Refreshing Audio/Video

[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 or “pushed into” other windows.
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
“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

If you have “lost” your entire FW connection between the Mac and the device, go HERE:
https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301852

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

[Chris Lucey]

Well i tried everything but a new cable and it will just not work. Like i said before single frames come up on the monitor but will not actually play the sequence. It was working earlier and now it is not. So what am i looking at here ?

[Chris Lucey]

I tried running through my DVX and the same thing. I guess i can rule out the deck. I need to get another cable and try that i suppose. Any other ideas ?

[Chris Lucey]

Just some more info, when i log and capture, FCP controls the deck no problem and it displays properly on the monitor.

[Chris Lucey]

This has to be a project issue. I just recaptured some footage and started a new project and it works fine. The one thing i noticed that was strange, was for some reason i ended up with a copy of the original project in the browser, and on the media drive there was two files, one original and the copy. For some reason i was working on the copy. I wonder if this has anything to do with it ?

[Chris Lucey]

I also just copy and paste the entire project into a new project and it works fine ? What gives ?

[Rich Rubasch]

In the original project go to the upper tabs on the Sequence viewer window. Somehow you have selected “Wireframe Only”. Change it to Image + Overlays and you will be good to go.

It is some keystroke that I hit every once in a while and it goes into that view mode….it shows a freeze frame but won’t view a playing sequence.

Try it…

Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media

[Chris Lucey]

Are talking about the view pop up menu in the canvas (3rd button in the middle top) ? Mine is image+wireframe. You said Overlays, maybe i’m missing something ?

[Rich Rubasch]

No, that’s the one I think. Play with those….it is what I have found to cause your issue. One last thing is under View-External Video and be sure that All Frames is selected.

Gotta be one of those….

Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media

[Rob Forsythe]

[Rich Rubasch] “Gotta be one of those….
“

You mean #2 on my list and #4 on my list?

😉