I can’t view the output when I render ?

[Rob Forsythe]

This list contains virtually 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.

If working this list doesn’t cure the problem… you may have a PROBLEM!

Try things in this order until you find the “cure”:

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.

[Pierre-luc Pare]

Oh! Great list, I didn’t know that. Thank you very much!

Pete

[David Geist]

Try going to tools and go to render manger and clear out some of your rendered files. I know this is not ideal but I have always found it best to clear otu all rendered files and rerender the whole project. Good luck and let me know if this helps.

Geist

[Pierre-luc Pare]

No it doesn’t help, unfortunetly. I don’t know what happened with this project. I have re-opened some others FCP projects and they all output to my monitor, even rendered. But this one worked well at the beginning and somehow, I don’t know why, it stopped to output the rendered area, even if I re-render, it doesn’t show up. I probably hit some key or did something without knowing what it was. I’ll go again with the list, but other projects work, so….

Pete

[David Geist]

ATry going to your scratch disk and delte all old rebder files if you already have not done it. I have run into this bug a lot becuase I tend to render everything as I go. Everytime I ran into I just deleted files form the render scratch with FCP closed and then re-rendered and it appeared. If you already have done this sorry about the repeat.

GEIST

[Pierre-luc Pare]

I’ve already done it. The sequence is 853×480 DV/NTSC and only renders don’t show up, but if I paste this sequence in a 720×480 sequence, I render it and output is fine. Is it because of my custum resolution ? I passed through the list and nothing work. Even copy paste in another timeline doesn’t seem to work.

Pete

[David Geist]

It sounds like you are doing a 16:9 aspect ratio I do not have much experience there, but I do know how to work around the problem. You are already on the right there with a different sequence. Maybe try and cut in the 720×480 sequence then when it is time to export, export it with a custom frame size that you had in your orignal timemine. I know this is frustrating and probably not the most ideal situation, but you will be able to see the render in the 720×480 mode, and the final will be in the frame size you need.

Geist