On Final Cut Express I cannot capture the video footage from my video camera, why is that?

Question

I am using FCE to upload video footage from my Canon HV30. I am using the firewire plug. When I go to capture clip it says, "ERROR: capture clips require in and out points to be set." When I go to capture now it says, "Attempt to capture video without a video device selected. Please select a video device in your capture preset and try again." When I go to capture project it says, "ERROR: No valid capture items were found in the current login bin."

What is wrong?

Answer 1

Because you need to do a custom install of a QuickTime component called "Apple Intermediate Codec" from the MacOSX system discs. Without this, FinalCut Express, FinalCut Pro (and Pro2) and iMovieHD cannot deal with HDV forma video - which is what the default recording format is for the Canon HV30.

Once you install the AIC, you need to set the Import preference in FCE to HDV...