is project size related to FCP 5.1 crash?

[Todd Gillespie]

Hi Doug,
Try some breathing exercises and relax.

By comparison, FCP is incredibly stable. I’ve worked on many different editing systems and setups, and at some point, they will all have their problems. Usually trashing the prefs, will fix most problems, but in some cases, reinstalling is needed. I just had to reinstall my Media 100 844xi editing system Friday, so it happens.

Apple makes the install process for FCP quite simple and fast, so when we decide that we need to reinstall, it’s no big deal. Some editing systems/setups can take you down for half a day, just with a reinstall. I’ve been using FCP since version 2, and FCP has gotten more and more stable with every release. Back with 3.5, we would be reinstalling the software around once every couple of months, with 5, I haven’t had to do it yet.

[Doug Buckser] “Do you think this could be an issue? Is using sub-clips a better way to go?”
No.
Although, it would probably be a good idea to make several backups of your project file (saving it to different media locations)
I’m finishing up a documentary that’s an hour with 10 LiveType projects, tons of CG, moving graphics, etc and the whole program is ‘precomped’ into another program. So I’m really pushing the system, and it works like a champ. (knock on wood) So I don’t think you’re taxing FCP too much. I

[Doug Buckser]

G’day Todd,

Thanks for your excellent advice. About 12 hours later, the world is bright again.

Now that my breathing has returned to normal, is this the following process to use?

1. Trash the preferences

(and if that doesn’t work)

2. Reinstall the program

Are there recommended on-line user groups for Final Cut Pro (in addition to the Creative Calf community)? I’m not aware of one here in Melbourne Australia, so I wonder if it’s possible to exchange information with people on-line. Apple technical support said support is $200/incident, so I’m wondering about any options prior to calling them.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
Doug

[Todd Gillespie]

Hi Doug,
sorry for the delay. I reinstall OSX on my laptop and I couldn’t get the cookies to recognize me until today. 🙂

[Doug Buckser] “is this the following process to use?

1. Trash the preferences

(and if that doesn’t work)

2. Reinstall the program”

Not exactly, it all depends on the situation. But before you call anyone, post anything, or freak out; you should always trash your prefs and restart your Mac (and deck if needed). From there it all depends on what the problem might be. if it’s a drive issue, software issue, corrupted file, corrupted media, etc; all require a different troubleshooting path. But as a general (troubleshooting) rule you want to elimate the variables; i.e. unmount the drive-see if that fixed it or open a different project-does it still work? etc. So I wouldn’t say a reinstall would be a #2 fix or even #3, it just depends on how many variables you can elimate. But I WOULD difinatly reinstall the program BEFORE I called tech support.

[Doug Buckser] “Are there recommended on-line user groups for Final Cut Pro (in addition to the Creative Calf community)?”
None as good as the Calf/Cow community. About six months after I started posting at the Cow (2002) I stopped going to other user groups because I could get everything I needed here. Between your own posts and looking through archives, you’ll get just about anything you need.

[Doug Buckser] “I’m not aware of one here in Melbourne Australia”
Enzo? Anything in Melbourne?

Good Luck,

Todd at UCSB
Television Production