Preview via Firewire: HW compatibility list (eg ADVC-100)?

dust wrote on 5/6/2003, 12:59 AM
Hi all,

I got a Panasonic NV-MX350 camcorder and like Vegas feature to use its DV-in > Analog-Out passthrough feature to redirect the Preview via camcorder to a TV-set. But I don't like the idea having my not-too-cheap camcorder running all time long just for preview. So I'm considering an additional piece of hardware - either another camcorder or a separate box like Canopus ADVC-100 - for this purpose. I'd also like to use this device for analog-to-DV capturing (for recording TV broadcasts).

My main problem though is: What devices _DO_ atually support Vegas' Preview-firewire-passthrough mode? It's working perfectly with my camcorder, but as far as I understood, the "DV-in" feature of camcorders does not automatically mean previewing-via-firewire will actually work. for one thing, the camcorder must support a passthrough mode (no recording to tape necessary) - an ADVC-100 would surely support this - but on the other hand, it must also be compatible with Vegas way to activate preview-via-firewire (the fact Vegas doesn't send audio this way seems to indicate it's using an "unusual" protocol). In particular, I'm wondering if the preview-through-firewire is working with the ADVC-100 (not only sending to tape, but also direct preview), and I'm also wondering if there's a list of compatible camcorders (user-supplied?) that do support firewire passthough.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Andy

Comments

PDB wrote on 5/6/2003, 4:06 AM
From what I've read on forums, the ADVC-100 (this is the one with dv in/out right?)works flawelessly as a converter and to preview to external monitor. Stay WELL CLEAR of the Dazzle Hollywood dv bridge: a nightmare to use for this purpose - I know coz I have one! In fact, I am seriously considering buying the ADVC 100 converter to replace the bridge.
There are another couple of options as far as converters go (can't remember the brands - but do a search here or vegas forums at creativecow.net or at DMN Vegas forum). As you say, a cheaper cam will work too as long as it has pass-through mode...

Audio is not sent via firewire in Vegas: use your computer speakers to preview audio.

Hope this helps!

Paul.
Chienworks wrote on 5/6/2003, 12:02 PM
This is only a guess, but i would say that Vegas is sending audio through firewire when previewing. I can record the preview signal on my DV camera and get audio signal along with the video so it would appear that Vegas is sending a proper and complete audio & video DV signal while previewing. However, the problem is that the audio that is being sent is silence rather than the audio from the project.

True, this is a very fine and miniscule point. The reason i'm mentioning this is to show that it's very likely that most any DV->analog device will be compatible with Vegas' preview function.

I can understand not including project audio in the DV stream since audio is a much more "real-time" phenomenon than video is. We can put up with a lower frame rate for the video without being too disturbed by it. If the audio were to skip and sputter during preview then that would be very annoying. Perhaps a future version of Vegas will at least be able to include audio in the preview stream wherever the timeline has been pre-rendered or contains only a single unmodified audio event from a DV clip.