Hello All:

I know this may not be the best place to ask this but since I would like comments from XL2 operators I'll put it here.

I've evaluated the trial version of the "Console" software but would like some feedback from others that own or tried it out with the XL2. The price is heavy to say the least ( $700.00 CDN) but honest opinions would be much appriciated.

Thanks in advance.

Brian

I tried it out with my XL2 also. I think the software is very impressive, but not quite worth the pricetag they are asking. Maybe Canon will see that it isn't selling well at that price and will reduce it accordingly.

-gb-

My opinion is the same as Greg's. I've posted previously in more detail in the XL H1 forum so feel free to search there for my expanded comments.

I agree guys and feel that we're all of the same opinion on the price etc. However my hope is that someone on the forum has paid the price and can give us all a full and honest opinion of it's value both in studio and field.

It appears that we all liked what we saw in the trial version but to me that's not a true test of the product said with fingers crossed that someone will come forward.

Brian

I'm interested in this software for the XL2:

http://www.canon.ca/english/index-products.asp?lng=en&prodid=886&sgid=5&gid=2&ovr=1&epage=viewall

But unfortunally it's only for PC/Windows XP users. I have a Mac PowerBook. What can I do to get this software running on my Mac?

Well, hm... you can get a program that allows a Mac to run windows, called Virtual PC. Of course, this is a tragically slow emulation, and will likely affect your ability to capture video. I think there are some others, probably with the same issues.

The much, much better plan, if you want to run windows and other windows based programs, is to buy a Windows PC. I know that's not a good answer, but there are real sacrifices that Mac users have to make in exchange for those round, white, Logan's Run good looks.

DJ

Virtual PC won't even allow you to watch a DVD much less capture video. It's also money down the drain as MS very likely purchased it in order to allow it to wither away to nothingness. It has never run properly since MS acquired it. You COULD buy a PC, or you could buy a new Intel-based PowerBook that will boot into XP. Apple released software (the horribly named Boot Camp) recently that will allow booting XP on the new machines.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303572

This is beta software, so there's no telling yet just how well it works, or if it's fast enough to capture video. One thing is for certain: it can't possibly be any worse than Virtual PC from Microsoft.

Virtual PC won't even allow you to watch a DVD much less capture video. It's also money down the drain as MS very likely purchased it in order to allow it to wither away to nothingness. It has never run properly since MS acquired it. You COULD buy a PC, or you could buy a new Intel-based PowerBook that will boot into XP. Apple released software (the horribly named Boot Camp) recently that will allow booting XP on the new machines.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303572

This is beta software, so there's no telling yet just how well it works, or if it's fast enough to capture video. One thing is for certain: it can't possibly be any worse than Virtual PC from Microsoft.

Works really good! They had Console running on an Intel based Imac in the Canon booth at NAB. Cindy, from Canon, told me that it ran great in this configuration.

-gb-

Thanks guys. If anyone have anything else please share it.

Hey Guys,

So as you know the XL2 is compatible with canon console.
My crappy PC laptop doesn't have a four pin firewire jack needed to connect to the XL2. I could always buy a PCMCIA card for it but blah... then I'd have to transfer.

I did make the plung for a MacBook Pro which has a six pin Firewire.

Does anyone know if Bootcamp and Windows XP will translate the six pin jack on the MacBook Pro and allow me to use to it run console?

Any hardware problems I should expect in detecting firewire?

Do I need to upgrade my internal harddrive to support a duel-boot laptop?
If so, how large should I partition my drive?

Will I be able to see my digitize content (via Console - AVI I believe) on my OS X Partion?

Lastly, When the hell is canon going to get a clue and make console an OS X version and do you think that the next camcorder generation will have console included?

Thanks for your toughts!
-C

Hey Christopher,

The macbook pro should have full functionality when running windows. The only thing that I cannot get to work in windows is the DVI connection. The footage that you capture will be available when you reboot to the mac OS. Bootcamp makes your windows partition visible on your mac desktop. As for partition size... it is really up to you as far as how much space you can spare, and how much you will actually be using windows on your mac.

Bootcamp will run you through a step to create the required partition so you do not need to upgrade any of the hardware on the macbook pro. Just make sure that you have windows with Service Pack 2 integrated into the boot disk.

I don't know that you will be able to transfer any files over 4 Gigs however because of the whole Fat32 to Mac platform dillema. I do believe that the best way to accomplish what you are trying to do is to purchase DV Monitor Pro. Check it out,, it has some really cool features and you can organize all of your clips and import them directly into FCP. No, I have no affiliation with the company. It is just really cool software.

Hope this helps.
Ryan

Thanks for the Info Ryan!
Check out the software - indeed it looks great (I should have done more research before getting console). They even have an HD version for the HVX-200.

-C

Christopher, I can confirm that it will run. I saw Console running on an Intel iMac in the Canon booth at NAB 2006. The Canon rep told me that it was running better in Bootcamp than on a native Windows machine. Her words, not mine.

You should be good to go.

-gb-

Here's my experience with running Windows XP on an Intel MacBook Pro:

1) Download Bootcamp installer from apple.com

2) You *must* update your intel mac with the latest version of OSX (10.4.10 at time of writing) and you *must* also update to the latest Boot ROM Version and SMC Version. Here's what System Profiler says about my mac:

Boot ROM Version: MBP11.0055.B08
SMC Version: 1.2f10

Do NOT attempt these updates on battery power!!!!!!! If your battery fails you risk irrepairable damage to your chipset.

3) Run Bootcamp. If your firmware is not up to date it will not allow you to continue. Bootcamp will burn a Windows drivers CD - you will use this *after* you install Windows. It contains drivers for Mac-specific functions such as the DVD-drive eject button and a solution to the lack of a right-click button on the touchpad.


4) Bootcamp installer it will create an NTFS partition on your Intel Mac's internal drive. Default size is 10Gig I think. This should be fine for most purposes, the assumption is that if you are doing lots of video or other storage-hungry activities then you will have a dedicated external NTFS drive anyway. You only really need your Bootcamp partition to be large enough to run Windows XP plus any other software you want to install. I do NOT recommed you chose FAT32 for your Bootcamp partition - it's unstable and cannot self-repair like an NTFS drive can. Although you will NOT be able to write to the NTFS partition from within OSX, you will be able to read it. Software is available to read Mac HFS drives from within a Windows environment however. I have searched far and wide and have not been able to find a method of writing to NTFS drives from within OSX - although clearly Apple can do it when Bootcamp creates an NTFS partition!!!
I guess there are some liscencing issues going on. The creation of an NTFS partition should not affect your data in OSX... all the same, backup backup backup before you attempt to run Bootcamp!!!!!!!!

5) You will need a proper installer for Windows XP with SP2. I do not recommend XP Home Version because it doesn't fully recognise multi-core processors - it will function fully, but it won't take advantage of your Mac's multi-cores. Obtain XP Pro if possible. Legally. :)

6) After Bootcamp has created an NTFS partition on your Mac you must reboot whilst holding down the "option" key. This will open up a boot menu where you can choose to boot OSX or Windows. Chose Windows and proceed with a Windows intall.

7) Once you have Windows running nicely, install the Mac drivers for Windows from the CD which Bootcamp made.

8) Immediately go online under Windows and obtain all the latest updates, for security purposes.

9) Ghost your nice clean Windows install for inevitable future Windows disasters!

10) Amaze and confound your friends as they see the Windows XP boot screen..... on a Mac!!!!!

I have not tried to use the 6 pin Firewire in Windows...... I hope it works for you :)

Thanks for the great info everyone.
I wonder if the firewire 800 port will translate.

-C

I'm tryng to use Canon Console with an intel MacBook Pro and Parallels.

With no luck does'nt even open,a message appear telling me


"HARDWARE ACCELERATION OF DISPLAY IS NOT SET TO FULL.SELECT FULL IN "DISPLAY PROPERTIES".

wich i did but nothing happens


windows XP pro

macbook pro

Canon Console 1,1



des anybody was able to run this software with Parallels?


thank you

I'm tryng to use Canon Console with an intel MacBook Pro and Parallels.

With no luck does'nt even open,a message appear telling me


"HARDWARE ACCELERATION OF DISPLAY IS NOT SET TO FULL.SELECT FULL IN "DISPLAY PROPERTIES".

wich i did but nothing happens


windows XP pro

macbook pro

Canon Console 1,1



des anybody was able to run this software with Parallels?


thank you


This will not work as, at least for now, Parallels does not recognize the firewire port. It will recognize the USB ports but not firewire. This is a shame as I want to be able to use the BlueBarn setup program for my XL2 but it only works in windoz so for the moment, you will have to use Boot Camp. I want to upgrade to Leopard but like any major release, I think I'll wait for the dust to settle a little on Leopard before I upgrade and put boot camp on my MacBook Pro.

Has anyone tried using Canon Console 1.1 or any othe version with Windows Vista?

you might get a faster answer from Canon...

1-800-828-4040

JS

Good point. I just thought I'd float it out to the forum. I'll give them a call.

I've been working on this too. I can get it to install by setting the compatibility mode on the install file to "windows XP (sp2)". You can do this by right-clicking on the file. I've got it installed fine and can start it up. However, I have been unable to get it to recognize the camera which may or may not be a Vista specific issue.

I just got off the phone with tech support. I asked if Console 1.1 would run on Windows Vista. I was told NO. However, it was not the most convincing no I've ever heard. I was not able to get any explanation.

Perhaps Aaron has found a work around with the XP compatibility mode method? I'd be very interested in knowing if anyone has been able to use 1.1 with Vista successfully.

Thanks.

Seel also:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost.php?p=676103&postcount=5

Thanks Pete

I was able to install Console on Vista using the compatibility properties but have no luck in having it recognize the XL2. Adobe On Location has no problem finding the camera on Vista but so far Console does not want to talk to the XL2.

I replaced vista with XP and now it works fine on a Dell XPS 1530. It was a look of work but well worth it and the laptop seems to run faster now.

Thanks Hoy. You have probably saved me a lot time. I'll stick with XP for now.

Latest findings.

Console 1.1
Works on XP with the XL2 - Toshiba Celeron 1.6 laptop 5400 rpm dirve
Works on XP with the XL2 - Dell XPS 1530 Dual Core 2.2 + 7200 rpm drive

Console will not recognize any A1 or XL2 on Vista installed on the Dell XPS 1530

Dell XPS 1530 with Windows -XP WILL NOT recognize the Canon XH A1.

However the XH A1 works with the Toshiba Celeron 1.6 (Windows XP) records without dropping any frames but only plays back at about 10 frames per seconds; the saved files are fine. Test shot with 30F looks fine.


It took a lot of hours, but I was able to set up a dual boot on the Dell XPS 1530 to test this scenario.

Sorry - dobbelpost :-(

Even later findings ;)
My first post and completely new to Canon XL2 - but and "old rat" within analog videoediting (S-VHS) and optimizing PC's and OS's for editing since 1994.

Console 1.1 works "like a charm" with Vista Home Ultimate (laptop) and Vista Ultimate (stationary) - both 32bit.

Laptop:
Acer Aspire 5920G with C2D T7500@2.2Ghz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD (5400rpm), Nvidia 8600M GT 512MB and 15,4" WXGA (1280X800).

The problem with Vista (and installing Console1.1) is probably, that Vista cannot handle the downloadable self-extracting Console file - which eventually extracts into another self-extracting file!

Here's how I did it:
1. Download Console1.1 from a Canon-site to a seperate new folder.
2. Use f.ex WinRar 3.71 (free trial) from http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm to extract file in same folder.
3. The extraction makes a new empty folder "CANON" with a subfolder "CONSOLE11" which contains 2 files: "Console License Key Order Form.PDF" and "CONSOLE11N.EXE"
4. Then extract CONSOLE11N.EXE in this folder.
5. Extracting produces another folder: "CONSOLE11N" which now contains 3 files:
+++ Canon Utillities CONSOLE 1.1.MSI
+++ Data1.CAB
+++ Setup.EXE
6. The above 3 files are what we can use under Vista.
7. Rightclick on the "setup.exe" file and choose 'Properties'
8.Then choose 'Compatibility' and tick on *Run this program...' and choose from scrolldown menu the 'Windows XP (with Service Pack 2)'. Leave rest 'as is' - and close window.
9. Then you are good to go by dobbel-clicking "setup.exe" file. Installation should then start.
10. Be sure to use a prober DV-cable: Firewire 1394a (400Mbps) and NOT the 1394(b) cable (FireWire II 800Mbs)

Good luck ;)

BTW:
Some things to consider using Console1.1 on a laptop with Vista installed:

1. Buy extra batteries for your laptop if using it 'in field' - as Conole is a real power-consumer (as is Vista with all "Eye-candy" turned on).
2. At least 2 GB of RAM (Vista swallows a lot). 5400 or 7200rpm HDD is not that important - as miniDV-video is only about 3,5MB/s.
3. Buy a laptop with a good monitor. Bring a calibration-picture with you (ex on a memory-stick) - when buying from a real hardwarestore - if you want to use the color-functions in Console1.1.
4. I use this site for calibrating LCD and CRT monitors: http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/. This site also has downloadable calibration-pictures.

Console1.1 is quite handy - but the price is way too expencive for me.

Regards
Kim from Norway

and thanks for a very helpfull and informative forum ;)

I'm tryng to use Canon Console with an intel MacBook Pro and Parallels.

With no luck does'nt even open,a message appear telling me


"HARDWARE ACCELERATION OF DISPLAY IS NOT SET TO FULL.SELECT FULL IN "DISPLAY PROPERTIES".

wich i did but nothing happens


windows XP pro

macbook pro

Canon Console 1,1



des anybody was able to run this software with Parallels?


thank you


Is an Ati Radeon HD the video card used in the macpro ?
If is yes, the problem is the video card that is not has native hardware acceleration, i have the same problem and surfing the internet found a thread where its describe the problem. I´m considering upgrade for a Geforce Quadro or somenthing like that. If u find the solution please post it. Thanks