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Dropping frames during playback
Final Cut is dropping frames when I try to play back video. What’s odd is that I can *capture* the same format video just fine through Final Cut and I can play the clips in QuickTime Player without any problems on the same system. The details of my setup are:
* 3.0 GHz Mac Pro with 4 GB RAM with EFI update and 10.4.7
* Huge Systems array (4105 model; gets about 230 MB/s read/write)
* ATTO FC-41ES
* Kona LHe
* material is 10 bit 720p/59.94
* external playback is off
* Final Cut Pro 5.1.2If I try to play back something with a lower frame rate, everything is fine. However, the system should be able to easily handle 10 bit 720p (8 bit also drops frames).
I suspect there’s a problem with the ATTO card in the Mac Pro. I tried reducing the RAM to 2 GB but the problem didn’t go away. In fact, it added a new problem: video captured from the Kona looked very poor quality when viewed in FCP (but ok in QT Player):
https://homepage.mac.com/fergus.hammond/PhotoAlbum6.html
Any suggestions? ATTO doesn’t have a Mac Pro yet, so they are of limited help. It’s too bad Apple doesn’t make a 4 GB card. For now, I’ve switched back to the Apple FC card I’ve got but because the array is a single-channel model, I’m getting half the performance I’m looking for.
thanks,
fh -
9 Replies
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is this a new project? It sounds like your sequence settings don’t match your capture settings. Did you make a new sequence after you captured with the appropriate easy setup? You have plenty of bandwidth to play 720p uncompressed material.
Jeremy
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I definitely checked the sequence settings (in fact, I think my sequence is actually called “720p/59.94 10bit”!). I was testing with a new sequence and had used the right easy setup.
fh
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[fergush] “I definitely checked the sequence settings (in fact, I think my sequence is actually called “720p/59.94 10bit”!). I was testing with a new sequence and had used the right easy setup.”
you did not say if you updated the Kona driver…
you should be at 3.1 with the MP .gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows -
You bet. I’ve got the 3.1 Kona drivers.
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There is a function in FCP that is often overlooked… and it can help with many audio and video “skipping”, “sticking” and “missing” problems.
You should “Mixdown” the Audio for playback before you dub out of FCP, or during the edit, if you have audio/video stuttering, drop-outs, sync-slippage, or freezes.
NOTE: Mixdown has even been demonstrated to help with slipping, skipping problems (or “missing” audio clips) for files being EXPORTED as QT (or similar) files out of FCP.
First, SELECT ALL of your audio tracks (highlight them) on the timeline, then:
Sequence Menu > Render Only > Mixdown.
You should see a dialog box telling you its rendering.
It might seem to make little sense that “Mixing down” even simple audio tracks will “fix” complex video “freezes” or random audio dropouts to tape or export, but it CAN.
NOTE: It does not matter of you only have one audio track, if there are random freezes during output, you should try the Mixdown.
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Are your canvas and viewer windows set for ‘fit to window’? Select each window and hit Shift-z.
Jeremy
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Bud, I’m with you!
I just got in my Mac Pro and it is terrible with playback. I, too, have an ATTO FC 4gig card and all of the updates applied that is possible. But I still get dropped frames, audio skips AND audio pops and crackles!
This has been very disappointing! ATTO says their latest driver 2.41 is Mac Pro compatible. I’m not so sure about that. The ATTO config utility is toast for the Mac Pro.
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Hi Wayne,
Are your symptoms similar to mine? That is, can you capture in FCP ok and playback in QT Player but just not FCP? I did call ATTO and they say they’re aware of the problem and will be releasing a new driver in November. It seems like the problem is definitely caused by the ATTO card. I wish Apple had a 4 GB FC card.
What array are you using?
Regards,
FH -
[fergush] “Are your symptoms similar to mine? That is, can you capture in FCP ok and playback in QT Player but just not FCP? I did call ATTO and they say they’re aware of the problem and will be releasing a new driver in November. It seems like the problem is definitely caused by the ATTO card. I wish Apple had a 4 GB FC card.”
Well, after removing 5 gig of memory to just leave 2 gigs (which by the way…. SUCKS), I tried my system again. Still the skips and pops are still there and now it seems worse.
It amazes me how when you contact hardware manufacturers and ask it their hardware is compatible with the new Mac Pro, they say, “Sure!”. Well, I should have known that ATTO would drop the ball on us. They did it years ago in the old Media100 days, and their practice still is SLOW DEVELOPMENT. “Why do it now, when later is better” – that is the ATTO motto.
Frustrating to get in a new Mac Pro and can’t use it all for another month! Figures!
[fergush] “What array are you using? “
We are using the Facilis TerraBlock system. Its awesome!
_______________________________
Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com
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