Hello Everyone,

This place is awesome! Great questions and advice. This is my first visit here, and I wanted to ask one simple question:

What are the steps to using the Panasonic DVX100 unit as a transcoder to feed in a VCR signal for use in Final Cut Pro 3 or 4?

Right now, I have the VCR connected (via RCA connection) to the in/out plugs on the side of the camera while the Firewire is connected to my Mac.

I switch to VCR mode on the unit, but I haven't figured out how to "crash capture" the VHS footage through it. Do I have to copy the old VHS footage on DV tape and THEN capture with FCP?

Thanks a bunch!

Kwan

I'm pretty sure you have to capture to tape first, then to FCP off tape.

I read somewhere on this forum that its possible to use the DVX100 as an analog to digital converter (dubbed Pass Thru by Sony). I'm sure you just hook up the analog source into the composite inputs on the DVX100, plug the firewire from the cam to the computer, change a setting in the menu (I think AV-IN or something like that), and record in FCP.

I found the thread: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13671&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

Chris:

Thanks for pointing that out.

Kwan:

Give it a try and see if it works - maybe to a comparison to capture to tape first to see which gives the best quality.

I've used the DVC80 as a pass-through device just fine. I've also captured to tape first, and I've not noticed a difference -- I'm not sure why there would be, though. The cam is converting analog to digital and either putting it on tape or sending it to the computer's hard drive -- either way it's converting analog to the same digital signal, isn't it?

I will say that using the DVC80 as a pass-through device is better than using my Dazzle DV Bridge. I wish it wasn't (so I wouldn't use the DVC80 for non-cam purposes), but there you go.

Guys,

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I will try them out when I have a bit of time to work...

Cheers!

Kwan