Before I get started, here are my version specs: Avid Xpress Pro v5.8 (just upgraded) Mac book Pro Mac OS X 10.4.11. I have the academic version.

In addition, I have FCP 6.

Ok so here's the deal:  After much research, I realized the camera I shot on (Canon XL 2) and the format we shot in (24p 16 by 9) is not compatiable with capturing onto Avid. Wonderful. But lucky for me, I have Final Cut.  So I captured all my video into FCP. Due to my familiarty and overall comfort with Avid interface and program, I want to edit on Avid insted of FCP. So how do I convert all my captured video to Avid from FCP without losing quailty?

I've done a couple of things, like taking a clip, putting it in the timeline, export it out through QT conversion and then importing it into Avid. But I am afraid I am losing quailty. I can't really tell with my naked eye, but I want to make sure. Any help would be great. Thanks everyone.

Who told you the weren't compatible? If you have 5.8.3, I can't think of a reason not to capture this in the Avid.

If you absolutely need to convert from FCP on the same system, I would just export a QT ref out of FCP and import it into Avid.

When I called both Avid and the place I bought my Avid from, they said the same thing. Canons are highly inconsistent with Avid.

Could you please give a step by step on that QT ref so I don't miss a thing? That would ensure the highest quailty? The same as my DV? Thanks.

Don't even bother. I don't know who you spoke to but they were Highly mistaken. A lot of users here use the XL2 with great success.

Do you have 5.8.3? Are you using the camera as a deck?

I am using 5.8.4 and the camera as a deck.

I use almost exclusively 16x9, 24P footage.  I've even used footage from an XL1, XL2, a GL 1 and a GL 2.  That said, I have not captured using the cameras as a play back device.  Have you actually hooked it up to your Avid and tried?  Keep in mind, there is nothing inherently prohibitive about 16x9 or 24P.

 Great, then you are good to go...especially in DV. Just capture into a 30i project and away you go.

As Todd says...using the camera as a deck is not ideal (not for the avid but for the camera's health but it should be fine.

You can go for 23.97 if you want but, from just an educated guess, it's probably going to end up @ 30i on a DVD anyway so you could skip that whole step if you wanted.

Yep... try a 30i project and give it a go... I bet it works just fine.

Well I already captured into FCP. So is there a way to convert it to Avid without losing quailty? Or should I try to recapture into Avid? I'll tell you right now. I've tried for several days and it keeps giving me the message "Exception: Operation not Supported: Filename creating # (number keeps going up each time I try).

Please break down the entire cpature process in detail so I can try to discern the issue.  Does it happen with the TC button unchecked?  when in the capture process does it happen?  I need to know what type of drives you are capturing to, what kind of computer, Mojo, etc, etc...

You should not have to use FCP to capture and Avid to edit... that's a big mess.

" ...Exception: Operation not Supported: Filename creating # ..."

That's a problem with your media drive or the folder structure on that drive.  "Creating xx" is a temp file written during the capture process to preallocate space and provide RT information on remaining disk space.

The time code button is checked.

I was capturing to a MyBook Western Digitial (not formatted for Mac). But I started capturing to my computer's hard drive, which I was told it was a fine way to do it unless I didn't have enough room. Mac Book Pro, Avid Xpress Pro academic v.5.8.4. Mac OS X 10.4.11. 2.16 GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo. 1 GB 667 MHz RAM.

"... which I was told it was a fine way to do it  ..."

Again, gotta wonder who told you that.  The standard line from Avid has always been that media should never go on the same drive as the OS and applications.  The problem is called "Head Contention", or, the read-write heads needing to be in 2 places at the same time.

So I get it.....it seems my capturing on Avid for whatever reason is messed up. I am trying to finish a project by troubleshooting it. Which brings it to my first question....how do move captured video from FCP to Avid without losing quality? I've moved it over before, but I just want to make sure that I don't lose quailty. Thanks.

Yeah... format that drive for MAC and I bet you'll be fine.  It's got nothing to do with Avid or Canon persay.  Did it work to the internal HD?  Avid 'NEVER' reccommends that capture option, except in testing mode.  If you've already moved the media, then make a quick 5 second DVD or tape or whatever your final output is and see how it looks.  As long as you exported from FCP with no compresion and imported with no compression, I'd imagine you'll be fine.