FCP “Out of Memory” Error

[John Tate]

I’ve been trying to render my projects and keep getting the error message “Out of Memory”. I’ve tried mulitple things to fix this, been on the phone with Apple FCP guys, trashed my preferences 37 times, etc etc.

I’m working with AVCHD files as well as some GFX sent to me by the networks I produce TV shows for. My OLD PowerPC Mac had no issues with this whatsoever. Some other producers I know are having the same issue and we have similiar workflows.

I cannot export my sequences either thru the Export tool or thru Compressor. Both fail everytime.

I need help, deadlines are approaching and if I can’t output my sequences….it will not be good.

John

[André Engelhardt]

Hi John,

I remember having this issue once because of a single corrupted graphics file and in another case because of a corrupted video. The only way I was able to find the culprit out of the 300 or so clips I had in the project was by adding them one after the other and trying to export.

I’ve also had success fixing this problem once by trashing all my render files and creating a duplicate sequence to work from.

Increase the auto save interval, max. undo’s etc. and start eliminating. It’s painful and time-intensive but as far as I’m aware the only way to get to a corrupted clip.

Maybe someone out there knows of a tool that can batch check the integrity of clips and graphics though?

Good luck!

—
Audio Engineer, Sound Designer
Video- and Photographer
http://www.andreengelhardt.net

[Michael Kammes]

Mostly what André said.

Duplicate your sequence, and cut your sequence in half. Try an export? Does it work? Great! We know the problem is in the half you cut. Now, add in half of the half of the sequence you cut. Repeat. Do it until you find the culprit.

Do you have any gfx above 3K or 4K, in terms of frame size? I’ve often seen that cause issues….FCP no likey high res gfx.

~Michael

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[John Tate]

Thanks Andre’

Ok, so I need to trash my render files, not the cache? Also, before doing that make a duplicate sequence as a spare/work sequence?

My autosave is at 5mins because FCP keeps crashing on me….repeatedly.

I can increase that and lower my Undo actions. I have that at 50 because I mess up a lot!

Thanks for the info. I truly appreciate your time!

John

[André Engelhardt]

Trash the cache for good measure too but also and definitely the render files FCP created, if you’re lucky that will already fix it.

If not, Michael’s method is great to eliminate the offending clip or graphic.

You can also duplicate the FCP project file in the Finder until you have eliminated the problem (just to be on the safe side, when I run into issues I create an exact duplicate copy of everything I’m working on and then try to nail the problem down, then fix it in the original and discard the duplicate but that’s just my silliness).

Autosave and undo is all good, I just know that a lot of people have it still set at the standard FCP settings which can cause a lot of frustration.

Crossing my fingers for you!

André

—
Audio Engineer, Sound Designer
Video- and Photographer
http://www.andreengelhardt.net

[John Tate]

Andre’,

I am 9mins away from seeing if it works in Compressor. We were experiencing some issues with our external hard drives, so I moved it to an internal drive on my Mac Pro. That fixed a lot of the crashing issues so I’m checking that first with an export to Compressor to see if it works. I’m just trying to get this first show out the door today. Deadline is next Wednesday.

But I will try to delete all the render files as you suggested after this has finished whether it succeeds or fails. Hopefully that will fix it.

Your idea sounds good, hope it works. Many thanks.

John

[Ben Holmes]

Whenever I get this issue (rarer than it used to be) I restore my project from a previous autosave where it wasn’t occuring – and redo my work to that point. In all the times this has happened, this has always fixed it.

In my experience this has nothing to do with ‘memory’ – it’s corruption. Whether that be project, render or media. If it’s the last one (it never has been for me) I guess you’ll see the problem re-occur at the same point each time.

Ben

Edit Out Ltd
—————————-
FCP Editor/Trainer/System Consultant
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RED camera transfer/post
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[Don Walker]

If you are dealing with corrupt media, you might want to consider purchasing the FCS maintenance pack from Digital Rebellion. They have an app within this suite that finds the corrupt file quickly.
https://www.digitalrebellion.com/fcsmaintenance/

don walker
texarkana, texas

John 3:16

[jeff fish]

large stills will also give the “out of memory” error.
reduce the size to below 2000px

[Trevor Ward]

This just pisses me off! I’m having this same issue. It’s only a 20 minute video. But it’s mostly photos, about 500 of them. Most aren’t that big, 10-18 MB, 5000×3500 pixels.

I am at least able to run the thing through compressor, which takes FOREVER.

Workarounds? Forget it. Why do I have to have work arounds? FCP should just work.

-trevor ward
Red Eye Film Co.
http://www.redeyefilmco.com
orlando, fl