Hey so I have MC4.0.5 and I'm trying to capture from my deck but it will only play for 20 mins or so and then stop capturing. Here are my steps:

MC & Comp. are both launched;

open capture tool:

Adjust deck to sony z7u (I've tried all formats, 24/30/60): All come up with the same problem.

"Exception: Audio/video is unexpectedly no longer coming into the system."

Even when some of the media does capture, it doesn't look like it's the highest quality?

My camera's In/Out Rec. is set as follows:

HDV/DV -> HDV

Video Out -> 1080i/480i

Down Conver -> Letterbox

DV Wide Convert -> Letterbox

The weird thing is that I swear I shot this, (a quincinera) in 24p and that shows up on the top left of my deck screen (HDV1080i 24p) but the TC on the screen reads in 30. 

Can someone please help me on this? Maybe a step by step or reset my camera to original settings?? I just can't think of what I can do or what I'm not doing or doing wrong... :/

Hello, and welcome to the Forum.

What is the format of your project? Have you chosen the correct raster dimensions for HDV, relative to your project format?

HDV formats are not always what they seem. Even though the camera samples 24 frames a second it will then embed those frames within a 30i video signal. So your projects settings want to 1080i60 and the raster dimension needs to be 1440x1080 which is what HDV cameras record to.

I'm a Z5u user, which is nearly identical to your Z7U.  When shooting, in the recording mode menu (I'm doing this off the top of my head--I beilieve it's in the 2nd to last menu category) there's two 24p modes:  The first is 24p recorded in a 1080i/60 stream.  The second is TRUE progressive 24p.  You need to select progressive first, then a new menu should open with the 24p option.  If you're seeing 30 on the TC, chances are the tape was recorded in 24A (which is the 1080i/60 stream with 2:3 pulldown).

I have not tried to capture across recording breaks from tape in true progressive 24p, so maybe that's the issue (is there a recording break about 20minutes in?).  I know JVC decks wont' capture across recording breaks in MC.  I usually shoot 24p on Compact Flash card only, not tape (the Z7U includes the CF recorder standard, correct?).

I use these settings and TRUE progressive clips import great!:

1080p/23.976

Raster: HDV (1440x1080)

I am on MC 5.0.3.9, so I'm not sure that your version supports the HDV raster in 23.976 projects.  Good luck!

Helo, this old post might help>> Best HDV Capture Setting

I'm still hoping for a brighter future for HDV...

tikboy:

Check your hyperlink. There is no URL linked to it.

Thanks! Please try again>> Best HDV Capture Setting

OK so now I think I may have made some headway. I have the settings to 1080P, 23.976 - on a time line and it immeadiately recognized the tape deck. But now when I go to capture, I immediately get a pop up, "a NDF tape was inserted when a DF tape was expected, please insert the correct tape. Does anyone know how I change this setting?

Play the tape before opening the Capture Tool or toggle the TC bottom off and on while the tape is running.  You may need to enter a new reel number if the system insists that a particular reel is DF.

Wow, cowboy technique...sounds interesting. i will try that next time.