Capturing with FCP straight to computer ????

[macmithos]

Does anybody could tell me if capturing video from a camera, straight to FCP in my computer (via Firewire or USB), instead of using tapes results in resolution losses ?

[Nelson37]

Bits are bits, as long as the SAME bits are captured, no loss. Many cameras downgrade quality for USB transfer, Firewire should be identical, as long as your software doesn't render or alter.

[rumplestiltskin]

Tape or camcorder > Mac are equal in quality.

[terryj]

second rumple.
Transfer method in will be affected by FCP's
rendering those bits with Apple's DV/DVCPRO codecs,
not by the cable, although the cabling affects the
transfer burst rate on the mac more than
anything else, which is why Mac's standard is firewire, not USB....

[macmithos]

Thanks for you answers .... And if you excuse me I have another one for you guys ... tomorrow I will have a job in which I will film a person just talking and explaining the features of an equipment that they work with .... I will do it in chroma key. I've bought a lapel microphone, rent the lights, set up my little home studio and the client will bring his camera, Sony DCR-DVD405. Searching by the e-manual and e-instructions of the equipment for having no surprises ... I couldn't figure it out if there is or isn't a "hole" to attach an external microphone (the lapel one). there is a mention about "Active Interface Shoe" to plug in an wireless microphone ??? Do you know if it is possible to plug in a simple external microphone in this AIS thing ?