Directly record to powerbook at DVinfo.net

Riley Harmon · November 19th, 2005, 12:33 AM

Okay,
I know it's possible to directly record to a powerbook using the 'capture now' function in FCP5. Is there any software, or work-around to be able to have the powerbook (not asleep of course) in a backpack connected to a bus powered drive and your camera connected as well...being able to trigger recording on the PB without having to get it out of the backpack to press capture now? Thanks.

Shane Ross · November 19th, 2005, 05:21 AM

Nope. Sorry.

Shane

Boyd Ostroff · November 19th, 2005, 08:02 AM

I don't think you can do that. Aside from the remote control aspect, how would you keep the computer awake while it's closed up?

But as an alternative to FCP for powerbook capture you might look at BTV pro. It has some nice features like full screen monitoring, it's cheap shareware and you can try it for free:

http://www.bensoftware.com/btvpro.html

Mark Sloan · November 21st, 2005, 07:09 PM

There are hacks to make Powerbooks work while closed, but a huge part of ventilation for them is through the keyboard, so I don't recommend it. Going with a HD that records directly from DV input would be the way to go.

Boyd Ostroff · November 22nd, 2005, 10:21 AM

Yeah, and having it confined inside a backpack as well as closed would really present a heat problem. My powerbook runs very hot just sitting on my desk!

A. J. deLange · November 30th, 2005, 10:48 AM

One of the features of BTV Pro is motion detection i.e. it will start recording when it senses a change in the video. Thus you might be able to kluge up an arrangement where you close the aperture of the camera when not desiring to record and open it when you want to start. You can adjust the threshold sensitivity and how long you want recording to keep going after motion stops so it would be possible to get static shots of some reasonable duration this way. None of this would help with the heat shedding problem though. Sounds as if the Firestore is a more practical, if more expensive, way to go.

Boyd Ostroff · November 30th, 2005, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. J. deLange

Sounds as if the Firestore is a more practical, if more expensive, way to go.

Or maybe.... a tape in the camera? ;-)

November 19th, 2005, 12:33 AM	#1
Riley Harmon Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 424	Directly record to powerbook Okay, I know it's possible to directly record to a powerbook using the 'capture now' function in FCP5. Is there any software, or work-around to be able to have the powerbook (not asleep of course) in a backpack connected to a bus powered drive and your camera connected as well...being able to trigger recording on the PB without having to get it out of the backpack to press capture now? Thanks.

November 19th, 2005, 05:21 AM	#2
Shane Ross Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 539	Nope. Sorry. Shane

November 19th, 2005, 08:02 AM	#3
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I don't think you can do that. Aside from the remote control aspect, how would you keep the computer awake while it's closed up? But as an alternative to FCP for powerbook capture you might look at BTV pro. It has some nice features like full screen monitoring, it's cheap shareware and you can try it for free: http://www.bensoftware.com/btvpro.html

November 21st, 2005, 07:09 PM	#4
Mark Sloan Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 346	There are hacks to make Powerbooks work while closed, but a huge part of ventilation for them is through the keyboard, so I don't recommend it. Going with a HD that records directly from DV input would be the way to go.

November 22nd, 2005, 10:21 AM	#5
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Yeah, and having it confined inside a backpack as well as closed would really present a heat problem. My powerbook runs very hot just sitting on my desk!

November 30th, 2005, 10:48 AM	#6
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	One of the features of BTV Pro is motion detection i.e. it will start recording when it senses a change in the video. Thus you might be able to kluge up an arrangement where you close the aperture of the camera when not desiring to record and open it when you want to start. You can adjust the threshold sensitivity and how long you want recording to keep going after motion stops so it would be possible to get static shots of some reasonable duration this way. None of this would help with the heat shedding problem though. Sounds as if the Firestore is a more practical, if more expensive, way to go.