HD

Chapter 67 Preparing to Output to Tape 963
XII
Setting Up Your Editing System to Output to Tape
Before you output to tape, you need to set up your video devices and Final Cut Express HD
settings and preferences. Some steps are only relevant to particular methods.
Step 1: Connect your video deck or camcorder
Step 2: Cue the videotape (Print to Video)
Connecting Your Video Equipment and Setting it to VCR Mode
Make sure your VTR or camcorder is connected to your computer and turned on. For
more information, see “Connecting Your Equipment” on page 145.
Make sure your camcorder or deck is set to VCR (sometimes labeled VTR) mode.
Final Cut Express HD cannot record to video equipment that is in Camera mode. If your
video device has multiple inputs (for example TV, Line 1, and Line 2), make sure the
input that’s connected to your computer is the one that is selected.
Selecting Preferences
If you like, you can turn on “report dropped frames during playback.” If you select this
option, a message appears when any frames are dropped when outputting so you can
correct the problem. Playback drops are almost always caused by a hardware setup
problem. When properly configured, Final Cut Express HD should not drop frames. For
information on what you can do if Final Cut Express HD reports dropped frames, see
“Problems During Playback” on page 1070
Cueing the Videotape
When you use the Print to Video command, or when you output directly from the
Timeline, make sure you cue the videotape to where you want to start recording.
To cue the tape:
1 Use the camcorder or deck controls to cue the videotape to the point where you want
to start recording.
2 If you’re outputting to a tape that has previously recorded material on it, make sure
that the write-protection tab is in the write, or unlocked, position.
Note: If you’re using a consumer mini-DV device and you fast-forward past prerecorded
material (so there’s some blank tape between it and what you’ll output), the DV
timecode resets to 00:00:00:00.