Frame drop from OS 10.3.7 to 10.4

[Bob Zelin]

If you just updated to OS-X 10.4, you MUST update via internet to OS-X 10.4.3
which you do by selecting Software Updates on your MAC.

I have no idea of what FCP version you are running. Are you running FCP 4.5, are you running FCP 5.0.4. When you installed FCP, did you run the software updates to get the latest FCP version (for example, FCP 5 must be updated to FCP 5.0.3 or FCP 5.0.4).

And what about your AJA I/O firmware update that is done via the AJA I/O Control Panel, that you download from http://www.aja.com.

ALSO – EXACTLY what drives are you using? Firewire, SCSI? If you have a SCSI card (like an ATTO card), you might need updated driver versions (for UL3D, UL4D) specific to the OS you have updated to.

Bob Zelin

[Arlene Glass]

thank you.

I just updated to FCP HD 5.0.4, same problem, dropped frames.

I am using
external FW drives,
OS 10.4
AJA IO LA.

I just do not understand why it would work under 10.3, but not 10.4
will go to upgrade to 10.4 and upgarde aja io driver(I really dont think so since even I turn off all frames, still got dropped frame)

I would really think the problem is on OS per’se.

[Bob Zelin]

I hate to drive you crazy, but you are not giving me enough details.

You are under OS-X 10.4, but DID YOU UPDATE to OS-X 10.4.3?
DID YOU UPDATE your AJA I/O firmware at http://www.aja.com under support?

EXACTLY what firewire drives are you using – firewire 400, firewire 800 ?

What resolution are you working at – DV25, or uncompressed 8 bit ?

If you have an AJA I/O box (or LA, or LD), do you have a SEPERATE Firewire card for the drives, or are you using the native Firewire buss on the MAC?

Please update your OS to OS-X 10.4.3 (just hit the software update window, and it will do it). Then update your AJA I/O drivers to version V2.1, and follow the instructions. Then download the AJA I/O control panel, and once you open up the control panel, update the firmware (you will see the simple instructions on the screen, once you open up the AJA I/O control panel).

Even when you do ALL OF THIS – if you are using Firewire 400 drives, you will not get any resolution on Firewire 400 drives other than DV25. If you are using Firewire 800 drives, you can get up to 8 bit uncompressed (MAYBE 10 bit if you are lucky), and DVCProHD and DVCPro50.

It is difficult to diagnose what is going on without all these little boring details.

Bob Zelin

[Arlene Glass]

> I hate to drive you crazy, but you are not giving me enough details.
Thanks for your great help!!!

>DID YOU UPDATE your AJA I/O firmware at http://www.aja.com under support?
Does it matter? even I turn off AJA I/O box, still got dropped frames.

>EXACTLY what firewire drives are you using – firewire 400, firewire 800 ?
I am using SATA drive.

> What resolution are you working at – DV25, or uncompressed 8 bit ?
I am working on uncompressed 10 bit.

> If you have an AJA I/O box (or LA, or LD), do you have a SEPERATE Firewire card for the drives, or are you using the native Firewire buss on the MAC?
I have separated channels – one for external drive, one for AJA I/O LA. They work very well under 10.3.7, but same setting couldnt fly on 10.4 …..

> Please update your OS to OS-X 10.4.3 (just hit the software update window, and it will do it). Then update your AJA I/O drivers to version V2.1, and follow the instructions. Then download the AJA I/O control panel, and once you open up the control panel, update the firmware (you will see the simple instructions on the screen, once you open up the AJA I/O control panel).
I just updated it to 10.4.3, still doesnt work.

Do I still need to update AJA I/O firmware if I decide to not to use it? since even I did not use I/O box, frames still keep dropping.
any suggestion is appreciated!

[Arlene Glass]

have just updated to AJA IO v2.1 driver… still got dropped frames….

[Jeremy Garchow]

When you say you are using SATA drive, is that an external RAID, or simply an internal SATA?

10 bit uncompressed requires some bandwidth and at least two drives striped together are recommended, and more than two drives for total assurance.

What are you monitoring your 10 bit with if you aren’t using the io?

Please give more specific info about your drive set up as my instincts are telling me this is where your problem is stemming from.

Did you do a full erase and install or just an upgrade of the OS? A full erase and install is the most trouble free way to do it.

Jeremy

———–
G5 Dual 2Ghz <> 4GB RAM <> FCP 5.04 <> Kona 2
ATTO 42XS <> Huge Systems 4105 Fibre
OS 10.4.2 <> QT 7.0.3

[Bob Zelin]

Jeremy is correct. When you see us talk about using SATA drives, we are NOT talking about using a single internal SATA drive inside the MAC. To get 10 bit uncompressed to work with no dropped frames, you MUST have an excellent quality SATA host card (like Firmtek Seritek, Sonnet Tempo, or Highpoint) along with 2 excellent quality SATA drives from Seagate or Hitachi, that are stripped together at RAID 0 using something like Apple Disk Utility to do this. You can use AJA Kona System test to test your drive array – 2 SATA drives will give you 120mb/sec, which is more than enough to do 10 bit uncompressed video.

I don’t give a crap what your other “experts” have told you does and does not work. This is what you need to do. I would also like you to download the AJA Control Panel and UPDATE YOUR FIRMWARE on your AJA I/O – it’s easy, you just open the control panel, and click on UPDATE.

And when you say “you are not even using the AJA I/O, and still get dropped frames” – what does this mean. 10 bit uncompressed comes from digitizing Beta or Digi Beta tapes (or Panasonic DVCPro, etc.) – you can’t do this via firewire – you have to use the AJA I/O or Kona product for this.

Bob Zelin