Frequently Asked Questions

What are some quick tips for using my nNovia recorder?

• Don't forget to press STOP on your nNovia recorder before powering off your camera, before cutting the video signal to the recorder, and before powrering off the recorder.
• Always have a visual connection with the 1394 port when connecting or disconnecting - this is the only way to be sure that you will not damage the port by attempting to connect it backwards. Never 'shimmy' the 1394 cord out of it's port.
• Don't erase anything or change any names of files on the hard drive. Only write to/erase from the hard drive when it is in VTR mode. In HDD mode, (or when Mediapac is connected to a PC independently) treat it as a read-only drive. (The exception is if using the optional 2nd partition, where storing any type of file is ok).
• Don't bother making media files for each bin, it works for the entire length of the drive every time you do it. You only need to Make Media files when readying the footage to be seen by a computer.
• You can switch between Fat32 & NTFS anytime, just engage the desired setting and make media files.
• Don't make media files when the nNovia recorder is connected to a computer.
• Don't connect the AC adaptor to the battery and then connect the battery to the nNovia recorder.
• Every once in a while, empty all bins & make media files.
• Try to give a little 'buffer', maybe just a few seconds, when beginning and ending a recorded clip.

Here are some easy things to check before you contact us: If your problem exists on the file you see on your computer, check to see if the problem exists in VTR mode (on the raw video recorded as clips, not files). Connect to some sort of display, be it camera or computer or monitor (if you have an Analog-and-Digital model), and press PLAY. Does the video problem still exist?
• If it does then consider the source of the video and troubleshoot from there.
• If the problem does not exist in VTR mode, but only on the video files, then try switching to FAT32 (if currently using NTFS) then Make Media Files again. Check the files by playing in your computer - be sure to use a mediaplayer or NLE that is compatible with your file type.

If your problem is in getting the device to record, check to be sure your settings and your connections are ok: • Digital source: Does the LCD read 'DIG' (not 'ANA')
• Syncing to a Tape's movement: Does the display read 'ST1'? Did you press REC/PLAY first to engage the recorder into REC/PAUSE to ready it to follow the tape?
• Controlling from a camera's 1394 DV Control: Did you set up the camera's 1394 controls properly? Does inserting a tape effect the operation of the commands? Is the nNovia recorder set to Sync-to-Tape OFF (ST0) so that it doesn't search for a tape's timecode?
If you can't isolate the issue any further, check the firwmare revision - it is listed just after the System Set Up Menu (for classic models, firmware is listed inside the System Set Up menu). The latest firmware should read xx049D... or xx049E... (classic models can read: xx0369... or xx0469...). Contact support with your troubleshooting results and your firmware revision, and we'll take it from there.

This may be a result of the Making Media Files mis-calculating it's completion. If you use NTFS and you make media files, sometimes it signals that the process is complete prematurely - by about 10-20 seconds. Try Making Media Files again but let it stand for 20 seconds before powering it off (or removing the Mediapac) to switch to HDD mode.. This should allow for enough time in case of the recorder's miscalculation. The next firmware release will resolve this issue.

Our drives do not require formatting, but it is healthy to wipe the drive clean every once in a while. You can do this by performing an "Empty All Bins." When this is complete, perform a "Make Media Files". Then power off. This will give you a clean slate in both VTR and HDD mode.There is no way to reset your set up option to the factory default.

No, the Make Media Files process should only take 1-3 minutes per hour of video footage. If your unit is stuck in the Make Media files process, it may have experienced a loss of power during recording. If you're sure it's stuck, go ahead and power off. Try recording a little more footage in the bin that was recording during the loss of power. If there was no loss of power to your knowledge, then go ahead and append-record a few seconds to each bin that contains video. Make media files again and it should function properly. If it still does not complete the make media files process (be sure to give it enough time), try switching to Fat32 (under System Set Up) and make media files again.

Do not bother to set the record file type, as it will be set automatically. Instead, go into the System Set Up menu and select "Set Signal Type." Your options will be PAL, NTSC, or HDV (all f-rates). One you select HDV it will confirm by asking if you want to remain in your current mode (NTSC or PAL), select NO and it will re-format the hard drive to HDV record set up. You will lose any video footage that you had on the hard drive during this process.

In general, HDV cameras require a tape inserted in order to control third party external devices. While you can use HDV cameras without a tape, you would need to trigger your nNovia recorder manually (by pressing REC/PLAY or using RS232 control). If you want to go tapeless on the HDV camera and you need timecode sent with the video you must set the camera's timecode to 'free run'. Sony, JVC, and Canon all require both a 1394 control setting of "Synchronous" or "Synchro", and a tape inserted in order to send commands via 1394 out to nNovia recorders.

The reason behind making media files is to prepare the footage you've recorded in VTR mode for your computer to read off the Quick Capture's HDD mode. Making media files functions by placing a ‘wrapper' around all of the footage on the drive. This wrapper tells the computer where everything is and how it is organized. For this reason, you do not have to make media files for each bin – it works for the entire drive. However, if you record new footage after you've made media files, you do need to make media files again in order to include the new footage within the latest make media file ‘wrapper'. Only the footage that was on the Quick Capture when you made media files will appear in HDD mode.

Quick Captures record any and all video signal coming from the camera, following the tape's movement. In most cases, when a camera pauses its tape does a pre-roll so that the tape is properly cued for the next record command. Some cameras will rewind, pause, fast-forward, and pause again every time they are put into STANDBY mode. Other cameras will do some combination of pause, rewind, and fast forward. As it should, the Quick Capture registers the tape's movement and records accordingly. Since most users do not realize that cameras do pre-roll, they do not expect to see these tiny clips on the Quick Capture. This problem does not exist with more recent firmware revisions as they include a minimum clip length of 60 frames. The Quick Capture still records the camera's pre-roll, but it wont appear as separate clips.

Currently the Quick Capture line is based on the Fat32 file system. Within the Fat32 file system, there is a 2GB limitation for computer's importing video files. In order to get around this limitation, you will find that clips in VTR mode that are longer than 2GB (appx. 9 minutes) appear in HDD mode as multiple files, partitioned into segments of 1.99 GB each. The file's name will indicate which clip it belongs to by placing an 01, 02, 03, etc. on its end. For example, if Bin 01 (B01) has one clip (C01) that has been partitioned 4 times, you will see 4 files in HDD mode with common beginnings, but ends that indicate the partition (B01C0101, B01C0102, B01C0103 & B01C0104). The first three will be 1.99GB and the last will be smaller as it contains the remainder of the footage.

This is called clip resolution and is referred to in the manual. Basically, in VTR mode clip in and out points are exact, dictated by when you press pause on your camera (sync-to-tape on) or drop a mark. However, in HDD mode, the files that are created from those clips are created in 2-second segments. Since they have to be cut every 2-seconds (4 seconds for larger capacity drives), sometimes you will find that (HDD mode) files' in and out points vary from (VTR mode) clips' in and out points by up to 2 seconds. The best way to avoid this causing problems is to allow yourself a ‘buffer' of a few seconds when pausing to create individual clips.

This is a warning message prompted by Final Cut Pro because the Quick Capture's .mov files have a different audio interlace than Final Cut Pro would have generated itself. While you can proceed as they recommend and use Media Manager to create new copies of the files, this step is not necessary and will not change the quality of the files. The quality of the files are not effected by the difference in audio interlace and the message can be ignored.

When Service Pack 2 was first released it had problems mounting 1394 drives. Classic model Quick Capture and Quick Capture A2D's were effected by this for a short time period. Firmware updates have since resolved the issue with classic models. The issue never existed in the current product line. If you have difficulties mounting to your PC, it is more likely to be a problem with your 1394 port, or the chips associated with that interface. Please contact support.