The Apple FireWire DV product lets you use digital video (DV) equipment, such as camcorders and tape decks, with your computer. Using a FireWire (IEEE 1394) connection, you can transfer digital video between your computer and your DV equipment. You can also control your DV equipment from the computer. Apple FireWire DV supports full-quality DV (full frame size and full frame rate), and video equipment that supports either the NTSC or PAL video standards.
Apple FireWire DV works with QuickTime and takes advantage of new features in QuickTime 3.0. Most applications that support QuickTime will work with this product.
This document describes how to use the Apple FireWire DV product to capture a movie, export a movie and control DV devices.
Setup and Installation
Setup
You will need the following in order to capture a DV movie:
- The Apple FireWire Card
- The Apple FireWire Card Software Installation CD
- A camera or tape deck that supports DV and IEEE 1394
- A FireWire cable
- A QuickTime-based application with capture/export capability
The FireWire Card is a standard PCI card with three FireWire ports. You can attach your DV equipment to any of the three ports.
The Installation CD includes the system software pieces that enable FireWire DV capture, FireWire DV export, and device control. The following four items are added to the extensions folder:
- DV Support
- DV Enabler
- FireWire Support
- FireWire Enabler
The following two items are added to the Adobe Premiere(TM) Plug-Ins folder:
- DV Device Control
- DV Export
Additionally, a folder titled FireWire is created. This contains the FireWire Card Tester application and the plug-ins for Adobe Premiere.
Connect your DV equipment to the FireWire card using the FireWire cable. The small connector attaches to the DV equipment and the large connector attaches to the computer. The connection point on your DV equipment may be marked "DV IN/OUT" or "IEEE 1394." The small connector must be oriented carefully when it is connected. If it doesn't seem to fit, examine it carefully, and try again without using too much force.
Several QuickTime-based applications with capture/export capability are available. These include Adobe Premiere(TM), Strata VideoShop(TM), and others. A QuickTime application that supports capture may not support export.
Installation
If you ordered the Apple FireWire card as an option with a new Macintosh computer, the card should already be installed.
The Apple FireWire DV software requires QuickTime 3.0, which is included. But, some QuickTime-based applications may replace QuickTime 3.0 with an older version when they are installed. If you are installing such an application, install it first, and then install the Apple FireWire DV software, to ensure that QuickTime 3.0 is correctly installed.
To install the Apple FireWire DV software, follow these steps:
- 1. Insert the Apple FireWire Card Software Installation CD.
2. Open the Apple FireWire DV Installer.
3. Click the Install button.
The Apple FireWire DV software will be installed. QuickTime 3.0 will also be installed if you do not already have it.
Capturing a Movie
Once you have installed the software and connected a DV device to the card, you can capture a DV movie. Turn on your DV equipment. Then open the FireWire Card Tester application provided on the CD. If there are any problems with the card or the FireWire connection, a warning will be displayed.
To use a capture application to capture a DV movie:
- 1. Open a capture window.
2. Select the DV device as the video input.
3. Make sure that DV is the selected compression format.
4. Select DV audio as the audio input.
5. Select 32 kHz as the audio sample rate.
6. Record a DV movie.
Each of these steps is described in detail below. Some applications may not support all the features described here.
Open a Capture Window
In Premiere, select Movie Capture from the Capture submenu, under the File menu. This will open the video preview window.
Selecting the Video Input
Many QuickTime applications allow you to change video and compression settings with the Video Input panel. Select Video Input from the Movie Capture menu to use this panel. The Movie Capture menu is on the menu bar only when the video preview window is active.
The left side of the Video Input panel can be used to change several groups of settings. Use the main menu to select the Source settings. Then change the settings (if needed), so that they match those shown below. If your DV equipment uses the PAL video standard, select PAL instead of NTSC. By making these settings, you have selected your DV equipment to be the input source.
Figure 1 Video Input Panel
Selecting the Proper Compressor
It is important to select a compressor that is matched to your DV equipment, in order to obtain maximum video quality. Change the main menu from Source to Compression, and then change the settings to those shown below. If you selected PAL in the previous settings, select DV-PAL in these settings. You can also select other compressors, but these may cause a reduction in the quality of the video that you capture. Click OK when the settings are correct.
Figure 2 Video Compression Panel
Selecting the Sound Input
QuickTime allows you to record audio and video at the same time. You can choose to record the audio that comes from your DV equipment, or audio from another source. To select the audio source, select Sound Input from the Movie Capture menu. The Sound Input panel will appear. The left side of the Sound Input panel can be used to change several groups of settings. Use the main menu to select the Source settings. Then change the settings (if necessary) so that they match those shown below.
Figure 3 Sound Input Panel
Selecting the Audio Sample Rate
It is important to select a sample rate that is matched to your DV source, in order to obtain maximum audio quality. Change the main menu from Source to Sample, and then change the settings to those shown below. Click OK when the settings are correct.
Figure 4 Sound Input Panel
Capturing Video and Audio
Video and audio can be captured from a DV source in the same way as with an analog device. You should still have the capture window open. If not, select Movie Capture from the Capture submenu under the File menu.
Figure 5 Movie Capture Window
Make sure there is a tape in your DV equipment. Press the Play button or put your DV equipment in the same mode. Wait for video to appear in the Movie Capture window. Press the Record button in the Movie Capture window. Wait for a few seconds, and then press the mouse button to stop the recording. During recording, images may not appear at full frame rate.
Your DV movie is complete, and you can save it to disk or work with it immediately.
DV Movie Export to a DV Device
You can record QuickTime movies onto DV tape using the export function in Premiere. To use this function, select DV Export from the Export submenu, under the File menu.
The export quality will be best if you export a QuickTime movie that is already in DV format, such as the movie you recorded using the steps described above.
If you export a movie that has multiple audio tracks, they will be combined into a single (stereo) DV audio track.
You can either record the data being exported, or you can preview it. If you want to record the data, put the device in record mode before activating the export function. If recording is not selected, then previewing will happen automatically.
A dialog box will be displayed during the export operation. A progress bar will indicate the time remaining and a message will be displayed if a data conversion is taking place for some reason. Optimal export quality is obtained when no conversion is taking place. If the DV movie to be exported is not full size (720 x 480 NTSC, 720 x 576 PAL), the exporter will try to convert the movie.
Device Control
You can control DV equipment, connected using FireWire, from your computer. To use this feature, you must select the correct device control method. Select Device Control from the File menu. Then select DV Device Control from the menu in the Device Control window as shown below, and click OK.
Figure 6 Device Control Window
After you select DV device control, the Movie Capture window will look different. You can perform basic videotape operations like play, stop, pause, jog, and shuttle using the controls in this window.
Figure 7 Movie Capture with Device Control
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use other QuickTime editing applications to capture and edit DV movies?
A: Yes. Apple's DV hardware and software extensions allow most applications that work with QuickTime to capture, edit, and play back DV movies.
Q: When exporting movies to a DV camera or VCR, the frame rate is slow.
A: Several things can cause degradation of movie export to DV devices. Make sure that you have rendered the movie in DV format, with a size of 720x480 for NTSC or 720x576 for PAL. Make sure that the chosen compressor matches the video standard used by your equipment ( DV NTSC or DV PAL).
Q: When I watch the movie being exported, it looks blocky.
A: Blocky movies usually indicate that the video has been scaled. Make sure that the size of the movie is 720x480 for NTSC or 720x576 for PAL.
Q: How do I capture movies from my DV camera or VCR without losing quality?
A: The key to making a perfect capture is the proper settings in your capture application. In Premiere, choose settings of 720x480 for NTSC or 720x576 for PAL within the Record Settings dialog. You also need to click the Record at: button.
Q: Can I connect more than one DV device to the computer?
A: Yes, but only one device can be used at a time. For best results, turn on only one DV device at a time.
Q: When I watch movies, the frame rate seems slow.
A: Frame rate is directly related to two things: the rate chosen at the time you grab, and the ability of the computer to decode the movie. If your movie is playing slowly, make sure that you chose the correct frame rate in the Compression panel under Video Input when you recorded the movie.
When grabbing large images, the computer may not decode the images at full frame rate. Try resizing the movie playback window to make it smaller.
Q: When capturing a movie, the image looks blocky.
A: When grabbing movies, some applications will display DV movies at a lower quality, in order to increase the decompression speed. These movies are actually stored at their full quality. To play back these movies at the highest possible quality, use MoviePlayer or another application that fully supports QuickTime 3.0.
Q: Can I control my DV device from the computer?
A: Yes. All DV devices support a minimal set of commands over FireWire. The standard commands include stop, pause, rewind, fast forward, and play. Many devices support additional commands.
To control a device from your computer, you must use an application such as Adobe Premier that supports device control. See the instructions above for selecting device control.
Q: Do I need any additional cables to control DV devices from the computer?
A: No. DV devices use the FireWire cable to transmit and receive device control commands.
Q: After capturing a movie, I do not hear audio when playing it.
A: You might not have selected DV Audio in the audio selection dialog.
Q: The captured audio sounds distorted.
A: Most DV devices support either 32 kHz or 48 kHz audio. Set the audio sample rate to match that being used by your DV equipment, as described above in the section titled "Selecting the Audio Sample Rate."
Q: My DV camera has gone into sleep mode and when it wakes, I no longer see video in the capture window.
A: Some DV devices behave unusually when they sleep. Try closing the Movie Capture window and reopening it. If the video does not reappear, close the movie capture window, unplug the FireWire cable from the DV device, then wait a moment before reattaching the FireWire cable to the device. Then open the Movie Capture window again.
Q: When I try to capture a movie greater than 9 minutes long, Premiere stops recording.
A: The Macintosh file system has a maximum file size of 2 gigabytes. About 9 minutes of video and audio can fit into a 2 gigabyte Macintosh file.
Q: Why does the video look blocky when I use filters, transitions, or titles?
A: Some applications do not decompress DV frames in the highest possible quality when applying a filter, using a transition, or adding titles. Currently, there are only two ways to apply effects without a significant loss of video quality.
One way is to transcode the frames to another video format, such as Component Video. Apply the effects and then transcode the result back into DV format.
Another way is to use another application such as Adobe After Effects to apply effects to the necessary frames.
Q: When grabbing movies, I don't get all the frames.
A: Check to make sure the proper DV compressor is selected in the Video Input panel. Make sure that the best frame rate is selected (best frame rate is implied when the frame rate field is blank in the video dialog).
Q: I can't select the DV Video option from the Video Input panel.
A: Use the FireWire Card Tester application to make sure that the card and DV device are working properly. Make sure that your DV equipment is turned on.
Q: I don't hear any audio while capturing.
A: Audio playthrough during capture is not supported.
Q: What are the suggested capture settings?
A: The recommended capture settings for DV are:
- capture size 720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL)
- audio sample rate should be the same as the source (typically 32 kHz or 48 kHz)
- compressor type should be the same as the DV device (either DV - NTSC or DV - PAL)
Q: Can I record multichannel audio such as 4 channel, 12 bit, 32 kHz?
A: Yes. You can select the audio input mode.
Some DV devices can record one stereo channel of audio at 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, or 48 kHz. When operating in these modes, the Sound Input selector will indicate "First 2 channels."
Some DV devices can also record two stereo channels (four mono channels) of audio in 32 kHz mode. It is possible to dub audio onto the second stereo channel with some DV equipment. When operating in this mode, there are three options available: "First 2 channels," "Second 2 channels," and "Mix 4 channels." The options operate as follows:
- First 2 channels: camera audio is recorded
- Second 2 channels: dubbed audio is recorded
- Mix 4 channels: camera audio and dubbed audio are recorded
Q: If I capture from a blank spot on the tape, the movie has audio/video synchronization problems.
A: The DV specification and camera operating manuals state that blank areas in the tape may cause interruptions of the camera time code. The camera will not transmit valid frames during the blank transition, but Quicktime will still be marking time. It is recommended that you avoid recording over blank tape spots.
Q: How do I get the fastest DV movie playback on the computer screen?
A: The DV decompressor is optimized for speed when the following conditions are met:
- Low Quality decompress mode
- Quarter Screen video window size
- "Thousands of colors" screen mode
- Sound is a separate "AIFF" track and not "dvca," or sound is disabled
Q: How do I get the highest quality DV movie playback?
A: The DV decompressor is optimized for quality when the following conditions are met:
- High Quality decompress mode
- Full Screen video window size (720x480 NTSC, 720x576 PAL)
- "Millions of colors" screen mode
Q: Can I export 16 bit, 48 kHz audio?
A: No. The only supported audio format is 12-bit 32 kHz audio.
Q: What are NTSC and PAL?
A: They are video formats used in various regions of the world. Consult the manuals that came with your DV equipment.
Q: How do I determine if I should choose 32 kHz or 48 kHz audio?
A: Some DV equipment indicates 32 kHz as 12-bit and 48 kHz as 16-bit. Refer to the manuals that came with your DV equipment.
Q: My DV movie doesn't play back smoothly in MoviePlayer.
A: Try increasing the partition size of MoviePlayer. This can be set selecting "Get Info" from the Finder's File menu, while MoviePlayer is selected. DV playback requires more memory than most video compression formats.
Q: My DV equipment is putting out 4 channel audio, but I can only select "First Two Channels" from the Sound Input panel.
A: The DV software is not able to determine the format of audio until valid samples have been received. Make sure your DV equipment is transmitting and then open the Sound Input panel. You should see the level meters strobing. Three audio channel choices should now be available.
Q: Adobe Premiere does not work properly after a system crash?
A: If you hot plug or unplug the camera while the capture window is opening, Adobe Premiere may quit with a Type 1 error. In this case the Adobe Premiere Preferences file is damaged. You need to put the "Adobe Premiere 4.2 Prefs" file in the trash and restart Premiere with the default preferences. This problem can be avoided in the future by not changing the camera state while opening the capture window.
Copyright Notice
(c)1998 Apple Computer, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Apple, the Apple logo, FireWire, Macintosh and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. The FireWire logo is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated. All other company or product names are the property of their respective owners.
Mention of third-party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the performance or use of these products.