Introduction to
Using Firewire drives and devices in the LRC
FireWire is the name given by Apple to the IEEE 1394 data
transfer standard. Sony devices and documentation refer to it as iLink,
but it is exactly the same thing. In the LRC we use firewire to transfer
large media files such as uncompressed video to and from external hard
drives, cameras, and through digital/analog converters
|
|
The LRC uses two types of firewire
connector: 6-pin and 4-pin.
|
 |
Pictured here, the 6-pin connector is on the left, and
the 4-pin is on the right. The larger 6-pin connector is used to connect
to computers such as the iMac and to external hard drives. The smaller
4-pin connector is used for smaller devices like Sony camcorders
and media converters.
note: Firewire 800 devices have larger 9-pin connectors. The only devices
in the LRC that have such connectors are the external hard drives,
and that end of the cable should not be disconnected from the drive.
The only cables that are hot-swapped in the lab are the 4-pin and
6-pin.
|
Saving work to and from external hard drives [top]
 |
Digital video projects can require
mass amounts of storage capacity, and the internal hard disks
of the LRC dv stations
can get full quickly. In order to ensure that everyone has enough
disk space to do their work, any projects that are not currently
in use will be moved to one of the external firewire drives.
Students can assist LRC staff by doing this themselves. Work
will be removed
from the external drives as needed.
Rule #1
Properly disconnect drive from computer.
- Drag the drive's icon to the trash on the computer to which it
is currently connected. That will "unmount" the drive.
- Turn off power. Do not unplug the firewire cable
before unmounting the drive.
|
To access an external drive:
- Plug the firewire cable into the computer. If the drive is powered
on, the blue indicator light will come on. If the light does not
come on, check to see if it is plugged into the power strip.
- An icon for the drive should then appear on the desktop.
- Drag and drop files to and from the firewire drive icon.
Configuring media converters [top]
|
Sony Media Converter
view from front
(mouse over buttons for descriptions)
- power on
- for analog to digital conversion, such as
importing a VHS tape into iMovie, press the
analog in button
- a green indicator light shows the
conversion direction
|
|
Sony Media Converter
view from back
(mouse over buttons for descriptions)
- top row of red-white-yellow RCA connectors
is for analog in
- connect the RCA cable to in connectors on
the Sony converter and the out connectors
one of the VCRs
- FireWire goes to the computer
|
|
|
Formac Converter
view from front
(mouse over buttons for descriptions)
- The Mode button switches between analog in and digital in
- The Analog indicator light is on when the Analog In mode is selected
- If the power light is off, check switch on the back of the device, then check
the FireWire connection to the computer. The Formac gets power from
the FireWire cable.
- If you get a pixelated image when importing through the converter,
toggle the Mode button.
|
|
|
Formac Converter
view from side
(mouse over buttons for descriptions)
- As with the Sony converter, make
sure the RCA cable coming in from an external source is
plugged into the in connectors.
- firewire on back
|
|
