Mac hardware Support for the Canon XLH1 at DVinfo.net

Joe Roach · January 11th, 2006, 07:58 PM

What do I need for production and post production to allow the camera to use it's full quality and functionality. I have read posts regarding Kona cards and HDV Decks but not certain which pieces are required and which are better buys than others. I'm a film student which puts me on a budget.

*Mac G5 (1TB HDD, 2GB Ram, Dual Processor)
*Canon XLH1
*Final Cut Pro HD

Ronan Fournier · January 12th, 2006, 12:27 PM

You don't need specific card if you use HDV via Firewire. But you'll need one if you want to use the HD-SDI output of the camera, and a RAID disk system to record it in 4.2.2. (you should start with the Firewire HDV, which is simplier and already great, IMO)

Joe Roach · January 12th, 2006, 12:56 PM

Ronan,
Many thanks for your reply. I appreciate the opportunity to view other film makers work. Was Le Collecteur shot in HDV?

I am looking to remove the compression contained in DV and use SDI. I believ that I need to connect the XL H1 to a HD capable deck to record uncompressed using the HD-SDI output of the camera. I suppose that I could also look at HDD like Firestore but I am uncertain if they offer HD capability. From the HD deck I wll need to transfer the data via SDI to a Kona or other HD capable adapter.

If my approach aboce is accurate then do you have any suggestions on deck type, HDD vs Tape Decks, and HD adapters for the Mac.

Regards,
Joe

Andrew Khalil · January 12th, 2006, 01:26 PM

the firestore can record HDV (compressed) and there is a DVCProHD version coming out later (less compressed) but I don't know if there is anything portable that will allow you to record at the same quality the HD-SDI output gives you. Hopefully someone more expreienced than I in HD can answer that more helpfully.
In terms of HDV, as far as I know, you capture and edit it like normal DV through firewire, no cards or expensive stuff other than the computer and camera needed.

Joe Roach · January 12th, 2006, 01:36 PM

Andrew,
Thanks for your reply regarding firestore. I'm hoping this solution will actaly be better than a "deck" approach and less expensive.

Understand your comments regarding "business as usual" for HDV but I am looking to expand my capabilities therefore the search for the best way to get SDI HD into a MAC goes on...

Tks again.

Ronan Fournier · January 12th, 2006, 03:15 PM

Hi Joe,
No, "le Collecteur" was shot in 16mm, it's my 1992 student master movie. At that time, I wouldn't have guess what digital video, especially HD, would offer !

Regarding the HD-SDI I'm not an expert. But I think that, for the moment, there is no easily portable and low cost recording solution in 4.2.2. (the only one would be an HD-cam VCR on batteries, very expensive to rent). So this output is essentially made for studio shootings I suppose (RAID disks). Maybe in the future some kind of Firestore solutions will be able to record the high rate of a 4.2.2 signal.

If you absolutely want a 4.2.2 signal, you've got to buy the Panasonic HVX200, but you'll loose the possibility too change lenses... We are all dreaming of DVCProHD camecorder with interchangeable lenses under $10k!

(sorry for my approximative use of english)

Jason Varner · January 12th, 2006, 10:33 PM

I'm using a decklink extreme card in the mac at work to capture uncompressed SDI. We have a Seritek 1TB 4 drive SATA II raid that works great. To get uncompressed HDSDI you would probably need an 8 drive setup. Sonnet makes 8 port SATA cards that could be used for HDSDI. Another thing to consider is that the card allows you a variety of codecs for capture. There is a whole world between 25mbps and 1.4gbps. A great resource for drive arrays and such is barefeats.com. Good Luck, Jason.

Joe Roach · January 19th, 2006, 08:55 PM

Thanks to all for the previous post but now I have a more basic question... It looks like Apple's FCP 5 does not support the Canon XLH1. I was looking forward to play with some HDV footage. Anybody know of any workarounds?

Andrew Khalil · January 19th, 2006, 08:59 PM

I'm pretty sure FCP does support it - it supports HDV, so it should support the XL-H1. It also supports uncompressed and DVCProHD, so you shouldn't have problems there.

Bob Grant · January 23rd, 2006, 03:33 PM

Grass Valley have their InfinitiCam deck that's way cheaper than HDCAM. Records to ZIP disks from HD SDI. Their MJ2K codec should be very good.

Nick Hiltgen · January 23rd, 2006, 10:21 PM

FCP partially supports it. just not 24F (and maybe not 30F) yet.

January 11th, 2006, 07:58 PM	#1
Joe Roach Tourist Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: pasadena ca Posts: 4	Mac hardware Support for the Canon XLH1 What do I need for production and post production to allow the camera to use it's full quality and functionality. I have read posts regarding Kona cards and HDV Decks but not certain which pieces are required and which are better buys than others. I'm a film student which puts me on a budget. Mac G5 (1TB HDD, 2GB Ram, Dual Processor) Canon XLH1 *Final Cut Pro HD

January 12th, 2006, 12:27 PM	#2
Ronan Fournier Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Paris, France Posts: 201	It depends. You don't need specific card if you use HDV via Firewire. But you'll need one if you want to use the HD-SDI output of the camera, and a RAID disk system to record it in 4.2.2. (you should start with the Firewire HDV, which is simplier and already great, IMO) __________________ http://www.songesdemoai.com/

January 12th, 2006, 03:15 PM	#6
Ronan Fournier Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Paris, France Posts: 201	Hi Joe, No, "le Collecteur" was shot in 16mm, it's my 1992 student master movie. At that time, I wouldn't have guess what digital video, especially HD, would offer ! Regarding the HD-SDI I'm not an expert. But I think that, for the moment, there is no easily portable and low cost recording solution in 4.2.2. (the only one would be an HD-cam VCR on batteries, very expensive to rent). So this output is essentially made for studio shootings I suppose (RAID disks). Maybe in the future some kind of Firestore solutions will be able to record the high rate of a 4.2.2 signal. If you absolutely want a 4.2.2 signal, you've got to buy the Panasonic HVX200, but you'll loose the possibility too change lenses... We are all dreaming of DVCProHD camecorder with interchangeable lenses under $10k! (sorry for my approximative use of english) __________________ http://www.songesdemoai.com/

January 12th, 2006, 10:33 PM	#7
Jason Varner Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 119	Raid-n-Stuff I'm using a decklink extreme card in the mac at work to capture uncompressed SDI. We have a Seritek 1TB 4 drive SATA II raid that works great. To get uncompressed HDSDI you would probably need an 8 drive setup. Sonnet makes 8 port SATA cards that could be used for HDSDI. Another thing to consider is that the card allows you a variety of codecs for capture. There is a whole world between 25mbps and 1.4gbps. A great resource for drive arrays and such is barefeats.com. Good Luck, Jason.

January 19th, 2006, 08:55 PM	#8
Joe Roach Tourist Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: pasadena ca Posts: 4	XLH1 arrived and I now have a more basic question re:FCP support Thanks to all for the previous post but now I have a more basic question... It looks like Apple's FCP 5 does not support the Canon XLH1. I was looking forward to play with some HDV footage. Anybody know of any workarounds?

January 12th, 2006, 12:56 PM	#3
Joe Roach Tourist Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: pasadena ca Posts: 4	Ronan, Many thanks for your reply. I appreciate the opportunity to view other film makers work. Was Le Collecteur shot in HDV? I am looking to remove the compression contained in DV and use SDI. I believ that I need to connect the XL H1 to a HD capable deck to record uncompressed using the HD-SDI output of the camera. I suppose that I could also look at HDD like Firestore but I am uncertain if they offer HD capability. From the HD deck I wll need to transfer the data via SDI to a Kona or other HD capable adapter. If my approach aboce is accurate then do you have any suggestions on deck type, HDD vs Tape Decks, and HD adapters for the Mac. Regards, Joe

January 12th, 2006, 01:26 PM	#4
Andrew Khalil Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 424	the firestore can record HDV (compressed) and there is a DVCProHD version coming out later (less compressed) but I don't know if there is anything portable that will allow you to record at the same quality the HD-SDI output gives you. Hopefully someone more expreienced than I in HD can answer that more helpfully. In terms of HDV, as far as I know, you capture and edit it like normal DV through firewire, no cards or expensive stuff other than the computer and camera needed.

January 12th, 2006, 01:36 PM	#5
Joe Roach Tourist Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: pasadena ca Posts: 4	Andrew, Thanks for your reply regarding firestore. I'm hoping this solution will actaly be better than a "deck" approach and less expensive. Understand your comments regarding "business as usual" for HDV but I am looking to expand my capabilities therefore the search for the best way to get SDI HD into a MAC goes on... Tks again.

January 19th, 2006, 08:59 PM	#9
Andrew Khalil Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 424	I'm pretty sure FCP does support it - it supports HDV, so it should support the XL-H1. It also supports uncompressed and DVCProHD, so you shouldn't have problems there.

January 23rd, 2006, 03:33 PM	#10
Bob Grant Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,570	Grass Valley have their InfinitiCam deck that's way cheaper than HDCAM. Records to ZIP disks from HD SDI. Their MJ2K codec should be very good.

January 23rd, 2006, 10:21 PM	#11
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	FCP partially supports it. just not 24F (and maybe not 30F) yet. __________________ I have a dream that one day canon will release a 35mm ef to xl adapter and I'll have iris control and a 35mm dof of all my ef lenses, and it will be awesome...