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Having synch issues with FCP 5
Hi, I thought this was a problem that was cured a few versions ago (I’ve been using FCP since it’s inception). I was recently upgraded to a dual gig g5, tons of disk space, power, etc. I set FCP 5 up using the easy setup option, as per the Apple Support Person’s instructions but my audio is out of synch with video after 20 minutes! This is driving me crazy, I haven’t had this problem in a long time and now it’s back. My capture settings are the same as my camera (I use a Canon xl1s). I’ve checked my sequence settings to make sure they’re the same as user settings and see nothing different. Are there other settings I should be looking at/changing?
Many thanks for your help.
Laura -
7 Replies
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[Laura H] “I use a Canon xl1s”
Audio sync issues with a Canon camcorder, there’s a big surprise… NOT!
(Sorry, but that’s just been the case over the years.)Do you have the XL1 set to 48 kHz or 32 kHz sample-rate?
Its best if you’ll set it to 48 kHz while using a 48 kHz timeline setting.Regardless, “Sync-slippage” can happen during some longer captures from any camcorder (but mostly famously, from Canon).
To avoid it, break your captures into sections no longer than about 10 minutes each (maybe even shorter).
You can then “reconstruct” the full tape’s recording (or any longer takes) quickly if you need to.
Mark (and log) your first clip to End (Out-point) about 10 minutes or less from its In-point.
Continue to mark (and log) your clips this way throughout the rest of the tape.
Just make sure the In-points of the subsequent clips are EXACTLY ONE FRAME LATER than the Out-points of the previous clips.You can do all this while actually scanning the tape(s) or just by inputting arbitrary TC numbers, logging them… then use Batch Capture to bring in all of your clips.
Its very easy to then “reconstruct” the shorter clips back to any “continuous” length you want on the timeline by just “clicking” them on in order.
EVEN FASTER… select ALL successive clips at once in the browser (with the browser column-order set to “Media Start” highlight all clips) and drop them, all at once, on the timeline… they’ll all pop up in continuous order. -
Yes, the setting in the camera is set to 48khz. I’d heard this about canons, I guess my luck ran out. Thanks for the input — will do the workaround.
Laura -
Hi Laura,
I don’t consider Log and Batch Capturing a “workaround”. In fact, that’s exactly how you should capture your clips. With each one having a distinct name. Capturing a whole tape roll can be disastrous for media management, speed fx and more if you ask me. If you want a stable project file that you can recapture from, always log and batch capture!General rule of the thumb: the longer your clip is, and the slower your drives are, the more likely you are to get dropped frames on capture or playback. The shorter the clip is and the faster the media drives are, the less likely this is to happen.
I am totally against capturing tape rolls and using firewire drives because I HATE losing synch.
O&O-Gunner Productions
FCP-Avid-After Effects -
[Gunner Jones] “I don’t consider Log and Batch Capturing a “workaround”. In fact, that’s exactly how you should capture your clips.”
Well, I agree with you for reasons of principal, but FCP SHOULD be capable of long full-tape captures.
Avid does them very well, even around broken TC.Its the fastest way to allow an “editing assistant” batch digitize material (usually the night before) prior to an edit session… with clients (and the principal editor) viewing all the material for the first time.
When I am the shooter, producer and editor (all-in-one), I prefer to search my footage on-tape and then, only capture my GOOD material.
But, when I’m hired at a production house as ONLY the editor… all of the raw footage has been pre-captured for me and I have no choice but to view it for the first time at the session… I need it ALL to be on the drives to satisfy the client’s questions.
And, the most efficient way to do this is to capture the entire tape at once.Sorry, but this IS the way many (most) high-end edit sessions are conducted and I wish FCP was better at it.
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[Thax] “Well, I agree with you for reasons of principal, but FCP SHOULD be capable of long full-tape captures.”
Well, it is. But you do need to log the head & tail of the tape, & you do need reasonably fast drives with ample free space for the material that you’re working with.
I captured an entire 3 hour DVCAM tape a week & a half ago, & delivered the project to my client this morning. The only hiccup was a TC break around 30 or 35 minutes in. FCP captured around the break without any problems. 2 big clips on an internal SATA, no synch problems, no dropped frames. Okay, 1 middling large clip, one really large clip. 🙂
Arnie
https://www.arniepix.com -
[Arniepix] “But you do need to log the head & tail of the tape,”
No need to do this with an Avid digitize.
This is still one big embarrassment for FCP users compared to Avid.I hope that soon FCP will be capable of truly “knowing” that the end of a reel has been reached and it will just STOP CAPTURING and WAIT until the next reel is inserted. Then auto-rewind at it starts from the head of the new reel.
The lack of reliability in doing this kind of “bulk” semi-unattended capture can be a deal-breaker for some pro users.
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[Matte] “This is still one big embarrassment for FCP users compared to Avid.
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’nuff said.
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