Director's Cut Troubleshooting FAQ

Q: When I import video with iMovie, the audio sounds fine during import. Once I play it back, there is a background noise that covers the audio track.
A: This issue is discussed in an Apple KB article:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42979

One workaround under iMovie 3/4 is to extract the audio from the video in the timeline. If you own a Director's Cut Take 2 with a serial number starting with 70xxxx or 71xxxx, you can purchase a firmware chip that provides a workaround for this iMovie issue.
Units with serial numbers starting with 72xxxx or 172xxxx have the firmware workaround already built-in.
Note that the firmware update is not compatible with the D-10 model manufactured by PowerR.


Q: I have connected Director's Cut to my Mac, but iMovie says 'Camera Disconnected'
A: Try the following:

- Quit iMovie and relaunch it.

- Verify that Director's Cut is set to the correct video standard (NTSC or PAL/NTSC), according to the standard defined in your project.

- Verify that the FireWire cable is not defective.

- Connect another FireWire device to your Mac to check that the ports are functional.

- Go To Username/Library/Preferences and delete the file 'com.apple.imovie.plist' ( Note they may be a version number after the iMovie string)

- If none of the above helps, download the free version of BTV and verify that your Director's Cut is detected. If it is the case, perform a full reinstallation of iMovie.

- If none of the above helps, please contact technical Support.


Q: I have connected Director's Cut to my computer and have pressed 'play' on my analogue source but nothing is showing up in the DV application preview window.
A: Try the following:

- Make sure that you have only one video cable plugged into the input section of Director's Cut. Do not connect a composite and a S-Video cable simultaneously.

- Verify the connection from your analogue source (VCR, Camcorder, etc). The video cable needs to be connected to the OUTPUT of the source and the INPUT of Director's Cut.

- Switch cables to eliminate the possibility of a defect.

- If you are using a SCART-to-S-Video cable, make sure your VCR Supports S-Video signals over the SCART connector. If it does not, switch to a SCART-to-Composite cable.

- If you are using a PC, make sure that Director's Cut is powered correctly. If you have several PCI cards installed, it might be worthwhile removing most of them to make sure that the FireWire PCI card that you use receives enough power.


Q: When I try to export video, the output flashes pink intermittently.
A: This problem is more likely to occur on PC's than Macs. We strongly recommend that you use a FireWire card with a Texas Instrument chipset, like the Alchemy FW400PCI or FW800PCI. FireWire cards with chipsets from a different manufacturer may lead to unexpected results.
On Mac systems, disconnecting your FireWire drives may resolve this problem as well. Some FireWire hard drives use a non-standard Firmware that can clash with Director's Cut.
This issue will occur on PowerMac G5 'DualCore' and MacPros as well. In this case, the only fix is to connect your Director's Cut to a PCI-Express FireWire card.


Q: When I try to export video with iMovie, I get a message saying the camera is disconnected.
A: This may happen if you have installed Final Cut HD. A fix is described in the Apple KB:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93804


Q: Director's Cut is only recognised intermittently by iMovie or Final Cut.
A: If you have any other FireWire device, like a hard drive, connected to your Mac, disconnect it. Some manufacturers do not use a standard Oxford Firmware with their hard drives; this can cause conflicts with DV bridges like Director's Cut. Please contact the manufacturer of the hard drive to get a firmware update.


Q: I am able to capture in iMovie, but not in Final Cut Pro.
A: Delete the Final Cut Pro preferences folder and make sure that you have deactivated 'Device Control' in the preferences. If the Final Cut Pro capture window is frozen saying 'allocating disk space', make sure you have pressed the capture button on Director's Cut.


Q: Under Mac OS 10.4, Final Cut Express/Pro does not detect Director's Cut although it's connected and powered up. The converter works fine with Mac OS 10.3 and the same version of FCE/FCP.
A: To resolve this issue, please refer to Apple's kb 301852:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301852


Q: I have connected a SCART-to-Composite cable to my VCR, but I cannot export video.
A: You are probably using a one-way SCART cable. Cables that allow import and export usually have an IN/OUT switch.


Q: I am trying to capture from an NTSC tape playing back from a dual standard PAL/NTSC VCR and no signal seems to be coming through Director's Cut.
A: Dual standard PAL/NTSC VCR's usually do not output a 'clean' NTSC signal, rendering the capture impossible. You will need a real NTSC VCR to be able to import with DC2.


Q: What are the specifications of the external power supply for Director's Cut?
A: The specs are 9V-12V (10V being ideal) and 1A. DC Output, inside tip positive. The outside of the power connector is 5.5 mm wide, the inside 2.5 mm wide. External power supplies are also available from our online store.


Q: When I import video, there is a small line at the bottom of the screen.
A: This is normal and due to the difference between DV pixels and the pixels on your screen. You are more likely to see this line on a TFT screen than a CRT. This line will not be displayed once you export video or burn it to DVD.


Q: There is a thin line on the top or bottom of the captured footage.
A: This is due to closed captioning, which is imported with the video. If you burn the movie to DVD or export it to a TV, these lines will not be visible.


Q: There are some thin diagonal lines on the imported footage, why?
A: This is due to the poor quality of your original footage. Compared to other converters available on the market, Director's Cut is very forgiving when it comes to converting poor quality footage, but don't expect miracles. If your ten old VHS tape does not look good on your TV, it will not look any better once imported. You can of course perform some colour corrections using high end video applications.


Q: I am trying to import audio only, but Director's Cut does not seem to perform the conversion. Why?
A: Director's Cut needs a colour sub-carrier to perform the conversion from analogue to DV. If you wish to import audio only, you will still need to connect a video source and separate the stream in your video application.


Q: I don't seem to be able to import black and white video. Why?
A: You will not be able to import black & white video with Director's Cut. An external add-on for black & white capture is now available.