FS-4 HD and FS-4Pro HD Portable DTE Recorders User Guide MANL-0954-04
LEGAL NOTICES THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL AND TRADE SECRET INFORMATION OF FOCUS ENHANCEMENTS AND ITS RECEIPT OR POSSESSION DOES NOT CONVEY ANY RIGHTS TO REPRODUCE OR DISCLOSE ITS CONTENTS, OR TO MANUFACTURE, USE, OR SELL ANYTHING THAT IT MAY DESCRIBE. USE IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT THE SPECIFIC WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION OF FOCUS ENHANCEMENTS IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.
Contacting FOCUS ENHANCEMENTS: USA Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00PM (Central Time) Email: support@focusinfo.com Telephone: +1 763-398-1658 Fax: +1 763-571-7688 Address: Focus Enhancements, Inc. 1370 Dell Avenue Campbell, CA. 95008 www.focusinfo.com EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) ii Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00PM Email: techsupport@como.
Regulations and Safety Focus Enhancements, Inc. 1370 Dell Avenue Campbell, CA. 95008 Model Number: FS-4 HD and FS-4Pro HD Date of Manufacture: Reference the Serial Number label attached to the unit. Serial Number The serial number for this equipment is located on the back of the unit. Please write this serial number on the enclosed warranty card and keep it in a secure area.
Symbol Used In the FS-4 HD and FS-4Pro HD Unit This symbol indicates the presence of an uninsulated Dangerous Voltage within the product’s enclosure that may constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. Symbols Used in This Documentation Important Information the User Should Read This symbol indicates information about conditions or actions that could result in damage to the device or data.
Electrical Precautions Do Not Expose to Moisture Do not use this product near water or in an environment where it is exposed to dampness or there is the possibility of it getting wet. Do Not Remove Cover There are No User Serviceable Parts inside this unit. Servicing should be done by qualified service personnel. ON / OFF Switch in Stand-By Position The On/Off switch Does Not Separate the Unit From the Main Power when it is in the stand-by position.
• Non-Use Period During extended periods when the device is not used, unplug it from the power source and retract the power-cord. Grounding or Polarization • Polarized If this product is equipped with a polarized alternating current line plug (a plug having one blade wider than the other), it will fit into the outlet only one way. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug.
Power Lines Do not locate an outside antenna system in the vicinity of overhead power lines, electric light or power circuits, or where it can fall onto such lines or circuits. When installing an outside antenna system, extreme care should be taken to keep from touching such power lines or circuits as contact with them might be fatal. Optical Precaution The use of optical instruments with this device will increase hazards to the eyes hazard.
Accessories and Replacement Parts Use only attachments and accessories recommended by Focus Enhancements. Use only replacement parts specified by the Focus Enhancements or of comparable quality and characteristics as the original parts. Unauthorized substitution of parts can result in fire, electrical shock, other hazards, and loss of warranty.
Table of Contents Introduction DTE Eliminates Pre-edit Processing Unpacking Features FS-4 HD Features FS-4Pro HD Features Quickstart Physical Description and Basic Controls Front Panel Controls LCD Display Function buttons (A, B, C) Power On Button Navigation Buttons Transport Control Buttons Record Back Search Play Forward Search Back Index Pause, Stop and Power OFF Forward Index Top Panel Computer FireWire Connector Remote Control, Serial Connector Camera FireWire Connector Rear Panel Side Panel Bottom
Table of Contents Installing a Battery 20 Removing a Battery 20 Charging the Battery 21 Connecting a FS-4 HD to a DV/HD Camcorder 22 Record and Playback with the FS-4 HD 23 Power On the FS-4 HD 23 Select HDD Recorder Mode 24 Select a DV/HD File Format 25 Set Time and Date 26 Record With the FS-4 HD 28 Manual Recording 29 Creating a New File without Dropping Frames 29 Syncro Slave Recording 30 Recording Timecode in the File 30 Playback on the FS-4 HD 31 Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer Initial Setup Mount
Table of Contents Time Lapse Record HDD Mode Screen Setting Up Master and Slave FS-4 HD Format Screen DV Formats HD Format Screen Setup Screens Date Time Version LCD Light ON, OFF, AUTO Alarm ON, OFF Stop Frame, Gray, No Video EXT CTL OFF, Pause, Frame, File TIME CODE EXT, REC RUN, FREE RUN, REGEN TC SET UB SET TC DROP, NON-DROP HDV TC TYPE LCD CONTRAST Functions Screen Functions List LOCK/UNLK: Assigning Clips to Reels Blank Utilities Screen Organize Reel Organize OMF Organize MXF Organize Pinn Delete Cli
Table of Contents Using a Wired Remote Control Play Screen Play From Screen Control Screen 91 92 93 94 LCD Display Symbols and Text 97 Technical Specifications 99 Physical Description Input/Outputs Power Audio/Video/Timecode Specification DTE File Formats Disk Information Log Files Error Messages Warranty Temperature Compatible Camcorders and Accessories xii 99 99 99 100 100 100 101 101 102 102 102 FS-4 HD and FS-4Pro HD Portable DTE Recorders
Introduction Thank you for purchasing this Focus Enhancements portable directto-edit (DTE) disk recorder. The FS-4 HD and the professional version FS-4Pro HD are the first portable DV/HD disk recorders with DTE technology designed for hand held camcorders in a small, rugged and shock proof chassis. Information About Specific FS-4 HD Models Throughout this manual, FS-4 HD indicates information that pertains to all models of the FS-4 HD family.
Introduction Unpacking 3 2 1 7 6 5 4 Verify that the FS-4 HD has the following items: 1. 2. 3. 4. FS-4 HD unit Belt Clip User Guide Two Firewire cables, a one foot and a four foot long, 6pin to 4-pin 5. Power cable (international only) 6. Power supply with cable and connector to the FS-4 HD 7. Removable Li-Ion battery pack Missing or Damaged Components If there are missing or damaged items, contact Focus Enhancements Support for assistance. USA Email: support@focusinfo.
Introduction Features FS-4 HD Features All FS-4 HD models offer the following features: • Tapeless acquisition Especially equipped camcorders permit the use of Direct To Edit (DTE) Technology to record directly from a camcorder while shooting and without the need of a tape. • True DTE Technology When shooting is finished, connect the FS-4 HD to a computer and instantly be ready to edit in the timeline. Files are recorded to disk as RawDV, AVI Type1, AVI Type2, Matrox AVI, Canopus AVI, or QuickTime.
Introduction • Compact, Lightweight, Rugged Design The FS-4 HD weighs about a pound including the battery and is only 1.5" thick. You can mount the FS-4 HD directly to your camcorder using the optional camera mount kit, or clip the FS-4 HD directly to your belt. The FS-4 HD is designed to withstand the rigors of field shooting. The six second electronic shock cache ensures your video is always recorded even in the roughest of conditions.
Introduction • Pinnacle, Avid DV-OMF, and MXF OPatom DV support • Available with a 60GB, 80GB or 100GB hard drive and with equivalent record times of about 4.5, 6, or 7.5 hours respectively.
6 FS-4 HD and FS-4Pro HD Portable DTE Recorders
Quickstart This section provides the following information necessary for using the FS-4 HD as quickly as possible. Physical Description and Basic Controls ............................... 8 The FS-4 HD Menu System ................................................ 15 Connecting the FS-4 HD to AC Power ................................ 19 Installing / Removing the Battery Pack ............................... 20 Connecting a FS-4 HD to a DV/HD Camcorder .................. 22 Record and Playback with the FS-4 HD .
Quickstart Physical Description and Basic Controls Front Panel Controls LCD Display Function buttons A B C Navigation buttons Power ON Record Button Transport Control buttons Power OFF and Stop button Speaker LCD Display This is a backlit, 14 character by 7 line dot matrix display. In event of a mild electrical discharge to the unit the LCD could go blank. To correct, hold the SELECT button down for 5 seconds.
Quickstart Power On Button The Power ON button provides two functions. • Power ON FS-4 HD • Reset FS-4 HD • FS-4 HD first must be powered on. • Hold down the Power On button for more than a second. • Power OFF Hold down the OFF button for three (3) seconds. During power off, the FS-4 HD beeps, indicating that it is turning off. Navigation Buttons Use these buttons to navigate through the FS-4 HD menus. The navigation buttons are Left, Right, Up, Down, and Select.
Quickstart Record Press this button once when the FS-4 HD is in Stop mode to put the FS-4 HD into REC-PAUSE. Press it again to start recording. Pressing the Record button while recording, causes the current clip to close and a new clip is created without dropping any frames. This button is the only button that has a red legend on the front panel. Back Search WW Press this button to play video at speeds different than real-time. Refer to the note in the Forward Search paragraph.
Quickstart Pause, Stop and Power OFF While in the Home screen, and in any transport mode, press this button to Pause the FS-4 HD. Press it again to stop the FS-4 HD. Refer to the section, Setup Screens on page 62 for more information. To power off the FS-4 HD, hold down the Stop button for three seconds. During power off, the FS-4 HD makes an audible beep indicating it is turning off. Forward Index XX| Use this button to skip forward to the next clip in STOP and PLAY modes.
Quickstart Status LED States LED Indicates Off Power OFF Green Power ON (Power On but there is no activity.) Orange, solid Playback Orange, fluttering Hard drive being accessed during playback. Red, solid Recording Mode Red, blinking Recording Pause Computer FireWire Connector • • In/Out: 6-pin IEEE-1394a port x 1 Asynchronous Data I/O Remote Control, Serial Connector • • • GPI / RS232C; 3.5mm TRS mini jack. (3.5mm to DB-9 cable accessory available).
Quickstart Rear Panel The rear panel contains the following important items: Fan Intake Vent Do Not Block Belt Clip Post Battery Compartment Latch Battery Compartment Side Panel The side panel contains cooling vents as illustrated below.
Quickstart Bottom Panel The FS-4 HD bottom panel features a single 2-pin DC power connector. Connect the supplied AC power adapter here. DC Power Connector Cooling Vent Do Not Block Internal Speaker Cooling Vent Do Not Block Internal Speaker An internal speaker provides alarms and audible feedback. To disable the audible feedback, go to the Settings menu and select the ALARM OFF setting. However, the power, temperature, and disk capacity alarms are always active.
Quickstart The FS-4 HD Menu System The FS-4 HD menu system provides access to all the functions available in the unit. Each of the screens below (except the Welcome and Home screens which come up automatically when the unit starts) are accessed by pressing the Left or Right navigation buttons. The functions of each of the selections on these screens is explained in more detail in FS Functions on page 47. Returning to the Top of Menu or Home screen To get to the top of any menu, press the Left button.
Quickstart • Reels FS-4Pro HD only Allows selected clips to be marked for placement in particular Reels Folders.
Quickstart • Setup Contains the controls for setting and reviewing the FS-4 HD configuration: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Set Date (MM/DD/YY) Set Time (HH:MM:SS) View Firmware Version LCDLight ON LCDLight OFF LCDLight AUTO Alarm ON Alarm OFF Stop Frame DV mode only Stop Gray DV mode only Stop No Video EXT CTL OFF EXT CTL PAUSE EXT CTL FRAME DV mode only EXT CTL FILE TC EXT (external) TC REC RUN DV mode or FS-4Pro HD only TC DROP NTSC only TC NON-DROP NTSC only LCD Contrast FS-4Pro HD provid
Quickstart • DV or HD Formats Following HDD mode is a menu of formats available for the type recorder selected in HDD.
Quickstart Powering the FS-4 HD • The FS-4 HD operation without a battery installed. To operate the FS-4 HD without a battery installed, connect the unit to an AC power source. • Before operating the FS-4 HD with battery power. It is first necessary to fully charge the battery. An uncharged battery, typically takes 2-3 hours to charge. Connecting the FS-4 HD to AC Power Attach the AC power cord to the FS-4 HD (with or without battery installed). The FS-4 HD is immediately ready for operation.
Quickstart Installing / Removing the Battery Pack Installing a Battery Battery Latch Hook Latch Slot Gently press down Slide battery pack forward Latch Battery Pack Guides 1. Place the unit, so that the battery compartment is up. 2. Position the battery pack, as shown above, so that the latch hook is almost in the latch slot, and touching the floor of the battery compartment. 3. Slide the battery forward while gently pressing down. Feel the battery slide along guides and seat itself. 4.
Quickstart Charging the Battery The battery begins charging anytime it is connected to AC power using the AC adapter supplied with the FS-4 HD. The charge LED lights when the FS-4 HD is charging. For information on the charge LED, refer to the subsection Top Panel on page 11. Before the battery can be used it must charge until the battery status LED indicates the unit is fully charged (green). • • • • The Charge LED on the top of the FS-4 HD lights to show the battery is charging.
Quickstart Connecting a FS-4 HD to a DV/HD Camcorder Before performing this procedure, make sure you have installed and charged the battery, see Installing / Removing the Battery Pack on page 20. 1. Connect the supplied Firewire cable to the DV I/O connector on the top of the FS-4 HD. (Only one end will match the plug in the FS-4 HD.) 2. Locate the FireWire/DV/iLink (or similar) connector on your video camera. It is located in different places depending upon the brand of camera.
Quickstart Record and Playback with the FS-4 HD Before using the FS-4 HD, set up the unit as outlined in the following sections: Power On the FS-4 HD ....................................................... 23 Select HDD Recorder Mode ............................................... 24 Select a DV/HD File Format ................................................ 25 Set Time and Date .............................................................. 26 Record With the FS-4 HD .......................................
Quickstart 2. The Welcome screen appears and displays while the FS-4 HD initializes. Each FS-4 HD model has a unique welcome screen. FS-4 HD PORTABLE DTE RECORDER FS Model 3. When the Home screen appears, proceed, see Home Screen on page 49 for more details. FS-4Pro HD Only STOP 1COUNTER 00:00:14:02 DISK 1 168 min REEL SYNC DISP LOCK Select HDD Recorder Mode 1. Press the Right navigation button two times until the HDD Mode display appears. HDD MODE -DV RECORDER HD RECORDER DD DRIVE USE EXT FS-4 2.
Quickstart Select a DV/HD File Format The formats displayed depend on the recorder mode selected in the previous step, for example DV RECORDER results in the following: DV FORMATS RAW DV -AVI TYPE1 AVI TYPE2 CANOPUS AVI 1. Use the Up and Down navigation buttons to select the DV file format that supports the preferred NLE system. A dash mark to the left of a list item indicates that it is the current selection. The default value is AVI Type2.
Quickstart Set Time and Date Date and Time Must Be Set The date and time must be set because they are used in the FS-4 HD file naming function. 1. Press the Right navigation button several times until the Setup display appears on the screen as shown below: SETUP 09 / 15 / 05 11 : 21 : 13 V 1 . 0. 0 -LCDLIGHT OFF 2. Use the Down navigation button to highlight the date and press the Right navigation button to access the Set Date screen. SET DATE 09 / 15 / 05 MM / DD / YY BACK 3.
Quickstart 5. Use the Down navigation button to select the time and press the Right navigation button. The following screen appears: SET TIME 11 : 21 : 13 HH : MM : SS BACK 6. Use the Up and Down navigation buttons to change the highlighted value. Use the Right and Left navigation buttons to highlight the Hour, Minute, and Second. (Time is indicated in 24hr. mode.) 7. Press the right-most Function button indicated as BACK on the screen. The new date appears on the Setup Screen.
Quickstart Record With the FS-4 HD There are two modes of recording with the FS-4 HD. • Manual Recording Control with the FS-4 HD transport buttons. • Syncro Slave Recording or Tapeless Recording Control recording with the video camera controls. Before beginning recording, verify that: 1. Time and date are set. 2. Recording format is set. 3. The FS-4 HD is connected to the video camera according to the explanation in Connecting a FS-4 HD to a DV/HD Camcorder on page 22. 4.
Quickstart Manual Recording 1. Set the video camera to Camera or Cam mode. 2. Verify that an image appears in the viewfinder. 3. On the FS-4 HD, press Record once. This sets the FS-4 HD to Record-Pause mode. Record Stop (OFF) 4. On the FS-4 HD, press Record button a second time. The FS-4 HD begins to record. The timecode value is displayed on the screen. 5. Press Stop 6. Press Record and the FS-4 HD begins to record again on the same clip. 7. Press Stop 8.
Quickstart Syncro Slave Recording Syncro slave recording allows the FS-4 HD to mimic camcorder operations by monitoring the state of the camcorder’s tape recorder controls. 1. Verify that the FS-4 HD is in STOP mode. 2. From the FS-4 HD Home screen, press the Right navigation button several times until the Control screen appears: CONTROL LOCAL AV / C -SYNCRO SLAVE TAPELESS 3. Use the Down navigation button to select Syncro Slave.
Quickstart Playback on the FS-4 HD Verify that both the video camera and the FS-4 HD are powered on and that they are connected together with the FireWire cable from the FS-4 HD DV/IO port to the camcorder 1394 port. Feature Availability on PAL Cameras This feature is not available on some PAL cameras. 1. Set the video camera to VCR or playback mode. 2. Navigate to the video clip to preview, using the FS-4 HD Left and Right transport control buttons.
32 FS-4 HD and FS-4Pro HD Portable DTE Recorders
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer Once video clips are recorded to the FS-4 HD it is possible to use those clips in most computer based DV/HD NLE systems. This section contains the following: Initial Setup ......................................................................... 34 Mounting the FS-4 HD in Windows ..................................... 34 FS-4 HD and FAT 32 ........................................................... 37 Using Avid OMF Clips FS-4Pro HD only..............................
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer Initial Setup 1. Connect the FS-4 HD through its COMPUTER I/O 1394 port to the computer system using a standard 6-pin to 6-pin FireWire cable. 2. Enter HDD mode and enable DD Drive. This step is required before mounting the FS-4 HD to a computer. • • • On the FS-4 HD go to the HDD screen. Select DD Drive and Right arrow to Connect screen. Press Enable function button. Refer to the section, HDD Mode Screen on page 57 3. Connect power to the drive if necessary. 4.
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer 4. Open the folder with the most recent date code. This folder may contain several different files. The video clips. can appear as: • RawDV (.dv) • AVI Type1 - (YYYYMMDDHHMMSSa01) • AVI Type2 or 24p AVI Type2 (YYYYMMDDHHMMSSb01) • Canopus AVI - (YYYYMMDD-HHMMSSb01) • Matrox AVI - (YYYYMMDD-HHMMSSm01 This file has a separate .wav audio file per track. • QuickTime or 24p Quicktime (.mov) FS-4Pro HD • Pinnacle AVI - (YYYYMMDD-HHMMSSp01 There are two separate .
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer • MXF OPAtom - (YYYYMMDD-HHMMSSp01.mxf) (YYYYMMDD-HHMMSSL01.mxf), (YYYYMMDDHHMMSSR01.mxf) where: p is video, L is the left audio channel, R is the right audio channel, FS-4Pro HD Video Clips in Reel Folder FS-4Pro HD permits the storing of video clips in either the standard file folder or a Reel folder. If video clips have been assigned to a Reel folder, it is necessary to run Organize Reels before attaching the FS-4Pro HD to a computer.
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer FS-4 HD and FAT 32 The FAT32 file system limits file size to a maximum of 2GB or approximately, 9 minutes of recording time. Recording Time Depends on Recorder Mode and Resolution The number of minutes per 2G file depends upon the recorder mode and resolution: • DV - 9 minutes, • 720p (MOV) - 10 minutes, • 720p (M2T) - 13 minutes, • 1080i (M2T) - 9 minutes, • 1080i (MOV) - 8 minutes (1080/60i) or 7.
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer Using Avid OMF Clips FS-4Pro HD only These steps are required when using Avid OMF formatted clips. The Avid OMF file format was developed for use with Avid editing products on Windows 2000, Windows XP or Mac 0SX. These products include Avid Xpress Pro, NewsCutter, and Media Composer Adrenaline (with the DV option). The Avid OMF file format creates three files simultaneously; one OMF video file and two separate AIF audio files.
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer 1. Locate and open the FS-4 HD drive folder. 2. Create a new folder and name it OMFI MediaFiles. 3. To do this in Windows, select File>New>Folder . 4. To do this with Macintosh, select File>New Folder. Next, type OMFI MediaFiles. 5. Drag all the OMF and AIF files into the new folder: Do Not Drag in the files titled Desktop DB or Desktop DF. 6. Launch Avid. 7. Open an existing project or create a new one. 8. Select Tools>MediaTool.
10. Verify that Master Clips is checked and press OK. The Media Tools Window, similar to the following, appears: 11. Create a new bin (select File -> New Bin) or open an existing bin in Avid. 12. Select all items in the Media Tools window (select Edit> Select All). 13. Drag the contents of the Media Tools Window into the bin. It is now possible to use these clips in the Avid timeline.
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer Dismounting the FS-4 HD (Windows) When finished working with the FS-4 HD and the computer, it is necessary to dismount FS-4 HD from the system Dismount FS-4 HD Before Powering Off It is important to dismount the FS-4 HD from the Windows system BEFORE powering down the unit. To do dismount the FS-4 HD: 1. Click the Safely Remove Hardware icon at the bottom right side of the Windows task bar as shown below. Unplug or Eject Hardware Icon (Safely Remove Hardware) 2.
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer Mounting the FS-4 HD (Macintosh) 1. Start the Mac computer and connect the FS-4 HD’s COMPUTER I/ O port to the computer using a standard 6-pin to 6-pin FireWire cable. When mounted, the FS-4 HD should appear on the computer's desktop as shown below: The FS-4 HD appears as a FAT32 volume with a PC label. 2. Locate the FS-4 HD on the desktop and open it up. 3. Open the folder with the most recent date code (for example, 20050127-110345-01).
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer Dismounting the FS-4 HD (Macintosh) When finished working with the FS-4 HD and the Macintosh it is necessary to dismount the unit from the system. Dismount FS-4 HD Before Powering Off It is important to dismount the FS-4 HD from the Mac system BEFORE powering down the FS-4 HD. To dismount the FS-4 HD from a Mac: 1. Select the FS-4 HD on the computer's desktop. It is marked with a PC symbol. 2. Drag the drive into the trash or use the eject button.
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer Mounting Hardware Mounting FS-4 HD to a Camcorder Mount the FS-4 HD to your camcorder using the optional Camcorder Mount Kit (P/N ASYF-0849-01). For more information about this kit or to order it, contact Focus Enhancements: USA Email: support@focusinfo.com Telephone: +1 408 866 8300 Address: Focus Enhancements, Inc. 1370 Dell Avenue Campbell, CA. 95008 www.focusinfo.com EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) 44 Email: techsupport@como.
Using the FS-4 HD with a Computer Clipping to a Belt Belt Mount Clip Front View Side View FS-4 HD Belt Clip Post A belt mount clip is included with the FS-4 HD. This mount is similar to those used with cellular telephones. Attach the belt mount to the belt clip post on the rear of the FS-4 HD and push it down to lock it in position.
46 FS-4 HD and FS-4Pro HD Portable DTE Recorders
FS Functions This section contains information on the following LCD screens: General Screen Information ................................................ 48 Record Screens .................................................................. 52 HDD Mode Screen .............................................................. 57 Format Screen .................................................................... 60 HD Format Screen .............................................................. 61 Setup Screens ......
FS Functions General Screen Information The FS-4 HD LCD screens are organized by function with each screen displaying a list of items. An item can be: • A value that can be set, such as the date. • A switch similar to a check box, that can be enabled along with other options in the display. • A switch similar to a radio button, that belongs to a family of options, in which only one can be active at any time. • A link to another display, which is indicated by a .
FS Functions Home Screen The Home screen is read only and has no navigable items. To leave the Home screen use either the Left or Right Navigation button. 2 1 11 12 10 FS-4Pro HD only STOP 1COUNTER 00:00:14:02 DISK 1 168 min REEL SYNC DISP LOCK 7 8 3 4 5 6 9 1. Current Function: Symbol and Description Refer to LCD Display Symbols and Text on page 97. 2. Volume Disk Number The volume number is always 1 unless multiple FS-4 HD’s are connected. 3. Clip Number Number of the current video clip, i.e.
FS Functions 10. Reel Display FS-4Pro HD only In Record or Playback modes, this item displays the particular REEL that a clip is located in or, has been marked to. If in PLAY FROM > REEL LIST mode, the REEL appears in brackets for example, . This area is blank if NO REEL has been selected. 11. DISP information field that displays data type. 12. DISP information field that displays current data.
FS Functions 12 Displays an absolute timecode value for the particular session: the sum of all COUNTER timecodes on connected volumes. Absolute is primarily used when setting the FS-4 HD to AV/C mode and controlling it with an external FireWire device, such as a computer. DV (NTSC or PAL) and HD The information displayed in fields 11 and 12 depends, in part, on which Recorder Mode is set. DV RECORDER Line 11 displays the Standard Digital (SD) video format. It can not be changed.
FS Functions Record Screens RECORD NORMAL -RETRO DISK RETRO CACHE LOOP RECORD The Record screen permits setting the FS-4 HD to various recording modes, depending on the model: • • • • • • NORMAL RETRO DISK FS-4Pro HD only RETRO CACHE LOOP RECORD FS-4Pro HD only SNAP FS-4Pro HD DV modes only TIME LAPSE FS-4Pro HD DV modes only Once a record mode is selected, the recorder remains in that mode until a different mode is chosen.
FS Functions For more about LCD display symbols and text, see LCD Display Symbols and Text on page 97. Normal Record This is the standard recording mode. • All control is from the FS-4 HD front panel. Initially, the Home screen displays STOP. • Pressing Record puts the FS-4 HD into II REC PAUSE mode. • Pressing Record a second time puts the FS-4 HD into REC mode. Retro Cache Record Mode RETRO CACHE :00 :SS This line is not active: reference only.
FS Functions Retro Disk Record Mode FS-4Pro HD only RETRO DISK 00:00 HH:MM This line is not active: reference only. BACK The Retro Disk mode records video in a continuous loop to a user-defined portion of disk space. Pressing Record seamlessly begins active recording. The Retro Disk session is appended to the beginning of the new clip. The result is a set of clips beginning with the cached video and continuing with the newly recorded video.
FS Functions • The size of the video clip depends on the length of the loop. • • • Loops of 60 minutes or less are recorded in one-minute clips. Loops greater than 60 minutes, are recorded in 2GB clips. When the capacity of the disk is reached, one additional clip is created. The size of the last clip depends on the length of the loop i.e., one-minute or 2GB. The disk must have at least 30 minutes of disk space available for this functionality.
FS Functions Time Lapse Record FS-4Pro HD, DV modes only TIME LAPSE 00:00:00:00 HH:MM:SS:FF This line is not active: for reference only. BACK Time Lapse provides the ability to record a single frame at specific time intervals, for example one frame per minute, 00:01:00:00. Time Lapse applications can include capturing the traffic on city streets, the growth of a plant from seed to maturity, and construction projects.
FS Functions HDD Mode Screen HDD MODE -DV RECORDER HD RECORDER DD DRIVE USE EXT FS-4 > Depending on the product, this screen displays the following items: • DV RECORDER This sets the FS-4 HD as a DV recorder. Connect the camera to the FS-4 HD DV I/O port using a FireWire cable. • HD RECORDER This sets the FS-4 HD as an HD recorder. Connect the camera to the FS-4 HD DV I/O port using a FireWire cable.
FS Functions • USE EXT FS-4 Use this option when longer recording times are needed. USE EXT FS-4 permits the connecting of two FS-4 HDs together to provide more disk storage for longer recording. One unit acts as the master with the other as a slave: the master records to itself until full and then continues recording on the slave unit.
FS Functions Setting Up Master and Slave FS-4 HD 1 Master FS-4 HD STOP 1 - 001 COUNTER 00 : 00 : 00 : 00 DISK 1 000min SYNC DISP LOCK 4 Slave FS-4 HD CONNECT COMPUTER THEN ENABLE BYPASS SUCCESS EXIT 3 2 1. Connect the camcorder to the master FS-4 HD, DV I/O connector using the supplied FireWire cable. 2. Master Power on unit. Go to the HDD Mode menu screen and enable USE EXT FS-4. 3. Connect the FS-4 HDs through their Computer I/O connectors using a 6-pin to 6-pin FireWire cable. 4.
FS Functions Format Screen DV Formats DV FORMATS -RAW DV AVI TYPE1 AVI TYPE2 CANOPUS AVI DV formats include: • RAW DV • AVI TYPE1 • AVI TYPE2 • CANOPUS AVI • MATROX AVI • QUICKTIME • AVID OMF FS-4Pro HD only • QUICKTIME 24P NTSC only • AVI TYPE2 24P NTSC only • PINNACLE FS-4Pro HD only • MXF OPAtom FS-4Pro HD only Using Organize AVID OMF, MXF OPAtom and PINNACLE formats require using the Utilities functions, Organize OMF, Organize MXF, or Organize PINN respectively.
FS Functions HD Format Screen HD FORMATS -M2T QUICKTIME The FS-4Pro HD provides the additional HD DTE format QUICKTIME. The latest DTE supported applications and file formats are listed on the Focus Enhancements website: www.focusinfo.com. Check regularly for updates.
FS Functions Setup Screens SETUP 10 / 10 / 05 21 : 10: 50 V 2. 0. 0 -LCDLIGHT ON The items on the Setup Screen are grouped by function. Within the function the items act like radio buttons, i.e. when one is active the others are not. In some cases, such as the Date, a settings screen appears. To return from a settings screen, use the BACK function button.
FS Functions • EXT CTL FRAME • EXT CTL FILE • TC EXT Group Default • TC REC RUN DV mode or FS-4Pro HD only • TC FREE RUN FS-4Pro HD only • TC REGEN FS-4Pro HD only • TC SET FS-4Pro HD only • UB SET FS-4Pro HD only • TC DROP NTSC only • TC NON-DROP Default, NTSC only • HDV TC TYPE HD mode (FS-4Pro HD only) • LCD CONTRAST Date and Time Must Be Set The date and time must be set. They are used in the FS-4 HD file naming function. Refer to Set Time and Date on page 26.
FS Functions Time SET TIME 10 : 50 : 40 HH : MM : SS BACK Version VERSION 2.0.0.04070406 NTSC FS-4Pro HD BACK This screen displays: 64 • FS-4 HD Firmware version • SD video of the unit.
FS Functions LCD Light ON, OFF, AUTO These items enable or disable the FS-4 HD's LCD backlight. • LCDLIGHT ON Group Default Keeps the backlight on permanently. • LCDLIGHT OFF Keeps the backlight off permanently. • LCDLIGHT AUTO Turns off the backlight after one minute. On the FS-4 HD, pressing any button pad button turns the backlight back on. Any information screen turns the backlight on. Alarm ON, OFF Default is On.
FS Functions EXT CTL OFF, Pause, Frame, File These options permit the use of an external device to control the FS-4 HD through the optional RS-232 cable. RS-232 Cable Available from Focus Online Store The RS-232 cable required to connect the FS-4 HD to an external control device is Focus part number CBLA-0113-01. It and other accessories mentioned in this manual are available at https://www.focusinfo.com/sales/ store. • EXT CTL OFF Use this option when connecting an external device with an RS232C cable.
FS Functions TIME CODE EXT, REC RUN, FREE RUN, REGEN The FS-4Pro HD provides additional TC REC RUN, TC FREE RUN, and TC REGEN functionality in HD RECORDER mode. This functionality is only active when HD FORMAT is set to QUICKTIME. In M2T mode, all TC modes act as TC EXT. The following are timecode (TC) functions. • TC EXT Group Default Records the incoming source timecode. If the timecode is not running, and the FS-4 HD records the same timecode number in each recorded frame.
FS Functions • TC REGEN FS-4Pro HD only When the FS-4Pro HD powers up in TC REGEN mode, it: • • • Reads the timecode of the last track recorded. Adds 1 to the number. Stores the new timecode as the number that will be assigned to the first frame of the next recording session. If the drive is empty, i.e. no existing recordings, the FS-4Pro HD uses the TC SET value.
FS Functions UB SET FS-4Pro HD only UB SET FF : FF : FF : FF BACK The User Bit Set function provides the ability to change the user bits in the timecode recorded in the video files. • Timecode values are not set when in TC EXT mode. Professional applications employ user bits to add metadata to recordings to assist in post production. For example, multiple cameras are used during a shoot. Each FS-4Pro HD has a unique UB setting that identifies it and the camera it serves.
FS Functions TC DROP, NON-DROP NTSC only These parameters are only available for NTSC and only one may be enabled at a time. Drop and non-drop enable and disable the drop-frame function that modifies how the timecode is calculated during recording. • TC DROP Group Default Enables the drop-frame function and frames 00 and 01 are dropped from each minute of video recorded, with the exception of the first minute of the hour. • TC NON-DROP Disables drop-frame.
FS Functions Each NLE utilizes a different HDV TC TYPE for its workflow. Use the following table to determine which HDV TC TYPE is utilized by a particular NLE: 720p 1080i Avid GOP TC TTC FCP TTC TTC Edius TTC TTC See your NLE users guide for more information. LCD CONTRAST SET CONTRAST VALUE: 00 BACK Use this function to adjust the contrast of the LCD display for easier viewing. 1. Use the Right navigation button to go to the SET CONTRAST submenu. 2.
FS Functions Functions Screen The Functions buttons FA, FB, and FC provide convenient Home screen shortcuts by acting as toggle switches for specific system settings. The Home screen below is an example of the information displayed. STOP 1COUNTER 00 : 00 : 20 : 15 DISK 1 168 min R1 Reel receiving clips. DISP DD Function Keys FA FB FC Function Groups Function settings are user-assignable and available in the Functions screen.
FS Functions Functions List A list of the Function button menu is below. In each group, the default selection is listed first. MENU Appears on LCD as… FA SYNC SYNC Toggles between SYNCRO and LOCAL record control.
FS Functions 74 MENU Appears on LCD as… FB R3-3 R3 Marks Current Clip to Reel 3, FS-4Pro HD only FB R4-4 R4 Marks Current Clip to Reel 4, FS-4Pro HD only FB R5-5 R5 Marks Current Clip to Reel 5, FS-4Pro HD only FB R6-6 R6 Marks Current Clip to Reel 6, FS-4Pro HD only FB R7-7 R7 Marks Current Clip to Reel 7, FS-4Pro HD only FB R8-8 R8 Marks Current Clip to Reel 8, FS-4Pro HD only FB R9-9 R9 Marks Current Clip to Reel 9, FS-4Pro HD only FB BLANK No Function.
FS Functions LOCK/UNLK: UNLOCK KEYS PRESS SELECT TO CONFIRM EXIT This function is a toggle switch that locks and unlocks the keys on the FS-4 HD’s front panel. The prevent accidental unlocking of the front panel, there is an unlock confirmation screen: 1. Press the UNLK key. 2. Press SELECT to unlock the front panel keys.
FS Functions Assigning Clips to Reels STOP 1COUNTER 00 : 00 : 20 : 15 DISK 1 168 min Currently Selected Reel R1 REEL R2 R3 Function FA set to FA REELS Function FB set to FB R2-2 Function FC set to FC R1-1 The function buttons are a quick way to mark video clips during recording. The Functions menu offers two types of markers to use, as an example FA REELS and FB R2-2. • FA REELS Selecting the FA REELs programs the FS-4Pro HD to mark the clips to the currently selected reel.
FS Functions Utilities Screen UTILITIES ORGANIZE REEL ORGANIZE OMF ORGANIZE MXF ORGANIZE PINN The Utilities available are: • ORGANIZE REEL FS-4Pro HD only • ORGANIZE OMF FS-4Pro HD only • ORGANIZE MXF FS-4Pro HD only • ORGANIZE PINN FS-4Pro HD only • DELETE CLIP • FORMAT • REPAIR DISK • REPAIR CLIP • FILE NAME • UPGRADE • SYSTEM RESET • DIAGNOSTIC • STATUS DV mode only FS-4 HD and FS-4Pro HD Portable DTE Recorders 77
FS Functions Organize Functions are Mutually Exclusive Once one organize utility is performed on a set of files, another organize function can not be applied. For example, if the Organize OMF is used on a set of files, then Organize Reel can not be applied to them. Organize Reel FS-4Pro HD only This selection places all files identified as a REEL clip during recording or playback into the appropriate reel folder. You can import this folder directly into most DV NLE bins.
FS Functions Organize Pinn FS-4Pro HD only This selection organizes clips for use with Pinnacle Liquid series NLE systems. Products such as the Pinnacle AVI file format were created for use with products such as Pinnacle Liquid Edition. The Pinnacle AVI file format creates three files simultaneously during a recording; an AVI video file and two separate WAV audio files labeled as left and right. An additional ALE file for each recording session is also created which contains timecode data.
FS Functions Delete Clip DELETE CLIP CLIP 001 YES BACK Use this item to delete a selected clip. 1. From the Utilities screen, go to the DELETE CLIP screen. 2. Enter the number of the clip to be deleted using the Up and Down navigation buttons. 3. Press the YES function key. The selected clip is deleted. 4. Press BACK to return to the Utilities screen. When a clip is deleted, the FS-4 HD re-organizes and displays the remaining clips in sequence.
FS Functions Format Disk FORMAT DISK PRESS YES TO ERASE ALL DATA YES BACK Prevent lost frames due to file fragmentation by formatting the FS-4 HD before each recording session. Save Files Before Formatting The formatting process erases all data on the disk and is not reversible. Backup all files and clips on the FS-4 HD before formatting. This selection formats the disk as follows: 1. From the Utilities screen, go to Format Disk. 2. Select YES to begin formatting.
FS Functions Repair Disk REPAIR DISK PRESS YES TO REPAIR DISK YES BACK Use this function if a recording session does not complete properly and there is a question that the file may be damaged. For example, recording terminates due to a loss of power to the FS-4 HD. Repair Disk scans the entire disk drive checking for and repairing file errors and incomplete files. When the file is repaired it is can be used in the NLE system.
FS Functions Repair Clip DV mode only REPAIR CLIP CLIP 001 YES BACK Use this function to repair a specific file that may be damaged or incomplete. For example, recording terminates due to a loss of power to the FS-4 HD and a specific file may be damaged. Repair Clip scans the specified file checking for and repairing file errors and incomplete files. When the file is repaired it is can be used in the NLE system. 1. From the Utilities screen, go to Repair Clip. 2.
FS Functions File Name FILE NAME CLIP 001 20041101 165423 BACK This function Displays a file name but does not permit changing it. 1. From the Utilities screen, go to FILE NAME. 2. Enter the file’s clip number using the Up and Down navigation buttons. The base file name is dynamically displayed as a function of the clip number. When a clip has multiple files, the first Base file name is displayed 3. Press BACK to return to the Utilities screen.
FS Functions Upgrade Check Focus Enhancements website for upgrades and latest software updates, go to www.focusinfo.com. To upgrade system software: 1. Set the FS-4 HD to DD DRIVE from the HDD MODE screen and connect it to a computer. 2. On your computer, rename the XXX.bin file as FS4.bin. 3. Copy or drag the FS4.bin file to the FS-4 HD while it is in DD DRIVE mode. 4. Exit the FS-4 HD from DD DRIVE mode and navigate to the Utilities screen. 5. From the Utilities screen, go to Upgrade. 6. Press Right.
FS Functions 9. Up on successful completion of the upgrade, the FS-4 HD displays the message: UPGRADE COMPLETE PLEASE RESTART 10.Hold down the STOP / POWER OFF button until the FS-4 HD shuts down. 11. Power up the FS-4 HD.
FS Functions Upgrade Error If the upgrade fails, the FS-4 HD displays one of the following messages: UPGRADE ERROR WRONG PRODUCT ID EXIT • Wrong Product ID Verify that the upgrade is for the model of FS-4 HD it is being installed on. An upgrade is not crossplatform and must be installed on the model for which it is intended. To find the specific model of a FS-4 HD go to the SETUP screen and then version (2.0.0), refer to Setup Screens on page 62.
FS Functions System Reset SYSTEM RESET CONTINUE TO RESET SYSTEM? YES BACK The System Reset feature restores the factory default settings for the FS-4 HD unit. This feature is useful for diagnosing problems with the unit. System Reset A System Reset can not be reversed. Diagnostic DO NOT CHANGE THE SETTINGS OF THIS FUNCTION This function is included to assist Focus Enhancement Technical Support diagnose problems that may occur with the FS-4 HD.
FS Functions Status STATUS SUPPLY1: 1.83V SUPPLY2: 3.27V SUPPLY3: 4.89V BATTERY: 12.56V TEMP : 39c BACK The FS-4 HD Status screen provides details of the systems power state as well as internal temperature. This screen may assist Focus Enhancements Technical Support in determining power and thermal problems with your unit.
FS Functions Reels Screen FS-4Pro HD only REELS R0 R1 R2 R3 0 1 2 3 When a disk is formatted, the FS-4Pro HD creates 10 folders, numbered 0-9, on the disk. During recording or playback of a clip, it is possible to place it into folders or play it from up to 10 different reels. These folders can have any name up to 10 characters in length. To name the folders it is first necessary to enter DD DRIVE mode and mount the FS-4Pro HD to a computer.
FS Functions Using a Wired Remote Control When using the optional wired remote control, use the button pad numbered 0-9 to mark the clips. Any additional button presses during a recording or playback, changes the selected REEL. Once a session is finished, select Organize REEL in Utilities screen. The marked clips are placed in the REEL folders in sequential order.
FS Functions Play Screen PLAY PLAY CLIP LOOP CLIP LOOP ALL PLAY ALL • Play Clip In this mode, the FS-4 HD plays the selected clip from start to finish when you press the PLAY button. At the end of the particular clip, the FS-4 HD pauses. • Loop Clip In this mode, the FS-4 HD plays the selected clip from start to finish. Immediately after completing the clip, the FS-4 HD begins playing the clip again without a pause. It stays in this state until stopped.
FS Functions Play From Screen FS-4 HD only PLAY FROM TRACK LIST REEL LIST This screen permits the selection of from where clips playback. There are two choices: • Track List Clips playback in the order in which they were recorded. Playback order is based on the order of the file names. • Reel List Clips in a selected folder are played back. This function provides the ability to choose between any folders on the disk. Folders can appear with their user assigned folder name (if used).
FS Functions Control Screen CONTROL LOCAL AV/C -SYNCRO SLAVE TAPELESS The Control screen provides the capability of enabling the FS-4 HD to operate in four different control modes during record and playback. • LOCAL Local control mode ignores record triggers from the camcorder and is controlled exclusively from the FS-4 HD front panel or the optional wired remote control unit.
FS Functions • Use the Keeper key to cycle through the available Reels. For example, if the current Reel selection is 3. pressing Keeper changes the selection to Reel 4. To purchase the wired remote control, p/n ACSS-0019for the FS-4 HD, visit Focus Enhancements web site at www.focusinfo.com/sales/store/.
FS Functions • Tapeless Trigger The Tapeless Trigger mode allows the FS-4 HD to be controlled from a camcorder if it features an external control setting separate from the tape transport. Typical camcorders like this include the Sony DSR 370, DSR390, DSR-400, DSR-450, DSR-570, Canon XL1s and XL2 and the Panasonic DVX-100/-100A. In addition, the FS-4 HD also supports HDV camcorders with external control.
LCD Display Symbols and Text The table below shows the different symbols and states displayed on the top line of the LCD when used with different FS-4 HD control, record, play and stop modes: PLAY/REC MODE FS-4 HD LCD Stop STOP Pause || PLAY Play X PLAY Rec (Pause) || REC Normal Rec (Rec) REC Retro Disk (Stop) L STOP Retro Disk (Standby) L REC Retro Cache (Stop) C STOP Retro Cache (Standby) C REC Loop Record (Stop) O STOP Loop Record (Standby) O REC Loop Record (Rec) || O R
LCD Display Symbols and Text CONTROLTYPE FS-4 HD LCD AV/C* (Stop) A STOP AV/C* (Rec Pause) AV/C* (Rec) AV/C* (Play Pause) AV/C* (Play) Syncro Slave (Pause) Syncro Slave (Rec) Tapeless (Pause) Tapeless (Rec) || A REC A REC || A PLAY A ALL || Y REC Y REC || E REC E REC * AV/C is only for use when the FS-4 HD is connected to a computer system.
Technical Specifications Specifications are subject to change. Physical Description • Dimensions: 1.59" x 5.6" x 3.74" (40mm x 142mm x 95mm) (with normal 90 minute Battery) • Weight: 1 lb. (.45 kg) Input/Outputs • DV Video I/O - 25Mb/s (1x 6-pin IEEE-1394) On HD units this port can accept 720P and 1080i MPEG video from specially equipped camcorders. • FireWire Computer I/F - up to 400Mb/s (1 x 6-pin IEEE-1394) • GPI & RS-232C Control (1 x 3.5mm mini jack) Power • 15V DC, 7.
Technical Specifications Audio/Video/Timecode Specification • • • 25Mb/s, 8-bit 4:1:1 (NTSC-DV) or 4:2:0 (PAL-DV) video (model dependent). The HD models support 720p 24/ 25/30 and 1080i 50/60 from HDV camcorders with a 1394 interface.
Technical Specifications Log Files With each recording of a particular clip on a disk, the FS-4 HD creates a text log file to identify information about the recorded clip and the recording session. Information includes: • • • • Clip name Clip in/out source TC values Clip duration Clip type (record file type). The log file also identifies when the shock cache becomes low and when disk or other errors occur during a recording.
Technical Specifications Warranty • 1 year, FS-4 HD • 2 years, FS-4Pro HD • 90 Days Accessories including the battery. Temperature • Operating: 0-40º C (32 - 104º F) • Operating humidity: 30% to 90% RH • Storage temperatures: -20 to 60° C (-4° to 140°F) • Storage humidity: 85% RH or less Compatible Camcorders and Accessories For a list of tested camcorders, refer to www.focusinfo.com.
FS-4 HD and FS-4Pro HD Portable DTE Recorders MANL-0954-04
