General Error (88)

[Jeff Coleman]

I don’t know what the general error message means either.
The following are just some random thoughts to double check your work:

You’ve restarted the deck and the computer no doubt and have had one turned on before the other?
You’ve loaded your output sequence into the viewer before you launched ETT, yes?
Your output sequence has the correct codec, framerate, etc.?
Have you been able to create even a five second sequence from scratch that can output to the 1400?
Your output video settings have a different output set for ETT?
Can you make a quicktime movie from your sequence?
Can you put that movie in a fresh new project and timeline and output that to tape?
Can the Kona output that movie to tape? (I think they can do this with some utility they have?)
Your sequence is viewable in FCP’s browser window–not inside a folder?
You’ve had coffee today?
Fire all you have at it, surely something will hit.
Call AJA, they’re better at this than me.

[Dylan Reeve]

I’ve had exactly the same error trying to edit to tape from a 720p25 sequence to the AJ-HD1400 in 720p50 mode, and a few other assorted situations with the deck.

I can’t find any meaningful information about the error. We’re using FCP 6.0.2 and a Blackmagic DeckLink HD Extreme. It’s insanely frustrating.

Since then I’ve had a problem, where capturing from a 720p25/50 tape (25fps over recorded at 720p50) – if I used the 720p50 control profile, it was doing weird things with timecode (namely doubling the frams – I put a clip in for 10:23:11:21 and it seeks for 10:23:11:42). So I’m wondering if that has something to do with it. I’ll be exploring that more later.

But this is all 25fps stuff, so I don’t know if any of it will help you.

[Eric Rocheleau]

I’ve done extensive debugging attempts and still have not solved the problem.

I did the whole shut down, reset, restart, classic stuff etc…

I’m suspecting some sort of corruption somewhere. Here is where I’m at.

Open the sequence of Ep. 1. Everything works fine. Open Ep.2 and Ep.3, both give me the error 88. Try Ep.1 again without changing parameters. Ep.1 outputs fine.

Make new sequence. Put bars and random media clips in it,outputs fine. Try Ep.2 & Ep.3 again, Error 88.

Copy and paste the content of Ep.2 sequence in working new sequence, error 88.

1000 Variations on that concept concludes that new sequences and Ep.1 work fine. Any content from Ep.2 & 3 in a working timeline generates an error 88.

I even sliced down a problematic timeline to attempt to isolate the corrupted item and timeline would only output when only color bars remained.

No real progress.

As a bypass solution I exported Ep.2 & 3 as quicktime and used the Quicktimes for output in a new sequence.

I got my shows to tape, but I have not solved the real problem.

If anybody from Apple is on here, could you contribute in pointing us in the right direction?

Thanks.

Eric

Eric

[Jeff Coleman]

Have you tried saving Ep2 and Ep3 as something else, even somewhere else and then trying to output from those new projects?
Also are you using marks to output that are not on the last frame of the sequence?

[Eric Rocheleau]

Yes, I did that too unfortunately with the same result.

I even duplicated Ep.1 copied and pasted Ep.2 in the Ep.1 sequence of the Ep.1 project and no positive result with that either.

This is why I am astounded. What surprises me the most is that there is no references on “general errors” anywhere, appart from some rare threads here.

Normally, when I have a weird bug, I check the cow and half a dozen people have had that too and found a solution allready.

I am on a different job today, so I will try to figure it out further next week.

Eric

[Dylan Reeve]

My best guess was it was something to do with format or something. In my case I was trying to edit XDCAM EX material to an DVCPRO HD deck – although I don’t see that FCP know’s the difference as it has no deck preferences or something.

Is there any difference in format between the footage for Ep 1 and the following Eps?

[Eric Rocheleau]

The format is identical.

Both where shot with the DVX-200 in P2.

Eric

[Jeff Coleman]

First, please keep us posted on your findings. I’m very interested in the outcome on this one.

Second, let me make sure I understood your earlier posts to mean that the sequences in projects 2 and 3 are made up of P2/HVX-200 material and WON’T output to tape on the Panasonic 1400, even if you put those sequences into project 1. Project 1’s sequence, made up of the same material, WILL output to tape. Furthermore, if you make projects 2 & 3 sequences into Quicktime movies and drop those movies into a new sequence (in what project is unclear to me– a new project or in projects 2 or 3?) then they will output to tape. You can’t copy all the clips from the defective sequence(s) and paste them into a new working sequence either and be able to output to tape. Lastly, the only “clue” the app provides is “General Error (88)”.

Just a few more ideas that you’ve likely thought through:
Have you trashed your render folder for projects 2 & 3 and forced FCP to re-render all the clips?
Have you overwrote the sequence into a new sequence in a working project (not just copied all the clips and pasted)?
You’re positive the sequence settings, especially the video processing tab, are the same for all the projects?
Those movies you dropped into a new sequence and were able to output to tape in what project did you output them– 1, 2, or 3?

[Eric Rocheleau]

Yes, I output the bounced versions in project 1, and everything you say above is exactly the case.

I would like to follow through with this problem, but I am soooo overloaded right now to go back and finish that specific debugging.

In the end the client asked for a QT export in order for the duplication house to do multiple formats, so I never got to go back on it.

Therefore problem not solved and I will not be going back to that specific project for at least a few months.

So if anyone has anything on General Error 88 in the future, dont be affraid to let it be known. I will publish my findings if I come across something.

Eric

[Cedric Robertson]

I have also general error 88. Using AJ-HD1400 DECK. FOOTAGE 720P50 SHOT ON AJ-HDX900E. FCP 6.0.2 OS 10.11.

Deck will not display time code with 50 frames, only 25. The Time lime shows time code as 50 fps. I am using Sequence settings aa Apple ProRes 422 HQ and set to the material placed on it.

When I edit to tape, General Error 88 displays.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.