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How to Transfer Video Between a Computer & Casablanca Using Firewire (Firewire 800 is involved)
There was a conversation on the Cassie Tips List today that I responded to and thought I would share my reply with the CasablancaExpert community as well.
QUESTION: Anyone owning one of the latest Macs with the 800 firewire tell me if they can firewire from the Mac directly to a Prestige firewire without problems? If not, any suggestions on work arounds. I want to send video from the MAC directly to the Prestige via firewire. Thanks. ANSWER: I have adapter cables that essentially that allows direct connection between Firewire 800 and Firewire 400 (both the 4-pin and the 6-pin).  To the left is what the Firewire 800 cable looks like.However this does _not_ ensure compatibility between devices, particularly as the Casablanca OS tends to be 'finicky' about full compatibility here. I learned a few years ago that Firewire is about 95+ percent uniform, the manufactures get to adjust the balance of the signal (that is how/why your camera/device is recognized by name). Where there is incompatibility, I will export out via Firewire to DV cam/deck and then back into the other device - this may be what you need to do between a Mac and a Prestige. I am opting to use the file formats in Media Manager and Storyboard Archives now days on my S4000 PRO to 'talk' between and with my Windows laptop and my Apple Mac. For more those wishing more information about Firewire 800 - here is info from Wikipedia: "IEEE 1394b-2002 introduced FireWire 800 (Apple's name for the 9-circuit "S800 bilingual" version of the IEEE 1394b standard). It is backwards compatible to the slower rates and 6-circuit alpha connectors of FireWire 400 (this means you can use Firewire 800 with Firewire 400, in either the 4-pin or 6-pin DV connector we video folks are more accustomed to). However, while the IEEE 1394a and IEEE 1394b standards are compatible, FireWire 800's connector, referred to as a beta connector, is different from FireWire 400's alpha connectors, making legacy cables incompatible. A bilingual cable allows the connection of older devices to the newer port You can use either a cable with the Firewire 800 connector on one end and the Firewire 400 on the other -- I have two of these, one with the 4-pin and one with the 6-pin on the Firewire 400 end)... or you could use an adapter that plugs into the 800 port and allows your standard Firewire 400 cable to plug right in. You may also appreciate the information here in this article on CasablancaExpert.com: Firewire Cables: What's the difference? |