Darin Boville
March 30th, 2006, 11:16 AM
Hi folks,
This is my first post--just bought an FX1 and I need a few pointers from more experienced hands...
My immediate problem is to produce output for streaming quicktime though later I'll be working with making DVDs, etc. My background is photography though I've done a little video work and have spent a lot of time with this and other forums trying to get up to speed.
I would like te quicktime to be "widescreen format," perhaps 400 pixels horiz.
Here are the problems I've enountered:
1) Slow workflow--too many steps. Right now I've found two ways to get from HD to my widescreen quicktime: Download the HD to iMovie, edit while sqeezed, and then convert to quicktime; and downconvert in-camera to DV anamorphic using quicktime pro and then resize screen, output back to iMovie for editing.
Both produce acceptable results but are so slow (slow download/slow conversion to quicktime in the first case; slow conversion from Quicktime to iMovie/slow import into iMovie/slow conversion back to quicktime in the second case)--I have slow Macs and am waiting for the Mac/Intel towers later his year or early next. Downloading HD is 1/4 to 1/8 speed; converting to quicktime, etc is very, very slow.
Is there a way to resize the anamorphic DV from within iMovie? That would save a big step. All I see is the otion to allow it to letterbox which gives me the black bars, which I don't want. I can download DV is real time which is a big savings.
2) The FX1 and iMovie don't seem to get along. iMovie will often not see the incoming footage when I have the HDV->DV conversion turned on. The FX1 complains that the firewire cable is plugged in when it is not. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't--mostly doesn't. I can download in Quicktime Pro with no problem. I've seen mention of this problem on the forums but did not see a solution.
3) I have an old FCP that I could maybe upgrade if I had to, or spend the $99 upgrade money elsewhere if needed (though I'd be sorry to lose the simplicity of iMovie in editing) if that is part of a solution. However I'm not in a position to spend gobs of money on new hardware or software--getting the FX1 was a stretch (I'm doing sort of a volunteer journalism in my part of the country). Need to squeek by on what I have for the most part until new Macs arrive.
Thanks for any advice you can offer!
--Darin
www.darinboville.com
This is my first post--just bought an FX1 and I need a few pointers from more experienced hands...
My immediate problem is to produce output for streaming quicktime though later I'll be working with making DVDs, etc. My background is photography though I've done a little video work and have spent a lot of time with this and other forums trying to get up to speed.
I would like te quicktime to be "widescreen format," perhaps 400 pixels horiz.
Here are the problems I've enountered:
1) Slow workflow--too many steps. Right now I've found two ways to get from HD to my widescreen quicktime: Download the HD to iMovie, edit while sqeezed, and then convert to quicktime; and downconvert in-camera to DV anamorphic using quicktime pro and then resize screen, output back to iMovie for editing.
Both produce acceptable results but are so slow (slow download/slow conversion to quicktime in the first case; slow conversion from Quicktime to iMovie/slow import into iMovie/slow conversion back to quicktime in the second case)--I have slow Macs and am waiting for the Mac/Intel towers later his year or early next. Downloading HD is 1/4 to 1/8 speed; converting to quicktime, etc is very, very slow.
Is there a way to resize the anamorphic DV from within iMovie? That would save a big step. All I see is the otion to allow it to letterbox which gives me the black bars, which I don't want. I can download DV is real time which is a big savings.
2) The FX1 and iMovie don't seem to get along. iMovie will often not see the incoming footage when I have the HDV->DV conversion turned on. The FX1 complains that the firewire cable is plugged in when it is not. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't--mostly doesn't. I can download in Quicktime Pro with no problem. I've seen mention of this problem on the forums but did not see a solution.
3) I have an old FCP that I could maybe upgrade if I had to, or spend the $99 upgrade money elsewhere if needed (though I'd be sorry to lose the simplicity of iMovie in editing) if that is part of a solution. However I'm not in a position to spend gobs of money on new hardware or software--getting the FX1 was a stretch (I'm doing sort of a volunteer journalism in my part of the country). Need to squeek by on what I have for the most part until new Macs arrive.
Thanks for any advice you can offer!
--Darin
www.darinboville.com