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Video and audio playback corruption – Quicktime or hardware issue?
When using apps that depend on QT, I’m getting some real weirdness in the video display and also in audio as well. This behavior started about three days ago and without any known change or updates to the system – i.e.; no new software installed.
EXAMPLE1: In Final Cut Pro (v5.1.2), when viewing footage in the timeline, the playback stutters on a single frame from that footage. I can move the playhead back and forth, but the browser will not update. The video frame is also corrupted with random horizontal lines throughout (about 3-4 pixels high and 20 pixels across) Video playback directly in Quicktime (v7.1.3) has no problems.
EXAMPLE2: In Final Cut Pro (v5.1.2), when exporting to MPEG via Compressor (v2.3), the video encodes fine (most of the time), but the audio will have a high-pitched squeal at around 4Khz. This squeal will cut in and out and will never be in the same place in subsequent attempts at export. Exporting via QT directly has worked but I only tried this a few times.
EXAMPLE3: In DVD Studio Pro (v4.1), when viewing video in the track preview mode, the video will not display and the application will freeze and a Force Quit is necessary.
ACTION TAKEN THUS FAR (in order):
– Trashed Prefs (all pertinent, FCP, QT, DVDSP, Compressor)
– repaired disc permissions and ran crom scripts.
– Uninstalled, re-installed and updated application(s).
– Uninstalled and re-installed application(s) with NO updates.
– reset NVRAM/PRAM
– Re-installed OSX
– removed all third-party hardware from system (Decklink SP, Wacom tablet, ext. Firewire drives, network cable)
– Wiped HD, did clean install of OSX, updated OS, intsalled ONLY Studio apps.
– Ran G5 hardware test (quick test) – All passed.
– Running G5 hardware test (extended) – still running after 4 hours (fans cranked)OTHER STRANGE BEHAVIOR (That may or may not be related but started happening around the same time):
– Sometimes fails to wake from sleep if in that state for more than 30 minutes.NOTE: This system is used about 10 hours a day and had a power supply replaced and a processor replaced under warranty about two years ago. Since that time, it has had no problems. It is no longer covered by Applecare.
SYSTEM:
OS 10.4.8
Machine Name: Power Mac G5
Machine Model: PowerMac7,2
CPU Type: PowerPC 970 (2.2)
Number Of CPUs: 2
CPU Speed: 2 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 4.5 GB
Bus Speed: 1 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.1.5 ( I know? – Firmware updated by Apple tech)Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Posted also on Apple QuickTime user forum and Apple FCP user froum.
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13 Replies
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You should tell this guy:
https://imdb.com/name/nm0519043/Wow, that’s an awful story. I’m truly sorry. You’ve done pretty much everything you can. Before anything else, try and re-create the problem on a different Mac if possible using the same footage. And make sure this happens with all footage. The media could be corrupted.
I’ve been working with computers for a long time. And when weird unexplained stuff like this happens, it’s usually 1 of 3 things:
1) It’s overheating. Probably not the case, but you never know. Something could be loose inside that water-cooling contraption.
2) Bad RAM. The hardware test cannot catch everything. Try different RAM chips if you can and you’ll know for sure if that’s the problem or not.
3) The OS is hosed. Re-install OSX from scratch on a new system disk. Just swap out your system disk (keep it in case this isn’t the problem). Do a clean install of OSX, updates, and FCS. Pain in the ass, but it sounds like you’ve spent a lot of time already.
Don’t waste time on things like removing your Wacom and things like that. None of that will affect it and if it did, you have bigger problems. Don’t buy into your own paranoia. Trust me I know the feeling. You’re not doing anything wrong. It’s not working like it’s supposed to and that’s all there is to it.
Last resort, pay for a day of Applecare or take it to the Genius Bar.
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[Will Salley] ” Sometimes fails to wake from sleep if in that state for more than 30 minutes.”
Will,
One of the first rules of FCP configuration as any VAR will tell you is to turn off all power saving features. That may not be your problem no, but its definitely something you should take care of in the future. There isn’t a single hard drive manufacturer whose drives wake up dependably.
DRW
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[Will Salley] “It is no longer covered by Applecare.”
THrow it out and get a new one.
Just kidding.
Example1: Have you contacted Blackmagic about this? Sounds like a capture card problem if everything is working well in quicktime.
Example2: What are you using to monitor this squealing? If you take that file to another computer, does it squeal?
Example3: Is your bitrate too high?
Do you have another AGP graphics card to swap in there?
Jeremy
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Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions.
Sean – I’ve tried different raw footage as well as creating newly exported MPEGs for DVDSP.
David – I’ve heard that you should turn off all Energy Saver stuff as well, but after three years of manually putting the Macs to sleep (all five of them), it hasn’t ever caused a problem, but…you never know.
[JeremyG] “Have you contacted Blackmagic about this? Sounds like a capture card problem if everything is working well in quicktime.”
Jeremy – The problem still exist even though the card was removed and no software was ever installed after a clean system install. Good point about the bitrate on the encode, I’ll have to check it when the extended test is completed. It’s on it’s sixth hour of the memory portion.
When it gets done I’m going to pull the MacHD and put it in another G5 to see what happens.
Thanks again everyone.
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Also, what codec are you working in and what kind of storage are you working from?
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[JeremyG] “Also, what codec are you working in and what kind of storage are you working from?”
Source video is various (DV, Beta, and rendered AE)
The timeline is standard DV.
The codec to DVDSP is MPEG-2, VBR, 2-pass
Storage is also mixed, but the raw footage is on a SATA Raid and the compressed encodes are on an internal SATA or FW800 Raid (Lacie). I’ve moved them around to different drives as a troubleshooting measure but no change in behavior.
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Will you have tried almost everything, But I wouldn’t miss to pass DiskWarrior or Techtools. They have save me from a heart attack many times.
salud,
rafael
PD: I have a G5 2x2GHz from 2004. Now its works great but for the first few months my computer hangs around 20 times a day. wasn’t only my problem. in internet was hundred of people getting mad for the same problem. Apple never sayd a word about that, only replaced the computers. As soon as i started to use techtools the problem disapeared. -
If I had to guess I’d say it’s bad RAM or overheating. Take it to an Apple store and ask them to try and recreate it, and the to try again with different RAM.
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I tried a different computer – just switched out the HD – same results.
The activity monitor shows this”
compressord (not responding)
dspx_encoderserver (not responding)
dspx_aencoderserver (not responding)I am also installing to a new HD on another G5. My fingers are sore from typing serials!
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[Will Salley] “I tried a different computer – just switched out the HD – same results.”
I odn’t think that’ll work anyway, FCP or no FCP. There’s system specific info that is need i do believe. Swapping the HD to another computer, I do not think, will solve anything.
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