Do I need to capture using same camera that shot the video? at DVinfo.net

Michael Mellinger · June 5th, 2005, 10:38 PM

Will there be a quality hit if I use a VTR or even a consumer MiniDV camera to capture footage into FCP?
The original footage was shot on a Panasonic DVX100
I also saw some threads on tape brands being an issue. If different tape brands were used on the capture device will this damage the master tapes? Or can a head cleaner clean this effectively?
Thanks

Kyle Ringin · June 5th, 2005, 11:11 PM

It's all digital Michael. If you shot in miniDV it doesn't really matter what miniDV deck/camera you use to transfer it to the computer as long as it doesn't introduce dropouts from dirty heads or anything.

As far as the brand-of-tape thing goes, I think the problems are usually to do with gunging up the deck, not actually damaging the tapes. I s'pose it's possible though. Has it happened to anyone?

Glenn Chan · June 6th, 2005, 12:03 AM

Sometimes tapes shot on LP mode will play back best on the camera that shot it because of differences in head alignment. Otherwise it's fine to capture with another camera.

Kyle Ringin · June 6th, 2005, 12:35 AM

Glenn makes a good point. I didn't even think of LP because I never use it...

Dan Keaton · June 6th, 2005, 09:23 AM

I agree completely, never use LP mode for important work!

This past weekend I experienced problems with the audio from a tape recorded in LP mode.

Background:

One of our cameramen accidently recorded in LP.

Using our normal procedures, I made a copy of the original tape, before I captured the copy into Vegas.

I was able to copy the tape to SP mode. This was done using the original camera that recorded the tape as the source and using another XL1s as the target (using Firewire, of course) with the target camera set to normal SP mode.

This past weekend, I attempted to recapture scenes from the original tape (which was recored in LP mode) using a different XL1s as the source. The video was mostly ok, but the audio was useless.

Today, I am going to attempt to capture the LP tape, but I will be using the original XL1s.

I attribute the problem to a very minor misalignment of the two XL1s. I have not experienced any problems with the same cameras when the tapes are recorded in SP mode.

Dennis Vogel · June 8th, 2005, 03:47 PM

I haven't ever tried to transfer tape with a different cam than the one that recorded it myself but I have read of people who have even when SP mode was used. I suppose a small misalignment between two cams could cause this. As always, YMMV.

Good luck.

Dennis

Jay Handleson · June 14th, 2005, 02:02 PM

I always use a cheaper mini dv camera to act as a deck for footage shot on my vx 1000.

Consequently I have significantly less head time on the VX 1000 and a very inexpensive mini dv vtr.

1's and 0's don't change from cam to cam. I never shoot in LP.

Now if someone would come up with that solution for my FX1....

Jay

June 5th, 2005, 10:38 PM	#1
Michael Mellinger Tourist Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1	Do I need to capture using same camera that shot the video? Will there be a quality hit if I use a VTR or even a consumer MiniDV camera to capture footage into FCP? The original footage was shot on a Panasonic DVX100 I also saw some threads on tape brands being an issue. If different tape brands were used on the capture device will this damage the master tapes? Or can a head cleaner clean this effectively? Thanks

June 6th, 2005, 09:23 AM	#5
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	I agree completely, never use LP mode for important work! This past weekend I experienced problems with the audio from a tape recorded in LP mode. Background: One of our cameramen accidently recorded in LP. Using our normal procedures, I made a copy of the original tape, before I captured the copy into Vegas. I was able to copy the tape to SP mode. This was done using the original camera that recorded the tape as the source and using another XL1s as the target (using Firewire, of course) with the target camera set to normal SP mode. This past weekend, I attempted to recapture scenes from the original tape (which was recored in LP mode) using a different XL1s as the source. The video was mostly ok, but the audio was useless. Today, I am going to attempt to capture the LP tape, but I will be using the original XL1s. I attribute the problem to a very minor misalignment of the two XL1s. I have not experienced any problems with the same cameras when the tapes are recorded in SP mode. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 5th, 2005, 11:11 PM	#2
Kyle Ringin Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 241	It's all digital Michael. If you shot in miniDV it doesn't really matter what miniDV deck/camera you use to transfer it to the computer as long as it doesn't introduce dropouts from dirty heads or anything. As far as the brand-of-tape thing goes, I think the problems are usually to do with gunging up the deck, not actually damaging the tapes. I s'pose it's possible though. Has it happened to anyone?

June 6th, 2005, 12:03 AM	#3
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Sometimes tapes shot on LP mode will play back best on the camera that shot it because of differences in head alignment. Otherwise it's fine to capture with another camera.

June 6th, 2005, 12:35 AM	#4
Kyle Ringin Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 241	Glenn makes a good point. I didn't even think of LP because I never use it...

June 8th, 2005, 03:47 PM	#6
Dennis Vogel Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hillsborough, NC Posts: 409	I haven't ever tried to transfer tape with a different cam than the one that recorded it myself but I have read of people who have even when SP mode was used. I suppose a small misalignment between two cams could cause this. As always, YMMV. Good luck. Dennis

June 14th, 2005, 02:02 PM	#7
Jay Handleson Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 35	I always use a cheaper mini dv camera to act as a deck for footage shot on my vx 1000. Consequently I have significantly less head time on the VX 1000 and a very inexpensive mini dv vtr. 1's and 0's don't change from cam to cam. I never shoot in LP. Now if someone would come up with that solution for my FX1.... Jay