GL2 and the FS-4 not working at DVinfo.net

Michael Pennington · July 15th, 2006, 09:20 PM

Hey guys, i have a new FS-4 and it communicates with my GL2 but when I hit record the counter doesn't move and it doesn't record anything. It does act like it though. The indicator pauses when i hit pause and it shows record when i hit record but the counter doesn't move and it records nothing. I have tried every trick i've heard about on this site and on the web but nothing works. I have been trying to get Focus to call me back but since i'm in Thailand on location I can't get a phone call. Does anyone have a work around for this issue or has anyone heard of anything that will work? The only thing I haven't done is had it replaced. Being in Bangkok it's a bit hard...

Any help would be perfect.

Thanks,

Michael

Michael Pennington · July 17th, 2006, 08:32 AM

I just upgraded to the FS-4 Pro and all my problems went away. For now...

Matt McEwen · July 17th, 2006, 03:25 PM

Hi Michael,

Glad you are up and running. From your first report, it almost sounds like the camera was PAL (or NTSC) and the FS-4 was the opposite (your issue is typical of what you would see). There should be no difference between the FS-4 and FS-4Pro with a GL2. FS-4 and Fs-4Pro are PAL or NTSC, they are not switchable.

Hope that helps.

Matt

Michael Pennington · July 17th, 2006, 11:17 PM

I thought it recorded but it didn't. I have the GL2 and i'm not sure how it's set but I do believe that it's NTSC by default. The FS4 does not record anything. It acts like it does. It shows the pauses and records but the counter does not move and it records nothing. I have tried this with the FS4 and the FS4 Pro and still nothing. Is there something I need to set on my GL2 to get it to work right with the FS4 pro?

Any help would be great!

Michael

Randall Allen · July 18th, 2006, 10:04 AM

Michael:
I too have a GL-2 and FS-4 combo. I have only seen what it sounds like your experiencing in one configuration. Cable in the wrong port on the FS-4. I know it sounds silly to ask you to verify the cable location but after 10+ years in IT, you would not believe how many times I have seen stuff like this happen.

Here are my settings just so you can compare.

FS-4:
Record Menu: Normal
Control Menu: Tapeless

GL-2:
System Menu: Dv Control - on

Camera will display [DV IF] when turned on but not connected to FS-4. Once connected to FS-4 it will change to [Stop].

I read somewhere that there was an issue that someone had where his FS-4 would only record if the Display Type was set to DV NTSC, but I have not had any such problems.

Hope this helps....

Randy

Michael Pennington · July 18th, 2006, 10:14 AM

Ok, i bought the FS-4 from a dealer here in Thailand. So... That means it's a DV-PAL and not DV-NTSC. They only sell DV-PAL outside America. So this is why mine doesn't work. My GL2 is from American and is a NTSC. The signal is different and won't communicate properly. So, now I have to order a FS-4 that is DV-NTSC and all will be fine... I hope.

This totally makes sense too. I have not had anyone have this same exact issue because everyone i've talked to has a FS-4 that is DV-NTSC.

Kind of a load off my mind but now I have to play the Thailand hurry up and wait game.

Thanks to all who have tried to help.

Alex Savin · August 4th, 2006, 11:57 AM

I have same problem:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=72985

Icons are changing, but no actual recording. And it is for sure not the problem with the cable.

Trevor Bray · August 25th, 2006, 03:32 AM

Hi Michael
Sorry to hear about your FS4. I have bought an NTSC FS 4 instead of a PAL unit. I live in the UK. Perhaps we could swap? mail me.
Trevor Bray

July 15th, 2006, 09:20 PM	#1
Michael Pennington Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 26	GL2 and the FS-4 not working Hey guys, i have a new FS-4 and it communicates with my GL2 but when I hit record the counter doesn't move and it doesn't record anything. It does act like it though. The indicator pauses when i hit pause and it shows record when i hit record but the counter doesn't move and it records nothing. I have tried every trick i've heard about on this site and on the web but nothing works. I have been trying to get Focus to call me back but since i'm in Thailand on location I can't get a phone call. Does anyone have a work around for this issue or has anyone heard of anything that will work? The only thing I haven't done is had it replaced. Being in Bangkok it's a bit hard... Any help would be perfect. Thanks, Michael

July 17th, 2006, 08:32 AM	#2
Michael Pennington Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 26	Just Upgraded to Pro I just upgraded to the FS-4 Pro and all my problems went away. For now...

July 17th, 2006, 11:17 PM	#4
Michael Pennington Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 26	Spoke too soon... I thought it recorded but it didn't. I have the GL2 and i'm not sure how it's set but I do believe that it's NTSC by default. The FS4 does not record anything. It acts like it does. It shows the pauses and records but the counter does not move and it records nothing. I have tried this with the FS4 and the FS4 Pro and still nothing. Is there something I need to set on my GL2 to get it to work right with the FS4 pro? Any help would be great! Michael

July 18th, 2006, 10:04 AM	#5
Randall Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 192	my settings.... Michael: I too have a GL-2 and FS-4 combo. I have only seen what it sounds like your experiencing in one configuration. Cable in the wrong port on the FS-4. I know it sounds silly to ask you to verify the cable location but after 10+ years in IT, you would not believe how many times I have seen stuff like this happen. Here are my settings just so you can compare. FS-4: Record Menu: Normal Control Menu: Tapeless GL-2: System Menu: Dv Control - on Camera will display [DV IF] when turned on but not connected to FS-4. Once connected to FS-4 it will change to [Stop]. I read somewhere that there was an issue that someone had where his FS-4 would only record if the Display Type was set to DV NTSC, but I have not had any such problems. Hope this helps.... Randy

July 18th, 2006, 10:14 AM	#6
Michael Pennington Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 26	Here is why... Ok, i bought the FS-4 from a dealer here in Thailand. So... That means it's a DV-PAL and not DV-NTSC. They only sell DV-PAL outside America. So this is why mine doesn't work. My GL2 is from American and is a NTSC. The signal is different and won't communicate properly. So, now I have to order a FS-4 that is DV-NTSC and all will be fine... I hope. This totally makes sense too. I have not had anyone have this same exact issue because everyone i've talked to has a FS-4 that is DV-NTSC. Kind of a load off my mind but now I have to play the Thailand hurry up and wait game. Thanks to all who have tried to help.

July 17th, 2006, 03:25 PM	#3
Matt McEwen Focus Enhancements Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Campbell, CA. Posts: 508	Hi Michael, Glad you are up and running. From your first report, it almost sounds like the camera was PAL (or NTSC) and the FS-4 was the opposite (your issue is typical of what you would see). There should be no difference between the FS-4 and FS-4Pro with a GL2. FS-4 and Fs-4Pro are PAL or NTSC, they are not switchable. Hope that helps. Matt

August 4th, 2006, 11:57 AM	#7
Alex Savin New Boot Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 7	I have same problem: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=72985 Icons are changing, but no actual recording. And it is for sure not the problem with the cable.

August 25th, 2006, 03:32 AM	#8
Trevor Bray New Boot Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Guildford UK Posts: 18	FS4 Problem Hi Michael Sorry to hear about your FS4. I have bought an NTSC FS 4 instead of a PAL unit. I live in the UK. Perhaps we could swap? mail me. Trevor Bray