Two part question, the first one being the most important...

I'm trying to finish a low budget feature going to a DI that's made up of seven sequences (reels), each with a different hour time code. I need to record DVCAM reference tapes for each reel, where the vitc matches the viz tc. It's a 24 frame film project captured from PAL DVCAM sources. Is it possible to record the sequence time code during digital cut to a DSR11 (connected through FW port on my G5 - no Mojo or expansion card)? I only have raw, non-striped dvcam stock and don't care about the accuracy of the first part of the recording since it's just bars, slate and leader. The only info I could find was on a Liquid Pro thread - it suggested this could be done, but the settings don't apply to my MC. I've tested crash recording, local and remote, and the tc either starts from 00: or jams any preexisting time code that was on the tape.

Secondly, is the FW port on the SDI mojo functional? I had problems outputting with mine before I just disconnected it. I haven't heavily researched this, but heard there seems to be some issues with just it and not the analog Mojo.

Thanks.

I think I've discovered the answer for my first question, which involves changing a ext tc menu setting. Unfortunately, I've never used a DSR11 before and was given this deck without the remote, which seems to be the only way to access the menus. Does anyone know if there's a way to access the menu list without the remote?

As to my second question about whether the FW port functions on the SDI Mojo (like it does on the basic Mojo), if anyone knows - yes/no - I'd appreciate it. I've found some threads here and there without a solution and time forced me to workaround and move on. If yes, at least it'll be worth researching more.

Thanks.

• Download SimpleVideoOut from the Apple (its free):
  http://developer.apple.com/samplecode/SimpleVideoOut/index.html
  (If you are on an Intel Mac use the app titled 'SimpleVideoOut X' as this is the Universal build. Otherwise use the CW one. If you have trouble getting the X one to load, then you may need to build the app again from the included XCode project)
  
  

• Download Sebsky Tools from here (its free):
  http://www.dharmafilm.com/sebskytools
  
  

• In Avid, export a 60 second black DV PAL (or NTSC) QT Movie. Just export a black title from the video track to a self contained QT (not a ref QT). Do NOT use Avid DV codec.
  
  

• Load this QT movie into Sebsky Tools and change the TC to what ever you want the TC to start at on the tape, for example 00:58:00:00 just make sure its before the point you want to drop in at, but no more than 60 seconds before.
  
  

• Then load this DV QT movie into SimpleVideoOut (having selecting Firewire / Apple Firewire PAL or NTSC when the dialogue pops up).
  
  Now load a fresh DVCAM tape and using the remote, set your DSR-11 to:
  
  REC MODE = DVCAM
  DV IN TC = EXTERNAL
  
  (Have the TC display turned on for this first test so you can verify it has worked.)
  
  Then just hold the REC and PLAY buttons together on the DSR-11 and press play in the SimpleVideoOut app and the new TC will be recorded to your DVCAM tape.
  
  

• Remember to turn 'DV IN TC' back to INTERNAL on the DSR-11 when you come to record your Avid edit to tape.
  
  

Hi Mark:

All of this is good and has worked for me previously, but now I can't get Simple Video to run.  It gives an error message "Attempting to get exclusive access to hardware failed.  Doh."  This some thing happened in 2006.  I posted then and hbrock helped by suggesting that the Mojo should be taken COMPLETELY out of the system.  It worked for me until now. 

The Mojo is completely out, not connected to the Mac at all.  In fact I have disconnected all other FW devices.  I have the DSR-11 connected to the Mac by FW using an adapter to change from 4-pin to FW400.  DSR-11 is on, tape is in or out, tried SimpleVideoOut X CW as well as SimpleViedoOut 9 (the one that worked for me previously) per your instructions.  The Mac has been restarted numerous times after every change of config.  I was just going to Pre-black a couple of boxes of tapes.  It's a good thing I still have one left from the last time I did this.  Thank you for any help you can give me.

/bob luke

Looks like something has broken in SVO or changed in Quicktime. There were some pretty major changes in Quicktime 7.2.1 which may be responsible for this. I get the same error on my 10.5.2, QT 7.4.5 system.

You could report it on the Quicktime developer mailing list and hope an Apple dev picks it up, or alternatively fill in a bug report (free ADC account needed):
http://developer.apple.com/bugreporter/