Audio output stuck at 32 kHz

[Don Greening]

Jack,

Try trashing the FCP pref. files, then start FCP and try again. I know this works in OSX and may very well do the job for you in OS9. I’m assuming that everything is properly set to 48Khz in FCP already before you resort to trashing the pref. files.

You’ll find the files in: System Folder>Preferences>Final Cut Pro Data. Trash the files within named: “Final Cut Pro Preferences” and “Final Cut Pro MOA cache”. Leave the “Final Cut Pro User ID” file alone. Just drag them to the desktop and then restart FCP. You’ll need to reset all your user preferences, things like how many levels of undo, imported still image length etc. You won’t hurt anything by trashing the prefs. and it may very well cure your problem because the program will default to the capture and export codec of DV NTSC 48Khz. If everything works, only then should you drag the old pref files from your desktop into the trash.

Best of luck,

– Don

[Jack Falzarano]

Don
Thanks for your response, but I have tried that. Something very strange is going on. I noticed on another (normal) FCP system that when FCP starts up, the audio sample rate on the DV deck briefly flashes to 32K then goes back to 48K. But on my system it does the opposite, briefly flashing to 48k then back to 32K. And of course the tape gets recorded at 32K. Another odd thing is that the sequence and the audio in it are all 48K and all of my preset settings are at 48K, so FCP must be putting out audio at 48K. But from the Firewire I’m getting 32K! Now this may be a hardware question, but can that be possible? Does Mac hardware convert on the fly like that? Is there some software that can tell the computer to go back to 48K on the firewire? I appreciate any further advice.

[Don Greening]

Nope, never heard of a Mac outputting 48Khz audio at the computer end and having it come out at 32Khz at the other end. Do you have a DV camcorder you can plug into the FW cable just to see if it records @DV NTSC 48? If it does then you’ll know the problem has to do with your deck and not the Mac or its software. Also make good and sure your edit/print to tape prefs are set to DV NTSC 48Khz, although I’m sure you’ve done that already. Otherwise I’m at a loss, because I have no experience with dedicated DV decks other than the Sony DSR-11.

– Don

[Don Greening]

Just one more thing. If you’ve got a third party PCI audio card (you mentioned G4 with digital audio) plugged into that G4 does it have a software driver installed that you can access though a control panel? If so, make sure it hasn’t been changed to 32Khz. Just a wild guess.

– Don

[Jack Falzarano]

Don, I have tried everything I could think of. I have connected a JVC DV6000 and DV3000 deck and a JVC DV5000 camera – and they all respond the same, switching to 32kHz as soon as FCP starts up. But even if I run an audio program that can output thru DV, I get the same thing. Even though all settings are set to 48K. It’s so baffling. I am more inclined to think that it is either a Mac OS problem or some weird hardware problem. I don’t have any other audio card installed, Digital Audio is the nickname for this model G4.
Thanks for all your feedback.

[Don Greening]

Hi Jack,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but the reason is a whole ‘nother phone call 🙂

I wish I could be more helpful to you but I’ve never run across your particular problem before. If it’s this frustrating for me you must be going nuts with it. I’ve tried to duplicate your problem in OS9 but I only have FCP v.1.25 to try this out on, so it’s probably not the same. So far no luck in re-creating your situation. My sound control panel in OS9 offered up no clues either, because I can only toggle back and forth between system sound and my ProTools card, non of which speak to any differences between 32Khz and 48 Khz. I’m still on the case however, and if I come up with any revelations you’ll be the first to know.

– Don

[Jack Falzarano]

Don, you’re really a terrific for trying to help me. Here’s the latest. The problem goes away in OSX, but returns in OS9?!?! I had to install OSX and FCP3 for OSX, but once I did and fired up FCP, boom, 48K audio. I rebooted in OS9, fired up FCP, and back to 32k it went. What’s with that? Yesterday I tried installing another copy of OS9 on an external FW drive and booting from that, but it didn’t help. I haven’t tried re-installing FCP3 for OS9 yet(tho I did trash the prefs several times). I’ll try that on Friday. Don’t know if this new info helps you solve the mystery, but I think now it’s certain that it is a software problem. Getting closer! Thanks for your help.

[Don Greening]

Wow. I think you’re on the right track about re-installing FCP for OS 9. Very, very strange indeed. I’m thinking now it has to be a corruption within the FCP3 for OS9 program itself that can’t be fixed by trashing the pref files or any other quick fix you can try.

Unless you have a copy of DiskWarrior. You could run that to rebuild the directories of your system/startup disk. No video person should be without that program, anyway. Another possiblily is for you to do the “Rebuild Desktop” command when you first start up in OS9. Another one would be to boot in OSX, use Apple’s Disk utility to repair permissions, and in the File menu of Disk Utility will be the option to “fix OS9 permissions”. I’d do that one as well.

But really, it sounds like re-installing FCP3 for OS9 is the simplest solution. Just in time for Chirstmas. Or for the day after Thanksgiving. Up here on the Canadian West Coast we had our Thanksgiving several weeks ago.

Best of luck

– Don

[Jack Falzarano]

SUCCESS!!! Finally after many hours (days?) of trial and error, the FIX to the screwy audio output was … A clean install of the system, starting with the original install disk and working up to OS 9.2.2. Don, I first tried uninstalling (manually) then reinstalling FCP3, but that didn’t work. I also tried your suggestions from your last post, but that didn’t work either. So after backing up my drive, I did the clean system install. And now the audio is back to 48K. Yea!! That was one of most difficult problems I’ve encountered since I’ve been using FCP (about 3 years now). Perhaps one day someone will be able to explain exactly why that happened, but for now I’m just glad to have my edit system back to normal. Thank you so much, Don, for your efforts to help me resolve this. Having someone to discuss this with helped me remain sane through a very frustrating time. Hopefully this solution will come in handy for other mysterious problems you may encounter. Best of luck always.

[Don Greening]

Jack,

Thanks for posting back. I’ve been wondering how you made out. With regards to having to do an operating system and FCP3 re-istall: I guess we’ve come up with the new slogan “when in doubt throw it out.” 🙂

Anyway, glad things finally worked out for you. Here’s hoping you had a good Thanksgiving and I’ll jump the gun a little and wish you a great Christmass holliday as well.

Best of luck,

– Don