a feature I shot and I swore to myself I would never touch one again.


Why? Didn't you like the colour? Get the Z1. It's black. ;)

[Jib Armed]

To tell you the truth I am not a believer in the HDV format. I shot close to 100 hours on the camera(FX-1) and really got to know it well. First off, the MPG-2 format of aquisition is an inferior codec for a "Master Quality" The, second thing, HD is not there yet for DVD's. So you ask why would I shoot 35mm and transfer to HD. Well because that is the highest quality one can achieve in the film to digital world. Then one would ask "Isn't HD higher res / Quality than SD" Yes, but I feel in the FX-1's / HDV's case that the mpg-2 might be higher rez, but lacks in quality(Compression) I also read that somewhere else on this site. The one thing I noteced, when I pluged an FX-1 into a production monitor, it projected this rather odd Vertical Noise. I felt as if I was looking at an image that was printed on one of those old dot matix sliding tape printers from the 80's. You know the ones where you can see the lines go back and forth. That is my best explanation for what I saw. On both an HD and SD PVM the results were the same.
My explanation for HDV...$$$. With the whole industry hype about HDTV is on the way and Cable companies offering limited HD progamming now stirs the consumers(and potetail clients) to act as if they don't have HD now then there are being left behind, the same goes for some filmmakers.
Having shot film for most of my carrer, Im having an easy time adjusting to the differences in production. It is the "Look" that is hard to accept. For Lower budgets I love the DVX, with a little time spent doing color timing you can get some great shots. Stuff that I swear could cut in with s16 shot with good zeiss primes.
When it comes to look there is no sacrafice for me, its my heart and soul, and most important of all the way I make money. For a client, I would put my carrer on a limb with a DVX, but not with that FX-1 camera. If a client insists on HD, I point to the varicam and cinealta. If they can't afford renting them then they don't need HD. SD will suit their needs just fine.

[Philipp]

Good point(s). Still, I was stunned and still (after months) are by the options in editing and the detail of the picture. For me Barry talked me into the Z1 with his shoot3 Test. The Z1 seemed to and does fulfill all my needs perfectly. (Besides I would of course like to operate one of these CinevariWow-Things everyday. But once a month is enough to keep my feet on the ground about HDV. It IS VERY compressed.)