HDX900 - workflow with Final Cut Pro?

M

mattwhelan

New member
hey all i have access to an HDX900 (the new HD-SDX900)

It has a 6pin firewire out on the camera - Badass!? .. well it should be

I cant figure out the settings that need to be in place to capture in Final Cut Pro on my macBook.

Has anyone been able to make this happen successfully yet? (i can see the "deck" i just cant get machine conctrol).

any help would be great
thanks
--Matt--
 
I think capturing with machine control on Broadcast cameras is rather tricky. I tried a couple times with my DSR370 with mixed results, and frequent crashes. I think you can capture live, but I'd be surprised if you could capture off cards in a tape-style workflow. Does it work with the P2 import function?
 
Not certain whether FCP will control the HDX. You could always try it as an uncontrollable device and just play through the HDX and do capture now to FCP. Make certain that your FCP settings conform to the tape format you shot. You are far safer capturing via the HD1200A (or HD1400) deck. I have not used an HDX900 yet but I wonder whether there is a menu setting directing output through firewire. Certainly even the HVX has 1394 output/control options and I have definitely had fun with the HD1200A menus. I would only attempt capture to the Mac Book Pro if you have the Express card 3/4 firewire adaptor or a SATA adaptor connected to drive. You most assuredly cannot capture firewire to a device on the same bus and capturing to the system drive is never recommended.

Ned Soltz
 
Ahh, HDX 900 is DVCPRO HD tape, not p2. Again, I think as ned suggests, you would be better off with a deck. Keep in mind that as you are shuttling tape through that camera, you're wearing down heads, etc, everything in the tape path. You may also want to try firewire basic as the deck control protocol.
 
The HDX actually doesnt have P2 cards; as far as i know. I have the camera in front of me and i dont see anywhere where a card could fit. I think there might be some confusion between this and the HVX - (and i know that's my fault cause i'm in the HVX msg board. I just wasnt sure where else to post).
 
Hey all, I'm using the HDX900 for a commercial next week. I've got it a few days ahead to play. Any suggestions on menu settings to give me "filmish" look. I've had the HVX200 for some time now and am familiar with those set-ups. Any similarity?
Thank
Lommadogg
(This is my firstpost - Did I do it right?)
 
I own the HVX and have op'ed alot with the SDX but havent used the HDX yet

that said...

the settings for a "film-look" are kinda universal in all these cams (thats speaking in generalities, for sure) but my point is the settings/scene files are similar... just tinker

quick n dirty would be....

up the detail coring and taking down the master ped will up the contrast and help with noise reduction and gives in a somewhat "in" high contrast look, boost gain as needed to add grit and grain (if needed)

play with sat levels....
play with shutter speeds...
stop way down to cut DOF/open way up to shorten DOF...
white bal off some bizarre colors, for effect....

just your basic tinkering man..... what kinda look are you trying to create?
 
Lommadogg said:
Hey all, I'm using the HDX900 for a commercial next week. I've got it a few days ahead to play. Any suggestions on menu settings to give me "filmish" look. I've had the HVX200 for some time now and am familiar with those set-ups. Any similarity?
Thank
Lommadogg
(This is my firstpost - Did I do it right?)
Click to expand...


You might want to try filmlike 3 as opposed to 1 or 2. Panasonic really stepped outta the loop in this camera as this new gamma function is not a variation at all. This function is available in the Main Menu/Paint/Gamma settings. You would also notice the light to be cut down quite a bit BUT in essence the picture would also gain a stronger dynamic range. Its a LOT similar to the Varicam's F-REC but technically the gamma is not raw but processed and HDTV ready.


Jac
 
I am from South Africa and work for a television company as camera operator.They recently bought a HDX900 !!Very cool but how does the workflow work to maintain the ultimate quality capturing 720P.Do they need to get a HD-SDI or can they capture directly thru the camera?They are currently using fx1 and Hd100 but they all downconvert to SD(DV PAL).I don't want this to happen with HDX900.
 
Firewire will give you the best capture quality. What's recorded on the tape will transfer losslessly through the firewire.

If you want to do a live capture (without recording to tape at all) then yes, HD-SDI would be best. But if you're recording to tape, firewire capture is all you need and will deliver the best quality. You'd need to be using an editing program that supports DVCPRO-HD, such as FCP 4.5 or later, or EDIUS Broadcast 4, or Avid XPress Pro HD 5.2.3 or later.
 
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