[Andy Mees]

[Simon Hustings] “I also hope Apple are in cahoots with Lynda.com or Larry Jordan”

Don’t know about “cahoots” but its clear that Larry Jordan is a favorite son at the moment, so you should be fine for all your tutorial needs when the time comes.

Cheers
Andy

[Andy Mees]

Hee … ah, thank goodness for keyboard protection.

[Andy Mees]

[Will Sanderson] “Since making this change, I’ve noticed a change in overall video quality (though we only record SD). So I have two questions. 1 – is this change in quality as a result of capturing from the deck? And 2 – is there a reason to replace the Laird Media converter or is there a better option to look into?
“

1. Yes. It suggests that the SDI to DV conversion in the deck is not as clean as you were getting from the Laird convertor.
2. Much better options, yes. The silver lining to this technical failure is that it presents a golden opportunity for you to ditch DV as your intermediate format, move to something better like ProRes 422. Have a look at the much more modern I/O options available these days from the likes of Matrox, AJA, Blackmagic and Motu. For example, a Blackmagic Design Decklink SDI card is only $295 and is possibly all you need. Or there are multi format portable options that allow SD/HD up, down and cross conversion, color corrected monitoring etc. The Matrox MXO2 LE, AJA IoExpress and Motu HDX-SDI are all sub $1000 portable I/O units worth checking out.

Best
Andy

[Andy Mees]

Lazy git .. but here you are :

Quarter PIP (free) >> https://web.mac.com/piero.fiorani/PieroF_FCE_Effect/Quarter_PIP.html
DH_Box ($29) >> https://www.digital-heaven.co.uk/dh_box
SplitScreen ($69) >>https://www.crumplepop.com/?page_id=19

But seriously, just stack the clips, set the scale of each clip one 50%, and recenter each one so that they sit in the four corners. Easiest thing ever.

Hope it helps
Andy

[Andy Mees]

[Michael Gissing] “ll that said, the reason why many of us recommend putting the audio to a pro sound person is the knowledge of how to drive such software”

I’m think I’m going to have to marry Michael and force him to have my children … they may not be pretty (or even human) but they will make good telly.

[Andy Mees]

Hi Simon
A new MBP is a great option … the latest 4 core releases are real workhorses that even run circles round earlier MacPro workstation releases. Add to that their immediate support for Thunderbolt, which looks set to be the connectivity option of choice over the next few years, and I think you’re on to a winner. Brand new MBP all the way … best of class, future resistant, and fully portable for your on location needs as well as on the desktop.
Hope that helps
Andy

[Andy Mees]

Nothing changed Michelle … the issue is likely in the difference between the source codec and resolution and the target codec and resolution exactly as explained in the thread. So, for example, you can’t take a relatively high res progressive screen capture source and jam it into a relatively low res interlaced SD sequence and expect it to look good.

Explain in detail, your specific workflow including the hardware and software you are using for capture with all the settings you’re using for that capture, and add to that the source properties of those captures as reported by FCP after you’ve imported them, plus the sequence settings you are using for your edit … and of course details of your actual intended target / delivery format.

With those details, chances are someone will be able to give you specific help and guidance for your issue.

Cheers
Andy

[Andy Mees]

Are the source files 2 channel with the same audio on both channels? If so then you may have an out of phase issue … try removing one of those source channels from your edit (and just panning and boosting the remaining channel if appropriate).

https://www.audiocourses.com/article1664.html

[Andy Mees]

Agreed … you might find something over here to help you ( https://dcinemaforum.com/forum/index.php?board=2.0 ) but if you’re none too comfortable with low level nuts and bolts then requesting a format you can use directly from the lab is surely the much faster and easier option.

Cheers
Andy

[Andy Mees]

Jarl
There are many many reports of exactly this inconsistency specifically when using XDCAM MPEG HD footage. Users on MBP’s editing day and night without issue whist some users on some MacPro’s report erratic, unpredictable and inescapable crashing syndrome. Turning off thumbnail display in both browser and timeline is recommended and often seems efficacious, but ultimately most MacPro users in this situation eventually find that transcoding the footage to an all I-frame codec like ProRes is the only surefire remedy … usually swiftly followed by an oath never to work with XDCAM footage ever again. Personally I’m in the “use it all day on a MBP without issue” camp.
Cheers
Andy