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Experienced help needed…Please – Desperate.
I will be detailed as possible as to hopefully find a solution to this extremely frustrating issue.
System:
OSX 10.3.9
FCP 4.5 HD
Compressor 1.2.1
QuickTime Used Various version (7.0.3 & 6.5.2)
Video imported as 16:9 from Sony VX2000I filmed a wedding. Imported all the footage into one FCP session. I edited everything and exported using Compressor. Every thing exported fine EXCEPT one section. Section is about 25 minutes long has a music file at the front that was recorded at 16 bit 44.1 but was converted to 48k using iTunes – has a LiveType file in front and then other than that just audio that was recorded off the camera mic a few transisions and then fade out. Simple file actually. When I play it in FCP the audio sync’s up all the way through the entire section with out issues. At first when I exported it using Compressor the audio would start about 6 seconds after it was suppose to. Now mind you ALL the other files exported without error! I tried exporting it about 4 times still the same result. I tried to export it as a QuickTime file but I had problems and then when I did get it to work it looked crappy AND It didn’t export the entire file (twice) – some dropped frames and when panning it was jittery. Audio was in sync though. If the file would export completely I suppose I would use this just to get it done – even though I would rather not.
So into work around mode: First I exported just the video and then the audio separately using Compressor – then took both into a new session. I aligned the audio and exported using Compressor – no luck STILL audio not aligned! So here I have two ‘new’ files that have zero edits and still it won’t work. So I opened a new session imported the film of just that section that I needed and basically recreating what I had already done. I exported still the same problem. So I took the FCP files and went to another Mac same OS new install of FCP and Compressor updated and Disc Utility and Mac Warrior before doing anything QuickTIme here was 7.0.3 also…export now the audio starts out ok but slowly over the entire piece it grows late. Crap! So I go to another laptop same OS new install ect except QuickTime 6.5.2 export same thing starts fine slowing grows late – CRAP!
I have put about 30 hours into this and I am about feed up. I don’t understand why all the other files would export fine and this one won’t – that is the biggest thing I don’t understand. Settings/Preferences didn’t change in the first master session. Are there any settings that could be wrong that would create this issue?
I really need to get this thing done – already 3 weeks late to client and only this one little section is the hold up. Any input will be appreciated. BTW, I have some working knowledge but please if you are giving suggestions make sure a novice can understand them – that would help me out a lot.
Thanks in advance.
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5 Replies
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First, try this:
1) Select all the tracks in the project and go to RENDER ONLY>AUDIO MIXDOWN. (Make sure all video is rendered too.)
That might take care of it, but just to be extra safe we’ll go one more step:
2) Go to EXPORT>QUICKTIME and make certain the settings are all exactly the same as your project. Make it self contained. (Wastes hard drive space but we’ll do it here to be tripple-safe.)
3) Take that QT file and put it into Compressor.
Try all of that and let us know what happens. And don’t worry what the QT file from step #2 looks like. You said an export looked bad before…ignore it and judge the final DVD on an NTSC television ONLY. Let us know what that looks like in the end…not anything on the computer.
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Try trashing preferences. Go to user-library-preferences-final cut pro user data- (trash the cache and preference file) reboot and try again.
Scott Davis
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I doubt this is a preferences issue, since Cary had the same error on two machines.
In my experience you should avoid exporting audio using compressor. I’ve found it very unreliable. Export your video as normal w/ compressor, but export the audio directly from FCP using ‘file>export>using quicktime conversion.’ “FORMAT” should be ‘aiff.’ Select options and choose : 16 bit Stereo 48kHz (assuming you are making a DVD). You might also want to throw away your render files right before exporting (to force FCP to recalculate everything). In the menu select ‘tools>render manager’ and follow the guidelines. This has been my experience in FCP 4.X, not sure if this has improved in v5.
hope this helps,
MattMatt Lyon
CORE Feature Animation
Toronto -
You ROCK. Finally the file is perfect! I actually jumped up and down in excitement and relief. Thanks for your input.
I do have another issue on my mind G5 (was working on a G4 because of all this).
When I had these issues with FCP 4.5 HD and I tossed some files on my G5 and reinstalled. Now, FCP will act like it is going to launch and at the end of the FCP start up window is aborts. I have tried reinstalling twice.
I truly do NOT want to back up my drive and reinstall the entire system and all the other software if at all possible.
Thanks again for you help on the other this – very cool. If you don’t know about this that is fine.
Cary
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hmmm, you might want to start a new thread for this one. It sounds like you may be missing some system files on your computer. In the finder, launch ‘applications>utilities>console’ and then launch Final Cut. The Console should report some errors when FCP crashes. If it does, please post those on the board and maybe someone can help. Did you delete anything from the computer: fonts, system files, etc?
Matt Lyon
CORE Feature Animation
Toronto
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