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Adding Text clips causes dropped frames, even with Unlimited RT on–why?
I’ve noticed that simply placing a Text clip (with fade-in and -out applied) on the Timeline often causes the dropped frames error dialog box to appear.
It seems odd, because it happens even when the Text clip is not overlaid on a video clip. This has happened on multiple projects, and I have a reasonably fast Mac Pro–a single processor quad-core Xeon at 2.8GHz, with 6GB of RAM. The project files and footage are on an external 7200RPM drive connected with FireWire 800.
I have Unlimited RT turned on and Playback Video Quality in the RT menu set to “Dynamic.”
The footage and sequences are all XDCAM EX 1080p24, wrapped in Quicktime through Log and Transfer. The sequence settings appear to be correct–I certainly don’t have to render any clips that I place in the Timeline. I’m running Final Cut Pro 6.0.6.
Obviously, I can render the Text clips as I go, but I suspect there must be something wrong with my Final Cut settings or with my system. Surely I shouldn’t need to render simple Text clips, right? Am I missing something obvious?
Thanks in advance,
Ben Reichman -
5 Replies
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The biggest issues that you have Benjamin are from a system that’s pretty much just “adequate.” There’s nothing anywhere in the system to boost throughput beyond adequate to give you excess headroom, and so you’re hitting the throughput wall more than you should be.
The biggest single issue is really the single firewire 800 drive. Sure, it’s adequate, but even a two drive SATA RAID would just about quadruple the throughput of that single drive, giving you loads more system overhead. A four or eight drive SATA RAID would be even better, and it would stretch your investment in the computer much farther out into the future, but of course, they cost a lot more too.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
EPK Colorist – UP IN THE AIR – nominated for six academy awards
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, Indie Film & Documentary, and Film History & Appreciations forums.
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David,
Good to know–thanks. I understand the real answer is buying a SATA RAID, but would I get a significant boost in throughput from simply moving all the footage to an internal drive in the Mac Pro?
I’m just thinking of stop-gap measures until I’m in a position to purchase the real fix!
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The answer is yes, but I would rather see you put two drives in and stripe them together as RAID 0. Does your machine have four drive bays like current MacPros?
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
EPK Colorist – UP IN THE AIR – nominated for six academy awards
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, Indie Film & Documentary, and Film History & Appreciations forums.
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Yes, it does have four drive bays, thankfully. It’s a 2008 Mac Pro (identifier “Mac Pro 3,1”). Would the best arrangement be two drives in the RAID array, one drive to host Mac OS X itself, and a fourth as a back-up?
At the moment, I’m wrapping up three projects, but in a couple of weeks, I’ll have a breather and could set this up.
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[Benjamin Reichman] “Would the best arrangement be two drives in the RAID array, one drive to host Mac OS X itself, and a fourth as a back-up? “
Well, the very best would be one drive for the system host, three drives striped as RAID 0, and all backup done to your old firewire drives. However, second best is just as you suggested above.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
EPK Colorist – UP IN THE AIR – nominated for six academy awards
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, Indie Film & Documentary, and Film History & Appreciations forums.
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