[Ben Insler]

Spanned clips happen for two reasons: if a single video file size on the P2 exceeds 4 GB (since P2s are formatted in FAT32…and I always thought this limit was 2 GB, but the FCP manuals say 4 GB), OR if a single video recording begins on one card and continues on the second.

When pulling spanned clips in to FCP (clips A and B for example, A being the first half of the clip), you don’t have to import both clips from your different P2 reels. FCP and the P2 Import Window recognize that A and B are spanned clips that together make up one clip, despite the fact that the occur on different reels/cards. If you import both A and B, you will get two clips in FCP that are exactly the same, although they will each be named their respective name. You only need to import A or B, and it’s best to change the reel name from “Spanned Clip” to a name that is more recognizable if you ever need to pull the footage in again.

Not sure why you’re getting dropouts though. I just checked some of our recent P2 footage with spanned clips and nothing dropped.

-Ben

[Ben Insler]

Bob,

This may sound a bit too simple, but it couldn’t hurt to try it. Don’t hesitate to decrease the speed at which you’re burning the disc. This can minimize any errors that are being written as the disc is burning.

[Ben Insler]

Hey Bob,

I haven’t run into these problems in a while, so I’m not sure what’s causing it on your end. Has this always happened? Is it possible that your DVD burner/SuperDrive needs to be replaced? If the discs are only giving problems later on in your films (as in where the media is recorded more towards the outside of the disc), then your burner may be losing steam.

Also, Supposedly, DVD+R are a more reliable format across consumer DVD players. You could try using those if you’ve only been using DVD-R.

Hope that helps somewhat…

-Ben

[Ben Insler]

When you say changing the field order, do you mean the Shift Fields filter? If not, see if that works for you.

-Ben

[Ben Insler]

You could use compressor. That would probably do a nice job too.

[Ben Insler]

Worked perfectly. Thanks again.

[Ben Insler]

Shane-

Thanks again for you help.

Also, do you have any advice about converting 720p60 (59.94) footage to 1080i60 (29.97)? We have been getting duplicate frames when we export through the batch export or through QT conversion. Thanks.

Ben

[Ben Insler]

…and by the way, that worked perfectly…shouldn’t have written back before posting I guess. Thanks SO much.

Why would some clips work with that on and some not? They were all recorded in the exact same format.

Thanks again,

Ben

[Ben Insler]

Shane! Thanks for the IMMEDIATE response! You’re amazing.

Um… should we or shouldn’t we have it checked?

Thanks,

Ben

[Ben Insler]

It’s embedded in the Final Cut code…no getting rid of him.