Insert Edit on Digibeta problem FCP 6.0.5

[Baz Leffler]

[Michael Gissing] “I am amazed that FCP and AVID have never changed their methodology to something that makes proper insert editing possible.”

I agree and it shouldn’t be that hard.

The way the software works when editing to tape is…

1. set play head on first frame of playback
2. send necessary edit info to the deck including edit in and edit out points
3. send auto edit command to deck
4. monitor the timecode in the RS422 data stream (I could go into more detail here but I won’t bore you)
5. Using the offset values in the device configuration (eg playback offset of -5 frames) start playback when required timecode is detected

So, all that is required to correct this problem is to alter step 1 and step 5 to read…

1. set play head on the frame PRIOR to the first frame of playback
2. send necessary edit info to the deck including edit in and edit out points
3. send auto edit command to deck
4. monitor the timecode in the RS422 data stream (I could go into more detail here but I won’t bore you)
5. Using the offset values in the device configuration (eg playback offset of -5 frames) start playback when required timecode is detected minus 1 frame

This will allow the timeline’s playback to start in sync with the decks timecode but be actually running 1 frame before the edit (1 frame = 40mS and we only want 5mS so we are all good)

OK so the downside is that the frame displayed in FCP’s edit to tape window would be wrong but they could trick that to be correct.

Not so long ago I abandoned Adobe Premiere for it total lack of support for ‘proper’ broadcast features as it was only really catering for those that did weddings etc and either exported to DVD or back to a DV/HDV deck but it seems that FCP developers need to do a bit more for us high end users or at least use beta testers that require such features.

As a side issue, FCP is leaps and bounds ahead of Premiere when it comes to ‘broadcast requirements’. Its just the beta testing needs to be looked at. I have for years been a beta tester for high end products, mainly hardware manufacturers, and I have found some really ‘general bugs’ that were totally overlooked by their engineers. And also as a beta tester I was able to add suggestions to product features and enhancements which made it to the final products. This has turned me into a bitter and critical ole man when I see high end products get released without proper testing of all facets and lacking really simple but useful features.

Baz

What would I do without the ‘UNDO’ button!!!!