HVX-200 streaming DVCproHD via FW400

[Barra]

I need a laptop for mobility as I travel a lot so can't consider the dual or quad G5.
Can anyone with experience (maybe from a DVexpo demo?) give me a clear, simple and definitive answer about the capture to laptop via firewire option -specifically to the Mac laptop pleeassee!!?

1. Will the HVX-200 streaming DVCproHD via FW400 (1394 output) capture through Final Cut Pro5 on the new Powerbook G4? - Specifically onto the new G4 Powerbook which can be upgraded to 7200 rpm drive (100gig) and 2gig of DDR2 SDRAM with ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics processor/128MB of DDR SDRAM ?

2. Will the P2 card fit into this Powerbooks new PC card slot: the PC Card/CardBus slot accepts Type I and Type II PC Cards, and transfer through FCP5 (as P2 viewer/driver I think is only supported by Windows)?

Panasonics new brochure clearly states:
"Simple Solution
Using just an AG-HVX200 and a Laptop computer (PC or a Mac) you can record via the 1394 output to the Capture window of your NLE. You can record preview or edit."

However it does not specify that recording can be done like this in native DVCproHD highest quality streaming output.
Neither does it give details of laptop spec's required for this simple solution. I could presume that the new G4 laptop would therefore work as it's the best and that FCP5 would capture with this as its the best, but I'm always cautious, and neither Panasonic nor Apple can confirm to me that this will be possible.

Actually, I'm not really into all this technical bull****, I prefer to be out shooting and creating, and I think it's really incredible that neither Panasonic nor Apple employees whom I have spoken with and emailed about this - are unable to answer me. This is not new unreleased technology - DVCproHD and G4 - what the hell... unfortunately it's new to me but surely technical staff in the broadcast dept of Panasonic should know and so should top level Apple technical staff....holy cow!

My worry is that with Apple the MXF files have to be "ingested" and converted to Quicktimes - that this will prevent the continous capture of streaming DVCproHD at 1gig per minute due to the G4 power limitations ? - OR please someone tell me from experience that I will have plenty of power to capture streaming DVCproHD from HVX to the PowerBook.

[Jan_Crittenden]

Barra asked:
1. Will the HVX-200 streaming DVCproHD via FW400 (1394 output) capture through Final Cut Pro5 on the new Powerbook G4? - Specifically onto the new G4 Powerbook which can be upgraded to 7200 rpm drive (100gig) and 2gig of DDR2 SDRAM with ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics processor/128MB of DDR SDRAM ?

This should work just fine.

2. Will the P2 card fit into this Powerbooks new PC card slot: the PC Card/CardBus slot accepts Type I and Type II PC Cards, and transfer through FCP5 (as P2 viewer/driver I think is only supported by Windows)?

Actually there is a driver that will be on the CD that comes with the HVX200 which will enable the PCMCIA slot to accept and mount like a hard drive the P2 card. This is one thing we did here.

>However it does not specify that recording can be done like this in native DVCproHD highest quality streaming output.

What else would it be? Of course it it is DVCPRO HD.

>Neither does it give details of laptop spec's required for this simple solution. I could presume that the new G4 laptop would therefore work as it's the best and that FCP5 would capture with this as its the best, but I'm always cautious, and neither Panasonic nor Apple can confirm to me that this will be possible.

Just make sure you have a fast drive, 7200 is perfect.

>Actually, I'm not really into all this technical bull****, I prefer to be out shooting and creating, and I think it's really incredible that neither Panasonic nor Apple employees whom I have spoken with and emailed about this - are unable to answer me. This is not new unreleased technology - DVCproHD and G4 - what the hell... unfortunately it's new to me but surely technical staff in the broadcast dept of Panasonic should know and so should top level Apple technical staf>f....holy cow!

And just who would that be? I can only say that you have not contacted me until about 4 minutes ago. Send me a private message with names please.

>My worry is that with Apple the MXF files have to be "ingested" and converted to Quicktimes -

The MXF wrapper is off of the P2 card. It does not go out of the 1394 port in a wrapper. It goes out looking just like the output of the AJ-HD1200 deck.


>that this will prevent the continous capture of streaming DVCproHD at 1gig per minute due to the G4 power limitations ? -

????? What power limitations?

> OR please someone tell me from experience that I will have plenty of power to capture streaming DVCproHD from HVX to the PowerBook.

It works just as if you were working in an edit suite, with an AJ-HD1200. The only caution is to upgrade the HDD to 7200rpm.

Best,

Jan

[Barra]

Thank you very very much Jan! I can now go ahead with all my equipment orders without worries - such a relief. You are indeed a STAR! And thank you for all your inventions and creations - it is a dream come true! Now we must compliment your efforts with great movies shot on the HVX200......

[mcgeedigital]

I edit uncompressed right now with a 17" powerbook, FCPro G-raid, Aja IO LA, and a Lacie FW-800 PCMCIA card .

I plan to shoot with the HVX, transfer the media over to the G-raid, and then import under File>import MXF in FCPro. Apple and Panasonic have worked VERY closely for just this kind of workflow and it will be a great solution!

Matt G

[Barry_Green]

For clarification, it is my understanding that when capturing through firewire, Apple natively writes the captured data as a Quicktime .mov directly. No MXF wrapper or ingest/import issues when capturing the live streaming data.

[mmm]

There won't be any 25p (PAL) issues in FCP 5 will there Jan? I doubt we know yet do we...? Is FCP ready for the PAL framerates?

Many thanks.

[jdv]

PLEASE correct me if I am wrong in reading this thread, but is what is being said mean that if you have a newer lap tap w/editing system that you don't need a P2 card at all (assuming you are willing to 'stream' the info the camera's gathering to the lap top)?

Or would you need at least one P2 card to download the information at its highest quality? This point has always confussed me (and I think a lot of others...).

Thanks for any help, John.

[evinsky]

"PLEASE correct me if I am wrong in reading this thread, but is what is being said mean that if you have a newer lap tap w/editing system that you don't need a P2 card at all (assuming you are willing to 'stream' the info the camera's gathering to the lap top)?"

This is correct.

"Or would you need at least one P2 card to download the information at its highest quality? This point has always confussed me (and I think a lot of others...)?"

No, the only unknown is the variable framerate, in other words the way FCP or other NLE will ingest the variable frame data into a particular time base.

[jdv]

No, the only unknown is the variable framerate, in other words the way FCP or other NLE will ingest the variable frame data into a particular time base.

So - why are people getting so upset about the P2 prices?

I can see why people who film "live" events like sports or docs might not want a lap top tied to the camera, but I was under the impression that most of us want the camera for narrative work...

If we really don't need a P2 card, well then, this camera just got a lot more attractive (and it was already pretty good looking).

Ideas? John

[Benton]

yes John,
This is probably what I am going to do for the beginning - I still think that the camera should be free for steadicam or roaming work
a firewire cable is only so long , but for the initial - getting to know the camera phase
I am thinking of this solution - until a firestore like solution comes out...