What would be the best workflow that would enable the use of the Sony DR60 hard disc recorder with Final Cut Pro. I will be filming in HDV with either a Sony FX1 or a Canon XH-A1.

I've been looking forward to purchase Sony's Dr60 but today, when I was going to purchase it, I couldn't find any information about the compatibility between Final Cut Pro/Mac and Sony HD in DV Standard Definition.

In Sony's release they talk about ".avi" (native PC) and "dv raw" for SD. FCP uses ".mov". Does anyone know how this workflow (DV footage - DR60 - Mac FCP) should work?

Everyone I talked to told me I should convert the avi into movies, but what is the worth to buy such an expensive equipment in order to do not waste time with te capturing process and do waste time encoding videos???

If anyone has purchased this item, please help with this question. I've till tomorrow to buy it and now I'm thinking it will be a waste of money...

And if anyone know any other portable Hard Disk that works with Dv footage on Mac FCP, please let me know.

I'll aprecciate your help.

Firestore fs4 works well with mac. The HD pro version also encodes HDV to quicktime so you can edit HD footage right away too.

The sony version will need to hve the files converted if working in HD as FCP will not take m2t files easily. If you record with the sony unit to raw DV that will go striaght into FCP. The firestore costs less and does DV and HDv so it may be a better bet, although the design of the sony seems to be much better.

Sind the DR60 records to m2t you need to convert before being able to use them in FCP easily. MPEG streamclip is fairly fast and free and it will convert the clip.

I just returned the Firestore Fs4HD as it only did m2t and it was a pain. Got the pro version and it records to quicktime which goes into FCP right away.

[If you record with the sony unit to raw DV that will go striaght into FCP.[/QUOTE]

I'm actually considering the FS4 now but I just don't get it... the Sony "raw DV" is understood by FCP as a QT movie file? (so it will go straight into FCP)
Which format is "raw dv"? Is it dv with no compression or is it ".dv"?

It should record 'raw dv' to .dv as you said, and fFCP will handle that fine.

IF you later work in HDV, then the FS4 HD Pro will record HDV to quicktime which can go straight into FCP.

Thanks for the information, Patrick.

I thought m2t was what HDV Cameras would deliver to tape, so the native HDV format in FCP.

While it may record to M2t to tape (I'm not sure) it imports as quicktime when I import from my Canon XHA1 and of course, that plays right away in FCP. I had the Firestore HD and when I tried to use m2t files, they needed to be converted first.

Anyone have any luck using the HVR-DR60 with Final Cut Pro yet?

I would love to get one of these to use with my FX1 if it will record files that I can use in FCP.

THANKS!

...and they said that the plug-in for for Final Cut Pro 6.0.2 would be available soon.

So, even though the Apple website says that Final Cut Pro 6.0.2 works with the HRV-DR60, it currently does not until Sony releases the plug-in.

You can play the clips in video mode and via firewire from the HDD, FCP will recognize the stream and convert to prores 422 - 23.98.

Not as good as Log and Transfer but not bad.

Frederic

Did you do this as a log and capture? I tried this with mine last night and it never detected a device. Basic firewire easy setup, maybe?

Did you do this as a log and capture? I tried this with mine last night and it never detected a device. Basic firewire easy setup, maybe?

Yes Edwin,

Choose easy setup first (HDV - Prores 422, 23.98)

Then, change the device control to HDV Firewire

Then Log and capture - it'll ask you for a clip name and will control the HDD.

F

Hmm... Have you changed any settings on the DR60 itself? While playing with it last night, the log and capture window came up fine with "VTR OK"; but when I attempted to play or capture, I got the beachball until I either force quit FCS or turned the DR60 off.

You shouldn't get the "VTR OK" when you select the HDV>Prores preset. It'll only ask you for a clip name. No controls.

That time I was using HDV 1080i60 (as that's what I had recorded in); but still having no luck with ProRes 422, 23.98. HDV Firewire. It brings up the no options (capture now?) window, actually starts to capture a few frames, then beachballs. If left alone, it does put a clip in the browser with 0:00 length; but still locks up until the DR60 is turned off. Aaargh... hurry up with that plugin, Sony.

If you shot 1080i (non progressive) I wouldn't choose the prores capture setup. I would try the regular Sony HDV. You probably have already.

You should shoot some 24pa and try the HV > prores setup. Works great.

It acts like a communication problem somewhere between the DR60 and the Mac... I might try a different firewire cable (soon as I scounge up another one). It wants to see the drive, but then locks up. Copying to the computer in "Computer" mode with finder is also somewhat slow and buggy, using that cable. Communication with the V1U (using the supplied 6pin to 4pin) works just fine.

Frederic, I followed your set-up as you instructed using FCP6, and I did get the pop up where you typed in a clip name. But then, the cueing tape window came up and nothing happened. Does it just take a while? Does one need to also hit play on the DR60? Any suggestions? thanks for your attention....

Jerry
Sioux City, Iowa

The link for the DR60/FCP plugin has appeared on Sony's website! Much rejoicing!

...unfortunately, you get a 403 error when you click on it; but at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel.


http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/minisites/HDV/HVR-Z7U/unit_software.html

the link no longer works...."age not found error"

Does anyone know of this software ships with the Z7?

My Z7 didn't come with any software. The link above used to have a description of the FCP plug-in software, but it is gone now. The page also had a link to a pc version of the transfer software which was active.

http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/pro_hdv/fcp_plugin/

Here is the plug-in. It's used with Log and Transfer. It's a converter like XDCAM EX clips. You cannot use them natively still. A bummer but at least it's not another app.

Anyone had any luck with this? Apparently I'm not using it correctly, but there's precious little information with it.

http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/pro_hdv/fcp_plugin/

Here is the plug-in. It's used with Log and Transfer. It's a converter like XDCAM EX clips. You cannot use them natively still. A bummer but at least it's not another app.

Thanks a lot! Goodbye mpeg streamclip!

Anyone had any luck with this? Apparently I'm not using it correctly, but there's precious little information with it.

What issues are you having with it? Can't help you until you tell us what's going on?

To be honest, I get the feeling I'm not using the log-and-transfer function correctly. Can some one walk me through how they're ingesting DR-60 footage with log-and-transfer and the plugin?

EDIT: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Turns out maybe I was impatient. After using the "Add folder" button and dragging the HVDF folder off the DR-60 to the Browse window, it did see the clips! However, the actual m2t files are still grayed out in Finder and it gave me a warning about "Unsupported format or file structure"; but it DID display the clips AND transcoded them to prores422. I notice the only pulldown choice under Preferences is 24pA.

OK. Maybe time to play some more, but this is a lot quicker than Mpeg Streamclip; and maybe I won't have to ebay it after all.

I am still interested in hearing other folk's workflows with this plugin, however.

Is this plugin working for you guys? Would be a great help to be able to finally use this hard drive with FCP.

Been working fine for me, both DV and HDV coming in fine - with HDV transfers actually faster into my MBPro.

Been working fine for me, both DV and HDV coming in fine - with HDV transfers actually faster into my MBPro.

Hi Jamie what versions of OSX and FCP are you using? I am on leopard 10.5.2 with FCP 6.03 and I can not get my macbook pro or i-mac to see the compact flash unit that came with my Z7. It uses the same plug in as the hard disk unit and I am on v1.01-1 of the sony plug in and it still will not work.
I have informed sony of this but I am concerned that I may have another problem with my mac set-ups.

Just wanted to update you guys...That plugin works pretty well. I've actually learned a great way to keep my data organized as well. I work on the road recording a rock band's life for web/dvd delivery. Since there are many days that I am shooting a lot of footage, what i've started doing since I got this plugin to work for me is:
1. I create a new folder everyday with the show # and date
2. In that folder I recreate the directory structure of the actual HVR-DR60
So I make a "VIDEO" folder with a "HDVF" folder in it.
3. I move all the media off of my DR60 to the "fake" archive I created
4. I just direct Final Cut to that directory in the "Log and Transfer" window

Note- You won't have the ability to preview ANY of your clips in the Log and transfer window, but at least, as everyone says, it is faster/better organized that using MPEGStreamclip. Also of note - I have a high rate of failure of clips. There seems to be corrupted files for every day I'm out in the field. Usually the failure rate is about 5-10 percent. So I just keep these clips in M2T format and Streamclip it if I need them later.

Does anyone know if they've ever released a firmware update for the DR60? It would seem warranted at this point in time.

Ok this thread has been dead a while but I still have a few questions.
I'm using the DR60 with FCP and it works like a champ
if I hit shift apple 8 and then turn on the harddrive it reads it every single time.

Now my question is, what should my settings be set at, what does FCP do to the clips when it imports them (I mean how does it transcode them?)

if I'm shooting on a HVR-V1U in 30p 1080i what should I set FCP to

I'm thinking HDV 1080 30p?
Is this correct or should I use AIC or 1080 60i.

I just want the right way so it doesn't have to take a long time to render.

I have no need for prores at this moment.
Thanks,
Jason

And I hope this makes sense, I'm a little confused after re-reading it.

I have the latest updates for FCP and Leopard on last year's Mac Pro