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Set up device control



You can use device control to manage and automate video capture and to export sequences to tape. Device control lets you precisely control devices, such as decks and camcorders, with capture and batch capture controls. With device control, you can use the Capture panel to log each clip and then use the Batch Capture command to record logged clips automatically.

Adobe Premiere Pro controls devices through its built‑in support of IEEE 1394 (FireWire, i.Link) and its support, in Windows only, of compatible RS‑232 and RS‑422 controllers. Regardless of type, if your device isn’t automatically recognized, you need to set it up. Before setting up device control, make sure that you have a tape deck or camcorder that supports external device control and a cable that connects the device to your controller, computer, or both.

Set up a project for device control

Some device control settings are available when you choose Edit > Preferences > Device Control (Windows) or Premiere Pro > Preferences > Device Control (Mac OS), and others are in the Device Control section at the bottom of the Settings pane of the Capture panel. Device control settings apply to the entire project.

  1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Capture (Windows) or Premiere Pro > Preferences > Capture (Mac OS).
  2. Select one or more of the Capture options. If you are using a device controller that generates its own timecode, select Use Device Control Timecode. This replaces the unreadable timecode recorded on the tape with the controller’s timecode. Click OK.
  3. If you want captured clips to be saved to a specific bin in a project, make sure that the project is open and that the bin exists in the Project panel.
  4. Choose File > Capture.
  5. In the Settings panel, click Edit to verify that the capture format specified in the Capture Settings dialog box is appropriate for your device, and click OK.
    Note: Not all formats have options for capture settings. For example, the HDV format has no options.
  6. In the Capture Locations section of the Settings panel, make sure that the drives you designate for captured video and audio have sufficient free space. If you want to change the locations, click the corresponding Browse button, set the location, and click OK.
  7. In the Device Control section, if device control has not been set up, choose a device from the Device menu and click Options to set it up. Options vary depending on the device; see the documentation for your device driver.
  8. Test the device control buttons in the Capture panel to verify that they work and, if video preview is supported for the format, that you see video in the preview.
  9. Click Logging. In the Setup area, choose Audio, Video, or Audio And Video from the Capture menu depending on what you want to capture. Select a bin from the Log Clips To list if needed. By default, the Project panel is selected in the Log Clips To field.
  10. Enter information into the Clip Data area as needed. This information will be saved in the metadata of the clip.
    Note: To avoid confusion, make sure that the tape name is unique. Some types of device control software may ask you to specify the Tape Name setting each time you insert a new tape. The other Logging Data options aren’t required.

Set up a device for device control

Adobe Premiere Pro supports the control of devices such as camcorders and VTRs. It controls DV and HDV devices by way of IEEE 1394 (FireWire, i.Link) connections and, in Windows only, serially controlled devices by way of RS‑232 or RS‑422 controllers that might be installed on a given computer.

  1. Open the Device Control Preferences dialog box by doing one of the following:

    • Choose Edit > Preferences > Device Control (Windows) or Premiere Pro > Preferences > Device Control (Mac OS).

    • In the Capture panel, click Settings.

  2. Select the type of device you want to control from the Device pop‑up menu.
  3. Click Options, and do one of the following:

    • If you are connecting a DV or HDV device, make your selections from the Video Standard, Device Brand, Device Type, and Timecode Format drop-down menus. In the Device Type drop-down menu, if your particular model is not listed, select a model from the same family (if known), leave at Standard, or click Go Online For Device Info.

    • If you are connecting a serial device, make your selections from the Protocol, Port, Time Source, and Time Base drop-down menus. Check either or both checkbox selections available for the Protocol you choose.

  4. (DV/HDV Device Control only) Click Check Status. One of the following statuses will be displayed:
    Offline
    Adobe Premiere Pro does not see your device, and you need to check all your connections and settings.

    Detected
    Adobe Premiere Pro sees your device but cannot control the tape (possibly because there is no tape inserted).

    Online
    Adobe Premiere Pro sees your device and can control the tape.

  5. Click OK.
  6. In the Device Control section of the Settings pane, specify the following options as needed:
    Preroll Time
    Indicates how much before the In point Adobe Premiere Pro starts playing the tape before capture. The appropriate value varies depending on the device you are using.

    Timecode Offset
    Indicates the number of frames to adjust the timecode embedded in the captured video so that it corresponds with the timecode number of the same frame on the source tape.

Calibrate an RS‑422 or RS‑232 device (Windows only)

  1. Select File > Export > Export To Tape.
  2. Click Options.
  3. Enter the number of offset frames, as appropriate for your device, to the Delay Movie Start, Manual Edit Timing, and Preroll boxes.

Control an RS‑422 or RS‑232 device (Windows only)

  1. Select Edit > Preferences > Device Control (Windows).
  2. From the Devices menu, select Serial Device Control.
  3. Click Options.
  4. In the VTR And Port Control section, select a protocol and port for your device.
  5. In the Time Control section, select a time source and timebase for your device.

Device controls in the Capture panel

You can use the controls in the Capture panel to operate the device as you log clips. The jog control  lets you navigate quickly to nearby frames, and the shuttle control  lets you change the speed of the tape as you play it forward or backward. The Record button  lets you begin a manual capture.

If you press the Rewind button  when the tape is stopped, the device rewinds the tape at full speed. If you rewind when the tape is playing or paused, the device rewinds while displaying video in the preview.

If you press the Fast Forward button  when the tape is stopped, the device moves the tape forward at full speed. If you fast forward when the tape is playing or paused, the device moves the tape forward while displaying video in the preview.

If you press the Previous Scene  button, the tape shuttles to the previous start point and pauses. If you press the Next Scene  button, the tape shuttles to the start point of the next scene and pauses.
Note: Previous Scene and Next Scene are supported for DV in Windows only, and not supported for HDV for either Windows or Mac OS.

You can also press the J, K, and L keys to control your device. J rewinds the tape; L fast forwards it, and K pauses it. The speed of forward or reverse increases each time you press J or L. To rewind or forward one frame at a time, hold down K and press J or L once. To slowly rewind or forward, hold down K+J or K+L.

To operate Capture panel controls using the keyboard, see the tool tips in the Capture panel. You can change the shortcuts by choosing Edit > Keyboard Customization. You can also shuttle to a tape location by typing its timecode into the Capture Panel’s current timecode field, to the lower left of the monitor, and pressing Enter/Return.