[ This article was first published in the April, 2007, issue of
Larry’s Final Cut Pro Newsletter. Click here to subscribe. ]
Pons Maar provides the following tip:
QuickTime Pro offers an alternative that I saw on the Apple OSX tips page. You can capture video from an iSight either using H.264 compressed or a device native full resolution version. And, its incredibly easy.
Using the QuickTime > Preferences > Recording tab you can set your video and audio source, quality and where to save the files.
The advantage of this is that I don’t have to open Final Cut Pro, I can use my PreSonus Firebox as my audio in and have more control over the audio input than through my camera, and I have a real time preview as I’m shooting.
For a home studio you can get a 32’ firewire cable, run it from the camera to your computer and you have a direct to disk recording set up…pretty sweet. Obviously if you have a laptop then you have the same possibility but with portability.
Larry replies: Pons, this is a great tip. One caution, though. FireWire has a cable limit of 15′ — longer cables require amplifiers to make sure your signal arrives safely. Otherwise, you run the risk of signal degradation.
And here’s a second way to do the same thing…
Isazaly Mohd Isa sends in the following technique:
This is a cool feature if you’re doing video blogs, podcast or tutorials (like me!) and have direct access to FCP as your non-linear editing software. FCP allows you to capture video from your built-in iSight camera on your MacBook Pros! So, after these few settings, the next time you Press CMD+8 (or File >Log & Capture), you’ll be able to see the “live input” and use the “Capture Now” button and….. “Action!”
Create an Easy Setup with the following information (change to NTSC as needed!) :
Larry replies: Very cool! Thanks.
