Print to tape - Timeline - in MSP7.3

Maukka · Post by **Maukka** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:23 pm

Hi,
I am trying to “Print to tape” the timeline from MSP7.3. Everything seems to work but nothing gets transferred to tape. The timeline is first “rendered” and then the camcorder starts recording, the video is playing on the computer screen, but not on the camcorder screen (even though camcorder is selected for preview) and once the recording is supposedly over, the tape is simply empty.

The Device Control seems to be working ok, and the camcorder (Sony A1) is recognized as “Sony”. MSP also recognizes the tape position. So there does not seem any problem with the Firewire connection.

I also tried creating an avi file (uncompressed) and printing that to tape. Same result. Camcorder starts recording, but its screen remains dark and nothing is transferred to tape.

I did a search and saw that a few people have had this problem. Has anybody come up with a solution? What could be the problem here?

I would really need to print to tape the timeline in order to maintain maximum quality for tapes destined to festival screenings.

Any help or suggestions appreciated,

Thanks,

Maukka

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:40 pm

Are you sure your camcorder accepts any data on the iLink. I had the same problem with my older Panasonic DA1. Checked to transfer video from another camcorder and could not get anything either. Turned out the iLink port was faulty.

If your settings are correct for the export, your camcorder is connected and the device control works, then it can only be the transmission/recording of the signals. I take it, the camcorder is in VCR mode.

Maukka · Post by **Maukka** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:10 am

Heinz,

Thanks for the quick reply.

Bingo... you were right, my camcorder was in Record mode, not in VCR mode.

I just made a quick try with a small preview section of the timeline, and it gpt recorded to the tape ok. So I guess that solved my problem.

Thanks a bunch!

Maukka

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:21 am

Just glad we got to the bottom of this quickly and you didn't have to get the cam repaired like I had to.

Good luck.

Maukka · Post by **Maukka** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:16 am

So great to get instant help at such odd hours, it was about two in the morning my time, but I guess daytime in Australia.

The MSP7 Help file does say:
"Turn on your DV camcorder and set it to Play mode (or VTR mode). See your camcorder’s manual for specific instructions. Navigate to the section of the tape that you want to record to, and prepare it for recording."

But I had mistakenly taken that last bit to mean "set your camera to Record mode"...

Thanks again!
Maukka

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:48 am

been there, done that...

enjoy