Avid & Canon XH A1

[DiBlasi]

I have Avid Xpress Pro 5.7.3, a canon XH A1 HDV camera and a MacPro running 10.4.10. During the deck set up the XH A1 isn't listed as an option and when I select any canon camera it defaults to generic. Avid states that although the XH A1 hasn't been tested they expect it to work with Avid because the XH G1 has been certified. They Avid help desk said the same about Tiger 10.4.10 - it hasn't been fully tested but they expect it to work. Is the XH A1 supported by Avid? Should I down grade the OS to 10.4.9? I'm at the end of my rope.

 

[professor aire]

The question is, what exactly is the problem? I can't say much regarding the OS issues; I run on a PC platform. I do know that none of the cameras I run through my Avid are technically supported. (or at least, they weren't the last time I checked) I use Pansonic hardware, the AG-DVC30 and PV-GS320 and, though they both come up as generic decks, they both work completely fine with Avid and interface without problems. (Besides occasional issues w/ not immediately recognizing the deck).
Like I said, what exactly is the problem? You've stated what you have, what Avid says, but not the exact issue. Despite defaulting to the generic setting, can you not utilize the deck at all?

Please clarify, so we can get a better idea of how to recommend help. I know what it's like to be at the end of the rope regarding soft- and hard- ware issues, so I wish you luck with whatever the problem is.

 

[DiBlasi]

The problem is that we can't download any footage into the Avid application. Thanks for the help.

 

[professor aire]

Okay, troubleshooting issues like this are always fun when not directly on hand to play with what's happening. The first thing I always tell people who are having issues w/ device recognition is to make absolutely sure that the deck is turned on and set to playback mode before loading Avid. I find that oftentimes Avid won't recognize new hardware if it's activated or its functionality is changed after Avid is loaded.
(For example: I use an old Digital-8 for streaming out to my broadcast monitors and if I shut my whole system down, when I turn things back on it goes back to camera mode; if I forget to put it to VCR then Avid won't playback video properly, because it's got a camera attached in camera mode... and if I switch the mode when Avid is loaded it doesn't help. I have to restart the program.)
Then when you go to the capture panel select the generic device - NTSC and pick the Check Decks option. Try this for a number of times if it doesn't recognize immediately. Try the auto configure option some too. If it doesn't work right away, try restarting the program and trying again. (I know this sounds crappy, but I used to have to mess with things like that to get my Panasonic AG-DVC30 to pull up and recognize properly.)
If you get it to recognize make sure you've got the V1 and A1 + A2 tracks selected as well as the TC track.

If you get any error messages through any of this then list them here and I'll see if I recognize any of them.

Hope this helps and I'll work at trying to figure out additional issues that might be your problem.