problemo – frames dropping on export

[Cade Muhlig]

oh and one more thing
occasionally, when i hit play on my timeline, it will play for about 2 sec, then freeze and the tapedeck (firewirely connected) will show the frame its on. the weird part is that external video is set to off, and video output to none.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

There is a function in FCP that is often overlooked… and it can help with many audio and video “skipping”, “sticking” and “missing” problems.

You should “Mixdown” the Audio for playback before you dub out of FCP, or during the edit, if you have audio/video stuttering, drop-outs, sync-slippage, or freezes.

NOTE: Mixdown has even been demonstrated to help with slipping, skipping problems (or “missing” audio clips) for files being EXPORTED as QT (or similar) files out of FCP.

First, SELECT ALL of your audio tracks (highlight them) on the timeline, then:

Sequence Menu > Render Only > Mixdown.

You should see a dialog box telling you its rendering.

It might seem to make little sense that “Mixing down” even simple audio tracks will “fix” complex video “freezes” or random audio dropouts to tape or export, but it CAN.

NOTE: It does not matter of you only have one audio track, if there are random freezes during output, you should try the Mixdown.

[Cade Muhlig]

thanks for the mixdown tip, but still no luck. i decided to move on, then i realized i cant capture video either. i can control the device, but im getting no video signal. i also tried swapping my hdv tape deck for a camera for import, and i get the same thing.
…still lost
cadobee

[Cade Muhlig]

ive tried a new fw cable, new project, new format (hdv instead of dv)

[Dean Steinmann]

If you are using fcp 4.5, maybe this is your problem:

https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305284

[Cade Muhlig]

no, im using the latest version

[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.
d. Being able to capture from a FW device.

If working this list doesn’t cure the problem… you may have a serious 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. Make sure you have chosen FW output for A/V:
Final Cut Pro (menu) > Audio/Video Settings… >
Video Playback: Apple FireWire NTSC (720 x480)
Audio Playback: FireWire DV
11. Turn off the power to the Camera/Deck/Converter Box, then turn it back ON.
12. Make sure the camera is in VTR mode… or the deck is in DV (DV, iLink, or FW) input.
13. On a Sony camcorder or deck, make sure the menu setting “A/V > DV Out” is set to OFF.
14. Re-check that your FW cable is well-connected at both ends (or try a new cable).
15. Important: Quit FCP, then Restart FCP.
16. 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.

[Cade Muhlig]

thanks for the tips, good for future use.
but the problem isnt quite that. i can get it to playback on an external monitor, but i cannot capture from deck, nor export to deck. its really weird.
it seems to be like the driver or something. for some reason its not communicating properly.

Things its doing:
1. when printing to tape: it will export the tape setup correctly, but as soon as it hits program video, the deck goes black screen, and the computer soon after stops play and reports that frames were dropped.

2 no video during capture from device. it will control the device. it can cue the tape, preroll, but when it starts playing, and at the time it normal begins to record, the deck will just keep playing, while the capture screen on the computer is black and says “cueing”

3 occasionally when playing video on the timeline with video playback set to “off”… final cut will freeze, and the tapedeck will show the current frame. (that one is really wierd)

So what ive tried:

1 swapped fw cable and dv deck

2 tried new project and new format

3 reinstalled final cut and trashed permissions

4 did the obvious stuff like check audio/video settings

so if no one has any clue, who should i call apple (final cut)?
maybe try diff forum?

thanks
cade