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THE Basics
Hello, and thanks for reading.
I want to make sure my media files match my sequence settings, and that all other settings on FCP 5.1.4 are set to handle these files. But I’m unclear on what some of those settings should be.
I understand the concept of making sure your sequence settings match your media files. I’ve tried to do that, and I’m only using one type of media file: Flip video MP4 files. Presently, I simply import the MP4 into FCP.
Also, if I need to convert my media files before importing them, I understand that concept too, but again, I’m unclear on some settings. The converting program I have is MPEG Streamclip.
So, these are all the many places I could be inputting something incorrect, causing FCP to always have to render audio (but not video), and to give me repeated dropped frame warnings.
User Preferences
System Settings
Audio/Video Settings
Clip Settings?
[Are Clip Settings only set via the Log and Capture window? My media files are already on my computer, so, do I ever have to bother with the Log and Capture window?]
Any other settings I’m missing?Thanks.
Greg Wishnev
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6 Replies
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Here’s a great tutorial covering much of what you’re asking by Walter Biscardi. https://library.creativecow.net/articles/biscardi_walter/realtime_sequences.php
When exporting from Streamclip, be sure to use a QT codec FCP likes such as DV or DVCPro 50 (might be overkill for Flip video). Do some tests on a short clip and see what works best for you. It’s possible Compressor would work for the conversion, but I don’t know for sure. I’ve never tried that.John
MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.5 QT7.5.5 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor
ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE Enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5Final Cut Studio 2 (up to date)
Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN
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John,
Thank you for your quick and very helpful response. That was one of the easiest-to-understand tutorials I have ever been directed to. Now let’s see if I can follow its directions, and I’ll report back.
Greg
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Jack,
Walter Biscardi’s excellent tutorial has led to an epiphany, and I’ve made considerable progress since receiving your referral to it.
For my one-minute piece, I’m assembling the audio tracks first, and then cutting the video to fit that. Before speaking with you, I couldn’t get anything done for all the dropped frame warnings I was getting. Since then, I have been able to put together just what I want using 5 audio tracks. They all play back in real time, with transitions added, with no problem.
Basically, I am accepting that I will always have to render audio files as I place them on the Timeline, but for some reason not video files. It’s easy to accept because rendering those audio files takes no time at all.
My newest challenge is determining why, when I start to add video clips, I’m getting those dropped frame warnings again. I know it’s not because the clip and sequences settings don’t match.
I’m optimistic. And I’m really excited by what I’ve been able to do up to this point. Again, thanks to you and thanks to Walter. He is an unusually effective communicator.
I don’t know if it’s polite to spew all my specs to this forum, all the different settings in all the different places, and the specs on the Flip camera I use (which I’m loving). But, my computer’s specs might be relevant: MacBook, OS 10.5.7, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GM RAM, 250 GB SATA @ 5400rpm, running FCP 5.1.4.
Greg
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I’m glad you’re making progress. The probable reason you need to render audio is the clips probably don’t have 48 kHz audio sample rates which is required by FCP (and most pro video apps). I’m not sure you can change the audio sample rate on your Flip, but I’m pretty certain you can in Streamclip. Once the clips have 48k audio, you won’t need to render them.
Dropped frames most usually relate to a slow capture scratch drive. Is your drive an external or the Macbook’s internal drive? If you’re using your internal drive, that’s probably the problem. You should never capture to your system drive. Use an external Firewire (NOT USB) drive. The type of drive you need is related to your editing codec. For instance, a Firewire 400 is fine for DV, but wouldn’t work well (or at all) with an HD codec. For that you’d need a FW800, or better still a RAID array.
As for listing your system and software specs, that’s definitely not impolite. Listing them helps folks diagnose your issues a lot faster.
John
MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.5 QT7.5.5 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor
ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE Enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5Final Cut Studio 2 (up to date)
Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN
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John,
48KHz and the necessity of an external drive: I understand. John, I am so anxious to get stuff up and running that I’m ready to buy that external drive NOW. Would you care to recommend one?
Thanks.
Greg
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I use G-Tech drives most of the time. G-Drive Q for archive and with editing on my MBP a G-RAID 2 for faster performance. There are other good drives out there. Do a search on the Cow and the names will turn up. Here’s a link to G-Tech. https://www.g-technology.com/products/products.cfm?interest=all
John
MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.5 QT7.5.5 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor
ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE Enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5Final Cut Studio 2 (up to date)
Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN
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