• Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy

  Having playback issues in FCP7

  Posted by Jeremy Stuart on May 1, 2014 at 10:06 pm

  I am in the final editing stages of a feature length doc and am experiencing playback issues with my sequence. When I hit play, the sequence will choke up here and there, the audio will continue to run but picture locks up.
  I am on a macpro with 4GB ram and FCP7.0.1

  Here’s my current sequence settings:

  XDCAM EX 1080p24
  
  However I have footage shot in the following formats:

  Apple Pro Res 422
  Apple Pro Res 42(HQ)
  XDCAM EX1080p 24
  XDCAM EX 1080i60
  DVCPRO HD 720p 60
  DVCPRO HD 1080i 60

  I know it’s crazy, but that’s the nature of docs these days!

  Most of the footage was shot at 23:98 but there is some at 29:97 or 59:94. I have been editing everything in a 24 timeline.

  I’m wondering if I change my sequence settings to Apple ProRez 422 and continue editing if that will fix the problem. Ultimately, I want to export a high rez QT at ProRes 422, so maybe this is a good option.

  Anyone have any thoughts about why my sequence is choking?

  Thanks, Jeremy

  Shane Ross replied 12 years, 4 months ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Shane Ross

  May 2, 2014 at 12:39 am

  For one, 4GB of RAM is very low. While FCP references 4GB, the OS needs some as well. 8-16GB is recommended.

  And yes, a ProRes sequence will perform much better than an XDCam one. I-Frame footage in a GOP sequence, which is what you currently have, is a bad idea. It’s more complex to desk with. Just chance the sequence Compressor to ProRes 422.

  Shane
  Little Frog Post
  Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def
• 

  Shane Ross

  May 2, 2014 at 12:40 am

  As for the frame rate differences, you’ll need to deal with those properly when you online, as FCP does a bad job of mixing frame rates.

  Shane
  Little Frog Post
  Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def
• 

  Jeremy Stuart

  May 2, 2014 at 12:51 am

  Hi Shane, thanks for the info and advice. Yeah I know that 4gB is really low but my computer is also really old so for now I’m stuck with it.
  I’ll try changing the sequence to Pro Res and see what happens.

  BTW, what do you recommend for converting the 29:97
  Footage so that it plays better in the 24p sequence?

  Jeremy
• 

  Shane Ross

  May 2, 2014 at 2:59 am

  [Jeremy Stuart] “BTW, what do you recommend for converting the 29:97
  Footage so that it plays better in the 24p sequence?”

  If it wasn’t shot with pulldown removal, then no matter what you use it won’t look perfect. Easier to convert 23.98 to 29.97 than the other way around. BUT, Compressor with all the Frame Controls turned to BEST will do it, Twixtor will do it, Premiere Pro will do it.

  But you need to first media manage all the footage that needs the frame rate conversion first…separate them from the rest of the sequence, manage them into small chunks, only what’s used in the sequence…convert…manually overcut. It’s quite a process.

  Shane
  Little Frog Post
  Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

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