Help! FCP freezing up!

[Matthew Brunn]

More info plz, Hardware and software versions. FCP, quicktime, processors, model of Mac, etc.

Did you verify after update?

[Rob Forsythe]

This list contains about everything to try to enable:
a. External Monitor VIDEO and AUDIO via FireWire & DV deck or camcorder.
b. Viewing in the Canvas window on the computer screen.
c. Being able to record on the external FW DV deck or camcorder.

(Pay special attention to step 3.)

1. Make sure you have only ONE (1) FireWire deck, camcorder, DV capture “card”, or D-to-A converter or video device attached to the computer at a time. Any more than one DV device can cause loss of signal and control.
2. Make sure you have View (Menu) > External Video> All Frames set.
(If the ALL FRAMES option is grayed-out… jump to step 6 below and continue.)
3. Make SURE your Canvas window (right window) in FCP is set to “Fit to Window”… AND that it has not been “pushed off” the edge of the computer screen.
4. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu (Box Icon with broken sides) is checked on Image or Image+Wireframe… NOT just Wireframe.
5. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu is checked on RGB… NOT just Alpha.
6. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Easy Setup… is set for DV-NTSC (or DV-PAL, if that’s where you are).
7. Some camcorders/decks work better under “FW (NTSC/PAL)” -or- “FW (NTSC/PAL) Basic” control (in the capture settings). Try either setting to see which works best for your device.
8. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Audio/Video Settings > A/V Devices (tab) > Mirror on Desktop > must be CHECKED. (If not, playing video will not appear in the Canvas.)
9. Make sure the “Log and Capture” Window is CLOSED and not just “hidden” behind other windows.
10. Turn off the power to the Camera/Deck/Converter Box, then turn it back ON.
11. Make sure the camera is in VTR mode… or the deck is in DV (DV, iLink, or FW) input.
12. On a Sony camcorder or deck, make sure the menu setting “A/V > DV Out” is set to OFF.
13. Re-check that your FW cable is well-connected at both ends (or try a new cable).
14. Important: Quit FCP, then Restart FCP.
15. Now again, make sure you have View > External Video > ALL FRAMES set…

If it still does not work. “Trash” the FCP Preferences on the Mac
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/trashing_fcp_prefs.html

“FCP Rescue” is a free Apple Script that will Trash the Preferences.
It will also restore your user settings afterwards.
Download:
https://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14729

>Then, start again at my “step 1” above.

[Jonny Filsinger]

I had to take it to Apple yesterday. FCP would crash every time I would try and open it. They called me last night and said they had to reformat the drive and had no idea what caused it, but were able to trace it back to the upgrade on Friday. I’ll post the findings when I pick it up. Thanks for all the help.

Jonny Filsinger
Master Video Productions
Memphis, TN 38133
901-372-7012

[Juli Brown]

Jonny, just read your July 5 problem as I searched for a solution to my similar problem: I also upgraded to 10.3.9 last week then the problems started: specifically, clips play fine in the timeline an on the external monitor going FORWARD, but are jerky backwards (looks like circa 1910 newsreel at 18fps). If I turn off the external video it plays fine at real speed going backwards in the canvas window.

the media is on internal harddrives (not startup drive where FCP program & FCP project files are)

My boss has deemed this “unacceptable”

The tips re the canvas window not touching the edge helped with some crashout issues, but not the jerky motion.

I trashed prfs, restarted, reset prefs. No joy.

What did you end up doing?

Anyone else have tips?

Other prob: one clip refuses to accept a dissolve: it just freezes up at that point, pauses, then catches up. This happened while on OS 10.3.8

Juli
fcp 4.5, single processor G4, 1.47 gHz speed CPU; 1.12Gig memory; internal hd dr are: 38 gig startup, 114 gig ATA; 115 gig ATA on scsi bus; plus 2 ext firewires; 133MHz bus sp; 0S 10.3.9