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Euphonix MC Transport usage [EDIT]
31/10/09
Second part of the test.
First thing to do is register your controler. Go the the Euphonix support’s website.

This is where you’ll find the software download, the email support link and the docs.
When everything is working, as explained in previous post, you should have the green « € » in the top right of the menu, and the controler should display the name of the software you are actualy using (safari ? firefox ?)
I had some controler « freeze » at some point. Then, the controler keeps displaying the same application name, whichever application is in focus. For the moment, the only solution I found is to power-off the controler, go in the EuControl settings (the only way to get acces to the menu) and quit.
Then, restart the EuControl application, wait until the menu icon stop rolling, then power-on the controler.
As I said, I emailed the support about that without any real answer. I openned a new case today… we’ll see…
If you are using a supported application the controler comes pre-configured. This is not the case for most basic applications like Safari, Firefox, iTunes or even the finder.
While the MC Transport is not made for that specificaly, configuring these applications will help us understand how the controler work.
Basic notions :

you have two ways to do that : clic on the green icon in the menu and go to the settings -> « soft keys » tab or, simply, clic on the « eye » key on the controler, at the lower left of the keypad.
Before beeing able to use the jog or shuttle you have to enable it. Most of the time the activation key is the first soft key for the jog and the second for the shuttle. When switching into an application, every key should be off (no light). clic again to activate

You can change the color of the transport keys (the one arount the shuttle). The 2 first and 2 last keys can be yellow or red. The 3 keys in the middle can be yellow or green. For the moment, I haven’t found a way to light a key or change its color depending on the action. I openned a case to the support to have more informations. For example, keeping the key green while pressed, or changing the color at every clic… Another request, which may be linked, is having two actions for the same key. This way, you can have a yellow key. When first clic, send the « play » shortcut of the application and turn to red. When pressed again, send the « stop » or « pause » keystroke and turn back to yellow… I hope the support will give a clue on how to do that, or add support in the next software release
The pdf manual will lead you through the configuration process, which is really easy for the basic stuffs. Let’s write down a walkthrough…
All this is done in the configuration software, not the controler.
- select the button to assign
- give a name in the « soft key label » box AND press enter to validate
- change the font or color if needed
- clic on « command… » or double-clic on the button
- clic on the « add » menu and select what to do. Most of the time it will be « key », and if you want to make the button an activation button for the jog or shuttle, use « wheel »
- enter a keystroke or a list of them. Doing this enable you to do scripts
- you can add more option, again, to script the button
If you’re programming the button to activate the wheel, select wheel and a custom function.
If you’re programming the wheel, you have to :
- clic on the « + » sign and give a name to the « command »
- as you do when programming a key, add a keystroke or another function. This will be used when turning the wheel right (clockwise) by default
- clic on the « turn jog right » menu and change to « turn jog left »
- add the keystroke used when turn anti-clockwise
If you’re programming the shuttle, this is a little bit different. You can add action for each of the 15s step of the wheel (-7 -> 0 -> +7) and for each transition (0 ->1, 1->2 …) and the other way around (2->1, 1->0…)
These are the basics. I’ll try to give examples in the next post
[EDIT]
Now that I have my disk array working, I had another try.
Once again, the MC Transport stayed locked on the « Mail » application. This is not the first time, and for the moment, the only answer from the support was « disable firewall in your mac » and « start the audio mixer of FCP ». These answers were done after 10 days, or more. Seriously, Euphonix, what are you doing here ?
If this happen to you, follow these steps :
- power off the MC Transport
- go in the green « € » icon -> « EU Control Settings »
- go to the menu and quit
- poweron the MC Transport and wait until the « Euphonix » logo appear
- start the EU Control application. The menu icon should turn to green.
For the moment, while the hardware is perfectly built, I can’t say the software is working fine… If you haven’t bought yet, WAIT !
Euphonix team, if you read this, I’m willing to spend some time debugging for you. Just provide me a beta software, or one with extra debug. But please, stop giving stupid answers.
Euphonix MC Transport is here (one month late) [Edited]
18/10/09
The MC Transport I ordered back in August, to be shipped the 9 of September was finaly shipped on the 5th of October… And it’s finaly here !
For your personal reminder :
Let’s first take a look at the packaging.
Lire la suite de l’article »
Euphonix MC Transport control surface
5/08/09
This is not a news, but a requesto for comment. Everyone knows about the MC Transport from Euphonix.
But should I, or not, buy this control surface for Final Cut editing ?
This gives you a lot more than the Shuttle Pro2. It work on ethernet and the driver enable it to be used with almost any software !
Around 400€… availlable around right now…
Should I or not ?
Getting EX1 footage on a G5 Mac with FinalCut
26/12/07
First of all you need the latest Final Cut Studio 2, which is version 6.0.2 by now.
Then you need to install the drivers (or not, as you G5 does not have an express card slot) and the XDcam import tool.
I don’t have a USB expresscard reader and I don’t have a reliable firewire hard drive yet. I then chosed to copy the whole SxS card content from my MacBook Pro to my G5 over the network. 5 mins for 1.5Gb of data. I’m in the way to buy an external hard drive, using firewire and maybe e-sata, with 2 internal RAID (mirror) drives. I saw some brand having this kind of stuff. Then I’ll be able to unload the card to the drive, and have the footages imported to my G5 directly. This will be a little bit faster.
For now, I copied the whole content of the card to a folder with the name of the shoot :

Noel is the french word for christmass, Romain is the name of the father of my girlfriend, which is a french DoP. It was also his birthday on the 25th of December.
Then I start FinalCut, create a new project and go to the file->import->Sony XDcam. This open the import tool. If you have an SxS card inserted, you will see its content immediatly. If you don’t (as you are on a G5), you will have to supply the directory where you put the content of the card.
Just click « Add » at the botom left of the screen, choose your folder « noel-romain-2007″ (the « BPAV » folder will be greyed out) and click add.
The folder will be scanned and the content will show up :

You then have to select some of the footages from the top pictures and click import at the botom. The number of clip to import will be shown in front of the folder you’re importing from, decreasing each time a clip is imported. You will also see a progree bar on the footage you are importing.
I’ll try to add more stuffs here, but I’m on my way to get some pictures of Notre-Dame de Paris then the Champs Elysée. I’ll try to post all that ASAP.
Marry Christmass to all.
