Hey ladies and gents,

I know I am not a regular here, but I am attempting to print my 27 minute short film for a film festival this weekend. I need some serious help, because what should be a slam dunk easy thing to do has caused me to be running on 2 hours sleep in the last 2 days as I try to figure this our. Here is a summary:

FCP 5 (I know, it's old.)
Canon HV20
Connected with fire to an even older iMac that has handled some pretty complex processing in the past.

Long story short, I have everything set up to HDV 1080 60i, HDV Firewire, and in A/V devices tab of the Audio/Video setting, I only get the option to choose about 6 or 7 Apple Firewire 720x480, no HDV option at all. And even when I record using a 720x480 , it only records the audio to tape, no video at all. I really need a favor from someone. I need to get this to another producer TOMORROW who is putting all the films together on one DVD and he is using Adobe Premier, so I am trying to keep it in a raw, compatible format. Do I have other options of getting him the film, or can someone tell me how to get it to tape? I really appreciate any knowledge.

You can't monitor HDV out of your computer with your current set up, and I don't have the experience to explain everything you need to buy in order to do that. That might be why you are having trouble printing to tape, and you may have more luck copying the project into a new standard def project.

Here's what I would do: Export your timeline using "quicktime conversion"
Where it says "export" select "movie to quicktime movie" from the drop down. Click "options". In the window that pops up, just under "video" click "Settings".
In compression type choose "DV/DVC PRO NTSC" Choose BEST for quality and 16:9 for aspect ratio (if it's for DVD you can select interlace from the drop down) and click "okay".
Now go into "size" choose "NTSC 720x480 16:9" from the drop down. DEFINITELY check "de-interlace source video" HDV is interlaced differently than SD so this is important. Click "okay". Make sure sound is checked and you should be good to go.

I would just give the guy that quicktime and remind him it is widescreen anamorphic, but I guess if he has a pc it may not work for him. So you can bring that back into final cut and hopefully you'll have more luck printing to video.

Remember: the video doesn't necessarily look right when viewed in quicktime, but it should work in final cut etc
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/flash-web-video/128852-quick-time-problem.html

Thank you. I will try soon and report back with results. May be a while.