Cannot Capture in FCP

Dana Salsbury · November 22nd, 2007, 10:36 AM

Everytime I start FCP 6.0 on my Macbook Pro 2.16 w/ Leopard I get the warning 'Unable to locate external device', and therefore I cannot capture from my Sony FX1. When I go to 'Log and Capture' I get 'Unable to initialize video deck'. I'm in HDV mode. Please help. This is what I've tried:

1 The FX1 is in VTR mode.
2 The FX1 and firewire work fine capturing to my other Mac (a Quad).
3 I changed my firewire cable.
4 Turned off and on my camera / Mac in every combination, and restarted FCP many times.
5 The FX1 is the only device plugged in.
6 It shows up on my System Profiler.
7 In FCP I have View (Menu) > External Video> All Frames set.
8 This is a fresh install of FCP set to DV-NTSC.
9 The Canvas menu is set to Image+Wireframe.
10 I have unplugged and re-plugged all connections multiple times.
11 On the FX1 I made sure the menu setting "A/V > DV Out" is set to OFF.
12 I trashed the FCP preferences manually -- no change. (FCP Rescue bombs out)
13 I tried connecting a different FX1 -- no change.
14 I reinstalled Quicktime. The install failed, saying 'The Installer could not extract files from the package for QuickTime730_Leopard.'

I used to have sporadic performance capturing to my PC, but since it shows up on the System Profiler it should have problems. Do I reinstall FCP next? Is there a special way to do that?

Edward Carlson · November 22nd, 2007, 11:24 AM

You said that it is set up with DV-NTSC. Try changing it to HDV.

Dana Salsbury · November 23rd, 2007, 12:09 AM

Thank you Edward. I'm confused, but happy. The DV-NTSC setting works on my Quad with HDV tape, but on my laptop it requires the HDV setting. I'm able to capture now, but with a different window that on the Quad, even though it's the same FCP 6.0! So you're the man, and someday I'll figure this out. Until then I've got to get caught up!

Thank you, and happy Thanksgiving! I'm very grateful.

Sean Hill · November 23rd, 2007, 01:19 PM

Yeah I'm having the same problem too....... I've done the latest updates from Apple and my XHA1 will capture in iMovie HD but it will not see my camera in FCP 5.1.4 FCP will recognize my little Panasonic PV-G300, but not my XHA1. It's recognize my XHa1 before but not now, I wonder if it's because I recorded my latest footage in HDV 24F? Any help?

November 22nd, 2007, 10:36 AM	#1
Dana Salsbury Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 859	Cannot Capture in FCP - Help! Everytime I start FCP 6.0 on my Macbook Pro 2.16 w/ Leopard I get the warning 'Unable to locate external device', and therefore I cannot capture from my Sony FX1. When I go to 'Log and Capture' I get 'Unable to initialize video deck'. I'm in HDV mode. Please help. This is what I've tried: 1 The FX1 is in VTR mode. 2 The FX1 and firewire work fine capturing to my other Mac (a Quad). 3 I changed my firewire cable. 4 Turned off and on my camera / Mac in every combination, and restarted FCP many times. 5 The FX1 is the only device plugged in. 6 It shows up on my System Profiler. 7 In FCP I have View (Menu) > External Video> All Frames set. 8 This is a fresh install of FCP set to DV-NTSC. 9 The Canvas menu is set to Image+Wireframe. 10 I have unplugged and re-plugged all connections multiple times. 11 On the FX1 I made sure the menu setting "A/V > DV Out" is set to OFF. 12 I trashed the FCP preferences manually -- no change. (FCP Rescue bombs out) 13 I tried connecting a different FX1 -- no change. 14 I reinstalled Quicktime. The install failed, saying 'The Installer could not extract files from the package for QuickTime730_Leopard.' I used to have sporadic performance capturing to my PC, but since it shows up on the System Profiler it should have problems. Do I reinstall FCP next? Is there a special way to do that? __________________ www.LegacyHDV.com Weddings \| Corporate \| HMC150s \| FCPX \| Encore \| Lion

November 23rd, 2007, 12:09 AM	#3
Dana Salsbury Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 859	Thank you Edward. I'm confused, but happy. The DV-NTSC setting works on my Quad with HDV tape, but on my laptop it requires the HDV setting. I'm able to capture now, but with a different window that on the Quad, even though it's the same FCP 6.0! So you're the man, and someday I'll figure this out. Until then I've got to get caught up! Thank you, and happy Thanksgiving! I'm very grateful. __________________ www.LegacyHDV.com Weddings \| Corporate \| HMC150s \| FCPX \| Encore \| Lion

November 23rd, 2007, 01:19 PM	#4
Sean Hill New Boot Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 21	Yeah I'm having the same problem too....... I've done the latest updates from Apple and my XHA1 will capture in iMovie HD but it will not see my camera in FCP 5.1.4 FCP will recognize my little Panasonic PV-G300, but not my XHA1. It's recognize my XHa1 before but not now, I wonder if it's because I recorded my latest footage in HDV 24F? Any help? __________________ Sean Hill www.sean-hill.net

November 22nd, 2007, 11:24 AM	#2
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	You said that it is set up with DV-NTSC. Try changing it to HDV.