Dumb but simple?

TonyTwo-Times

TonyTwo-Times

Member
This hopefully has a simple answer, but I'm too new to see it! When I try to import directly from the P2 card in-camera to FCP 5.1.2, I get an error message saying FCP cant detect any firewire connection - it imports fine with DV from the HVX. Any ideas guys?
 
With log & capture I just get the colourbar screen, with import P2 I get... nothing. The message saying No Firewire Detected comes first... ?
 
import directly from camera into FCP!?!?! bad, BAD - BAD idea! in fact, i didnt even know it was possible. as a RULE, you want to move the footage from the camera/p2 card onto your hard drive (and preferably NOT your boot drive) BEFORE importing into fcp.

log and capture of DV and importing P2 from the hvx into fcp are two VERY different processes. dv uses log and capture direct from tape via firewire like any other camera. p2 content needs to be first transferred to a hard drive then either imported via "import panasonic p2" or "log and transfer" - depending on your version of fcp.
 
and if you dont have the panasonic p2 drivers installed, your mac wont even see the camera/p2 media
 
I doff my hat to you, wgzn. A further stupid question - a guy at the store did the downloading of the drivers for me - how can I be sure they are on my Macbook Pro & working?
 
ok, here is the process step by step.

- power off your camera
- insert p2 card into camera (if its not already there)
- connect camera to mac via firewire
- be sure camera media switch is set to p2 (not tape)
- power on camera
- switch camera into mcr/vcr mode
- push and hold mcr/vcr button again and hold down for 3-4 seconds to enable 1394 device mode (blue screen will read "1394 device connect"
- DONE.

if the drivers are installed (and current) the camera will appear on your desktop after a few seconds. open that volume and drag both the contents folder and lastclip from the card into a new, empty folder on your hard drive. then import that into fcp as explained above.

ALWAYS remember to power off your camera before attaching/disconnecting it to your mac. there have been several stories of folks frying their cameras fw port by hot-plugging it.
 
Last edited:
"import directly from camera into FCP!?!?! bad, BAD - BAD idea!"

Just for the record, this method has worked great for me for over a year,
with FCP version 5.1.4. On critical footage, I backup the MXF files, but so far,
have not needed them. Also, according to everything I have read, the card
cannot be accidentally written to in this mode.
 
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