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JVC HD enverio good or bad

k, question about the JVC HD Enverio GZ-HD6...I will be using this to stream live videos on a website 4 times a year. I think I will be using Quicktime Broadcaster to stream in h.264, but Quicktime Broadcaster says it can use any input source that is Firewire. Now this camera is not firewire but it is USB 2.0...pretty close but do you guys know if Quicktime will see usb 2 in its input sources??


thanks
 
question

"The new HD Everio's package the .mp2 file in a .tod extension (.mod extension for non HD models). There has been much speculation on getting these files to work off the Hard Disk (as opposed to capturing via firewire)."

So IS there a way to capture via firewire? I've only gone USB, and still have problems converting the files.
 
Capture via firewire

You have to shoot in 1440 mode & create a playlist on the camera to capture via firewire. iMovie will see the camera as a dv cam & capture in realtime. I have seen instructions on a couple of Apple discussion pages. Google search should enable you to find this. If you have iMovie08 buy Steve Mullen's guide. You can find the link on the discussion pages of dvinfo.net under the JVC HD7 page. Read the posts there to see how to import .TOD files into iMovie 08. If you're using iMovie06 you can import the .TOD files once you have installed the JVC Quicktime plugin. If you have Quicktime 7.4 there is an updated plugin available from JVC. Again you can find this at dvinfo.net

Good luck
 
Forgive me for not reading the whole thread to see what has happened, but I wanted to add my input.

I owned and used the Everio MG-555. I can say for certain that it's great for people who just want to shoot basic stuff, and store it on their computer/burn to DVD. For people interested in editing, it presents several problems.

First and foremost is how to get the videos into a serious editing program; most fail to recognize the HDD cam properly. I had to import using iMovie, then edit in FCP; FCP had trouble playing back the iMovie imports without skipping/stalling.

Second, and maybe even more serious, is the horrible focus on this series. The focus can take several painfully long seconds to alter, and even when it's at its best, it's still blurry everywhere. The image quality doesn't appear any better than an old VHS camcorder. In fact, some people found similar artifacting as old VHS cameras had (yellowness, trouble with stripes).

I can say for sure that I would recommend something else, like a Canon HV20. DV tapes are still in, and still terribly popular with serious video editors.
 
Good Luck

I got a JVC - GZ-HD7U 6 months ago and can't get the footage off the camera! I'm now back to using my old ancient one. I'm pretty much computer illiterate, and have spent countless hours trying to import .TOD files into imovie 08. If you're looking for something simple and quick this is not your answer.
 
For crying out loud...

I'm starting to get tired of posting this same message.....
If you have a JVC HiDef HDD camera & want to import into iMovie08 you need to dig into your wallet & pat $39 for Steve Mullen's guide for the JVC GZHD7. you'll be glad you did. I've already posted this once on this thread. If you failed to do your homework on supported cameras for iMovie08 (as I did) this is the best (read time saving, convenient, efficient) way of importing directly off HDD into iMovie08. DUH!! (usually I am quite patient about helping people) but I'm sure I have posted this response about 10 times in the past 6 weeks on 2 different forums. C'mon people do a bit of research!! The HD7 is a pretty darn good camera. Let's use it to it's full potential with the tools that Apple have provided.
 
I just wanted to comment that there is absolutely no need to shell bucks to anyone for any guide to any camera. You can get the information you want if you search hard enough for it. If you want the guide, go for it, but it's not your only option!
 
mini dv

stick with a mini dv camcorder. Canon hv30 is great if you're on a budget. Stay away from hd and sd camcorders at least for another year or two.
 
JVC website

If you need help on how to import to iMovie 08 www.JVC.com has step by step instruction in their FAQs and videos for iMovie HD. I got it to work on iMovie 08 but cant for the love of me get it to work on iMovie HD. if anyone know that I could use the information.
 
^

CmonRichard said:
I'm starting to get tired of posting this same message.....
If you have a JVC HiDef HDD camera & want to import into iMovie08 you need to dig into your wallet & pat $39 for Steve Mullen's guide for the JVC GZHD7. you'll be glad you did. I've already posted this once on this thread. If you failed to do your homework on supported cameras for iMovie08 (as I did) this is the best (read time saving, convenient, efficient) way of importing directly off HDD into iMovie08. DUH!! (usually I am quite patient about helping people) but I'm sure I have posted this response about 10 times in the past 6 weeks on 2 different forums. C'mon people do a bit of research!! The HD7 is a pretty darn good camera. Let's use it to it's full potential with the tools that Apple have provided.
Click to expand...

So, does this guide explain how to make it work with FCP, or just iMovie?
 
^

Ok, so after much research and adjusting and upgrading and downloading, I have my system where I think it should be to make this work.

I upgraded my QT to QT Pro. JVC's site has a tutorial explaining that you use QT pro to convert the Full HD footage from the camera to a format to use in your editing system.

I also downloaded the patch recommended earlier in the thread. Those methods have allowed me to open the .TOD files in QT Player.

In the past, I was unable to open QT player, but I could see the footage in the info window preview player.

Now that QT Player is working, I am unable to preview the clips. I can open them in the player, but they are choppy. Video freezes and audio drops out. I this simply due to the file size, and should it work once I convert it?

Also, how do I use QT Pro to convert the file? JVC instructs to convert to AIC, but I can't seem to find the command to open the window that allows me to do that.

*update-
Ok, it seems like I've gotten it to work. My only question now is; what should the settings be to remain as close to the original quality as possible?
 
I have a JVC HD GZ-HD3 and while I like the video quality and really enjoy using the camera I'm having a devil of a time figuring out how to get it to work in IMovie and FCE. I have an older version of IMovie that doesn't work with .TOD files and FCE doesn't handle .TOD files.

I've tried almost everything, it seems like. I installed the quicktime thing it came with, nothing happened. I bought the quicktime component from apple, nothing happened. I upgraded to quicktime pro, nothing happened. When quicktime tries to open a file it says "The movie contains an incorrect duration".

Mpeg streamclip will convert the files into all sorts of stuff, most of it that IMovie 6 will work with. Of course, if you convert to DV, what's the point of having an HD camera?

FCE refuses to see the camera when I try to capture to it and when I put the dv or aic files into FCE it says, "unrendered" when I try to edit it.

*This newbie is very frustrated*
 
FerretEva said:
I have a JVC HD GZ-HD3 and while I like the video quality and really enjoy using the camera I'm having a devil of a time figuring out how to get it to work in IMovie and FCE. I have an older version of IMovie that doesn't work with .TOD files and FCE doesn't handle .TOD files.

I've tried almost everything, it seems like. I installed the quicktime thing it came with, nothing happened. I bought the quicktime component from apple, nothing happened. I upgraded to quicktime pro, nothing happened. When quicktime tries to open a file it says "The movie contains an incorrect duration".

Mpeg streamclip will convert the files into all sorts of stuff, most of it that IMovie 6 will work with. Of course, if you convert to DV, what's the point of having an HD camera?

FCE refuses to see the camera when I try to capture to it and when I put the dv or aic files into FCE it says, "unrendered" when I try to edit it.

*This newbie is very frustrated*
Click to expand...

If you read the earlier parts of this post, you'll find the solution.
 
Well I had the same problem with my JVC HD camcorder, I got the HD3 which shoots and 1080i....making that sucker work was a bit of a problem, but in the end it works like a charm. Quality is great and since the new HD7 shoots in 1080p it probably looks better, but i have to say something, the support for JVC is very minimal for us mac users. As an experience with that camera, the only way you will make this camera work is if you have ilife 08, FCE or FCP. You do need the firewire 4 to 6 pin cable in order to be able to capture the video onto imovie on a frame-2-frame basis. If anyone still having trouble, i think someone posted this tutorial but here it is again.

http://media2.jvc.com/camcorder/macHD.mov
 
sprice25 said:
stick with a mini dv camcorder. Canon hv30 is great if you're on a budget. Stay away from hd and sd camcorders at least for another year or two.
Click to expand...

Let's see...the JVC gzHD7 has a MANUAL focus ring, while the HV30 has a TINY small SCROLL focus on the side.....I think we know which is the better for better video, especially if you want to do something like a rack focus :p

Yes, tape is better quality, but WHY oh WHY won't Canon put a MANUAL focus ring on their camcorders?
 
WHY oh WHY won't Canon put a MANUAL focus ring on their camcorders?

No doubt for the same reason Sony and Panasonic and JVC don't do this on consumer models any longer: some R&D boffin thinks users don't care.

Of course, until AF can be controlled telepathically, this view is mistaken, at least where "consumer" = those of us who prefer not to have AF hunt back and forth and at the same time would like to avoid the alternative of faffing about with joysticks or scroll wheels or touch-sensitive LCDs or whatever.
 
Courtaj said:
WHY oh WHY won't Canon put a MANUAL focus ring on their camcorders?

No doubt for the same reason Sony and Panasonic and JVC don't do this on consumer models any longer: some R&D boffin thinks users don't care.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's because of that. It's most likely a cost cutting measure. (e.g Ice cream makers 'removing' ounces, but still charging the same, there by making more profit). They're trying to take away what they can and still sell the camera. Consumers don't care, because they don't know any better. I mean look at Digital SLR's those have always have and always will(hopefully) both manual and auto focus. A joystick, small wheel(ala HV30), or touchscreen, will never really be the same as a focus ring.

Also who really wants a viewfinder-less camera? You know there's going to be times when that LCD viewfinder will be washed out or hardly viewable, not to mention the color could be off. Also, using the LCD uses more power.


I'd like to go back to the old days when these features were standard :D
 
.TOD clip

hello all,

thinking of getting a JVC G& HD7
have to buy tomorrow AM for project and have seen great deal.

Going into FCP. This is like second unit stuff so when we can't afford a pro crew we can still capture and use footage ourselves.

I want good quality as possible, but ideally wanted it to go straight in to edit. We currently have tape camcorder and getting it in takes an age.

1. am I mad? Is this camera worth the grief
2. what should I get instead
3. can anyone send me 2 seconds of a .TOD movie so I can see how FCP deals with it.

Hope someone can help in a rush
 
I have the JVC GZ-HD7U

You were able to convert your TOD files that JVC records on to with QuickTime 7.3 or earlier. Apple had since discontinued their support for this camera with their new codec changes.
The JVC is a wonderful camera as long as Apple can step up to the plate for those of us who already had been using that camera.
So to answer your question, no, none of the JVC or any other MPEG2 camera is no longer supported by Apple.
 
Tod files must be converted with QuickTime first.

foresthill said:
hello all,

thinking of getting a JVC G& HD7
have to buy tomorrow AM for project and have seen great deal.

Going into FCP. This is like second unit stuff so when we can't afford a pro crew we can still capture and use footage ourselves.

I want good quality as possible, but ideally wanted it to go straight in to edit. We currently have tape camcorder and getting it in takes an age.

1. am I mad? Is this camera worth the grief
2. what should I get instead
3. can anyone send me 2 seconds of a .TOD movie so I can see how FCP deals with it.

Hope someone can help in a rush
Click to expand...

If you are able to uninstall your new Quicktime player and reinstall Quicktime 7.3 you then have the ability to convert your TOD files into H.264 or what ever you want. Import those files into FCP or FCE HD and then there yours for cut and export.
If your able to install 7.3, please let me know how you went about it.
Ill be calling my apple care and support line tomorrow about this issue. Ill repost after I find anything out as well.

Cheers,

FRG House
 
^

I'm looking at Steve Mullen's site, and I' considering getting his manual. Does anyone know if it's available in hard copy form, or just as a download?
 
Just got Canon HD30

Went for tape.
Superb camera - 2 paying jobs completed with just a 15 minute tutorial from Ringo at ASK on Tottenham Court road.

Got external mic, HD is far too big so have been downsizing by half.

And half of HD is twice as good as DV output from camera.

Input into FCP or imovie is simple. Quality especially in decent light is stunning.

But get a spare battery.
 
JVC is working again!

FRG House said:
If you are able to uninstall your new Quicktime player and reinstall Quicktime 7.3 you then have the ability to convert your TOD files into H.264 or what ever you want. Import those files into FCP or FCE HD and then there yours for cut and export.
If your able to install 7.3, please let me know how you went about it.
Ill be calling my apple care and support line tomorrow about this issue. Ill repost after I find anything out as well.

Cheers,

FRG House
Click to expand...

Well after spending time on the phone with apple I found out that I was suppose to call JVC. No problem I though. JVC does not list the number I contacted in Toronto. When I was patched through to a tech. She sent me a plug in site for the GZ-HD7U by email.
It works better than ever, unfortunately it does not work for the latest iMovie.
You need to open the file in Quicktime Player then export it as another file that iMovie may read.
I was told it will just be a matter of time before iMovie will read the camera.
Here is the link to the plug.
It only works for Final Cut Pro.

http://www2.cli.co.jp/products/ne/update_qtc_for_gzhd7/qtc3e_update.htm

Cheers.:)
 
longest decision ever....I still can not decide between this JVC camera or the Canon hv30 ( bit cheaper)...It was said in another forum that the hv30 does not shoot in true HD because each pixle or whatever it is called is not really square...the aspect is a bit 'unperfect' or something..anyone know if this camera does this also??
 
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