I am going bananas.

I cannot believe that Canon seriously expect me to fork out for Console when it is so unbelievably unintuitive and user unfriendly.

However, as I have tried many alternative programs that have failed to connect or communicate effectively with my camera, it seems I have no alternative but to figure out how to capture footage from tape on my XH A1 to my PC hard drive using Console.

Can someone enlighten me? I need you to give me the very basics - including what mode the camera should be in. I can happily record to tape and hard drive simultaneously in Ext Cont mode, but that's no freaking use when I want to capture stuff I film and have filmed when the camera isn't attached to the computer. Is what I want to do even possible, or am I barking up the wrong tree trying to use Console for this at all?

Help much appreciated!

I gave up on Console, but have had great success using Adobe OnLocation with my XH-A1.

Have you tried HDV split? It is free, & works perfectly. I have succesfully used it to capture live as well.

Good luck,

Bryce

Yup, tried HDV Split, that didn't work. Can't remember exactly what its problem was, whether it wouldn't acknowledge the camera or what, but gave up on it without success. Did you manage to make it work with the XH A1?

My XHa1 connects nicely with Adobe OnLocation CS4. We earlier bought the Console software, which imho is an overpriced PITA, thinking to use it to calibrate our cameras to NAB when we have to provide broadcast video in pool situations...definitely not very helpful. It has some remote value in setting up the presets in the camera but not much more than that. For $600 I expected more. / Battle Vaughan/ miamiherald.com video team

HI Donal,
Yes it works no problem. Am i correct in assuming you are not able to capture to any software so far? If this is true, maybe you have a firewire problem, not a software problem. Also, what is the camera set to when you are trying to capture your footage?

Bryce