Serial device control is most commonly used with high-end VTRs (such as those for the BetaSP and Digi-Beta tape formats). If you have a high-end DV deck, (for example, the DSR-40) and wish to capture video using the FireWire interface, you can still use serial device control to capture the timecode. Use a USB to Serial adapter to connect an RS-232 or RS-422 cable from the deck to the Macintosh. See Figure 1.
Figure 1 Cabling diagram
After connecting the serial adapter and the FireWire cables, specify the Protocol (RS-232 or RS-422), Time Source (LTC+VITC), and the Port (Printer Port USB), in the Device Control Preferences tab. See Figures 2-4.
Figure 2 Device Control Preferences tab as seen from the Log and Capture window
Figure 1 Cabling diagram
After connecting the serial adapter and the FireWire cables, specify the Protocol (RS-232 or RS-422), Time Source (LTC+VITC), and the Port (Printer Port USB), in the Device Control Preferences tab. See Figures 2-4.
Figure 2 Device Control Preferences tab as seen from the Log and Capture window
Figure 3 Device Control Protocol options
Figure 4 Time Source options
Make sure your FireWire device is connected and turned on. Then, in the Capture tab, open the video source window by clicking the Video button, then choosing Source in the upper left hand popup menu. Set the source to DV Video. See Figure 5. In this way, the timecode is recorded from the serial adapter, even though the video is from FireWire.
Figure 5 Video Source popup accessed through the Video button in the Capture Tab