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edit to tape NOT frame accurate
There was a post a while back on this topic, but this is so fundamental to mastering that I reckon it’s worth a fresh strand (as there seemed to be no answer to the previous post).
I have tried mastering from dual G5 FCP5 & G4 laptop FCP4.5 & G4 laptop FCP4.1.1 via firewire to a DSR-25. About 50% of the time, the edit to tape is frame accurate. About 50 % of the time the edit to tape drifts by 1 frame (always in the same direction). This makes it impossible to accurately master a tape.
The deck appears to be cueing correctly each time (runs to 09.59.30.00 and then back to 09.59.29.19 to start (working in PAL)), so it looks like the problem is that the timeline in FCP is starting 1 frame early or on time. I have tried test files playing from the internal drive, and also from external drives. I have tried switching the firewire bus that the deck is connected to. I have tried playing the media from different firewire drives. I have tried to change the layback offset to 0.5frames (and can’t find a way of doing this – unlike the capture offset).
I’m FCPs biggest fan, but this is the kind of horror story that put me off FCP in versions 1-3, and just the kind of thing that Avid leaps on to call the software amateur.
Is this a bug with FCP or a problem with my setup? Running firewire directly to tape. Striping bars up to a 10:00:00:00 TC and then assemble editing from 09:59:30:00.
Even did a complete clean install of Tiger & FCP5 to try to fix this problem, with no success.
Rob
Rob Tinworth
http://www.1021.tv -
6 Replies
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[Rob Tinworth] “‘m FCPs biggest fan, but this is the kind of horror story that put me off FCP in versions 1-3, and just the kind of thing that Avid leaps on to call the software amateur. “
Rob, It is my understanding that Firewire is not frame accurate; regardless of system used. Most “professional” system use RS-422 for deck control. I have achieved numerous frame accurate assembles with FCP and RS-422. For insert you need a deck that is capable of doing inserts. FCP is as “professional” as Avid if it is set up as a professional system.
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Point taken.
Went for the DSR25 over the 45 (with RS422) because it was multisystem. Guess you can’t have the best of both worlds. Interestingly there’s a thread on this on the Apple site, which mentions a piece of software called ‘Simple Video Out’ that allows you to output your QT with timecode (so you can set your deck up to take in an external TC), which would be a workaround for my problem.
Though nothing beats your suggestion – take it to an online setup. This is generally what I do, as I’m really geared up for offline editing. Just got caught in this project where there was no budget for an online, but the story was well worth doing the edit for.
Rob Tinworth
http://www.1021.tv -
I have no idea if this would help, but have you tried increasing the preroll?
John
Dual 2.5 G5 4 gigs RAM OS 10.3.8 QT6.5.2
Dual Cinema 23 Radeon 9800
FCP4.5 DVDSP 3.0.2
Huge U-320R 1TB Raid 3 firmware ENG12.BIN
ATTO UL4D driver 3.20
AJA IO driver 1.3.1 firmware v21-26
SonicStudio HD DAW, Yamaha DM1000, Genelec Monitors -
Not only is Firewire not frame accurate, but Sony will not approve ANY of the half rack DVR’s as Editing decks. Only the 1800 and DSR2000 are qualified by Sony as Editing decks, which means with RS422 you will get absolute frame accurate edits.
Any DVCAM deck less than the 1800 or 2000 by Sony anyway, are not guaranteed to edit accurately from ANY system EVEN with RS422 control. But it MIGHT work!
No fault of FCP’s.
Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media -
I run AJA IOLA to an 1800 (Beta). I’ve NEVER had an accurate insert edit. Makes that tiny fix you notice as the show is rolling off a real pain. I’d love a way out.
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Gabriel, are you running Gen Lock to the Deck and the IO? Does the IO have gen lock? You might try running the Y Component cable to the Ref input on the Beta, then run a short loop BNC from the Ref out to the Y Component input on the 1800. This might do it. The deck needs to sync to the source to do the frame accurate edits. Try it.
But if your LA has a Ref in, get a small Horita Blackburst Generator and send it to all your decks and the LA.
Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media
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