Really confused about using dvx as a vtr (plz help)

[Mcph55]

OK, so all i want to do it print to video... (i know its not the best way but i have to for class), when i try and print to video with my dvx nothing shows up but blue screen...
however just yesterday it worked somehow!! when i went into FCP and went to the timeline, the timeline was showing up on my dvx LCD, so i went to print to tape and it worked!!! then the next time i open fcp it went back to the problem i have been having.


What am i doing wrong and how do i get it to work?


also - when i captured it succefully the one time to my dvx the print to video was outputting to 4:3 (the project was in 16:9) but it showed up in the correct 16:9 anamorphic format when it was played back on my dvx...
when i used a pro panasonic vtr at school it outputted the same project as before in 4:3
HOWEVER when played back on the deck it was not 16:9 as before (when i did it on my dvx) what is going on?

- Cody

 

[Oedipax]

The setting you need to pay attention to is under View/External Video. Make sure Video Playback and Audio Playback are set to Firewire, then set External Video to All Frames. You might have to run Refresh A/V Devices first for your DVX to show up.

As for the 16x9 vs. 4x3 issue, you will need to copy the 16x9 sequence to a 4x3 sequence prior to printing it out to tape so that it can letterbox your footage. Otherwise, you'd need something to unsqueeze the anamorphic footage from the tape on the way to display (some TVs can do this, for instance).

Hope that helps.

 

[Mcph55]

this helps a ton! i get why i need to letter box if i am using the panasonic deck, but why would final cut not just output to the aspect ratio of the timeline? or why would the dvx do it correctly and not the pro deck?


thanks,