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XDCAM forum guy needs fcp HELP (render issue?)
I’m an experienced editor cutting on a Dual Quad 3Ghz Mac Pro / 4GB 667Mhz DDR2 / OSX ver. 10.4.11 / FCP 6.0.5
I shot a bundle of stuff for a project on a deadline in (1280 x 720 23.98 fps) XDCAM 720p24 35 Mb/s VBR. I have multiple sequences for this project, and I usually drop a clip into each new sequence in order to set the sequence properties to match the XDCAM clips. I’ve been moving along until this morning when I started experiencing issues where I sometimes do not hear some of my audio tracks – it will either be the soundtrack I hear, and my CH1 and CH2 XDCAM clip will be silent so that I only hear the music bed, or visa versa.
I can load the sequence clip into the viewer and hear the audio, but not in the sequence. In the Render Manager under TOOLS I’ve tossed my audio renders out and tried again, and sometimes the clips that playback audio will be reversed after the new render, but still whenever there are more than two channels of audio, I lose playback of the others two! I’ve re-booted, I’ve checked disk permissions, I’m stumped and losing valuable time. What’s going on?
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
5 Replies
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Stephen
When the going gets inexplicably weird, the first line of defense is good old fashioned preference trashing … do you have a pref’s manager? If so now would be a good time to give it some exercise. If not, then I’d recommend Jon Chappel’s Preference Manager:
https://www.digitalrebellion.com/pref_man.htm
Best
Andy -
While on hold with Apple Pro Apps support, I had talked through my issue several times, and I began to realize that in this particular sequence I had a short .ipr I made in Livetype. I right clicked on it and selected ‘open in editor’ to double check the Project Properties, and I noticed that it was set to 29.98fps whereas my sequence is 23.98fps (720p24) – so I changed that, but still had issues however where the sound cut out on the tracks moved slightly further down in the after the new render.
When the support tech came back on the line, he questioned the practice of saving the Livetype instead of exporting it (render movie). He went back to reproduce the issue, and while I was on hold again, I exported the Livetype project and imported it into my fcp project, and dropped it into the sequence, and voila, my audio is back.
Technically, I think I should still be able to simply save and use the .ipr, but at this point in my schedule, I’ll take what works. The parting advice from Apple was to use Motion instead. Good advice.
I hope any of this is somewhat useful to somebody out there.
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
Andy – great advice! Even though I edit a lot I don’t really know much about the preference-trashing thing, but I’ve heard about it. I solved my problem, but would you mind explaining:
What happens when you do that? Do you go to Macintosh HD > Library > Preferences, and then trash any related to Final Cut Pro? Or what? -thanks
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer -
Glad you resolved the issue Stephen, and thanks for posting back with the fix too, it’ll almost certainly help someone else out down the line.
Re trashing prefs, you can do that manually if you go to your Home folder and within that your Library folder and delete :
com.apple.finalcutpro.plist
Then within the Library folder go to the subfolder called Final Cut Pro User Data and delete
Final Cut Pro 6.0 Prefs, Final Cut Pro Obj Cache, and Final Cut Pro Prof CacheDeleting any application’s preferences causes the app to rewrite a new set as if it were being launched for the first time .. its like doing a factory defaults reset. WIth FCP’s prefs, deleting them has been known to cure all manner of ills that are otherwise inexplicable.
But as for doing it manually, well of course its very easy, but I find the FCP Preference Managers available make the procedure not only even quicker and easier, but also add a lot of value added features like backing up and/or restoring preference sets with specific settings … the free app linked above is one amongst the best.
Hope thats useful info
Andy -
Andy – thank you for explaining the procedure for clearing my prefs – and for the link to the program that does it. I really appreciate your help. -s
Stephen May
Keystone Media Productions
Freelance Videographer
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