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IMHO, you simply won’t ever need DVCAM (its identical quality to DV SP.)

But the PD170 is MUCH better in low light situations (very low video noise) than ANY other camcorder.
If you plan on shooting bands in their “Natural Habitat” (which usually means mostly in the DARK) then you might want that feature.

The PD150 has been a reliable camcorder for many years.
The PD170 looks to be just as reliable.

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My next guess is the obvious:

First thing to always try is to Quit FCP, Restart the Mac, Open your FCP project and try again.

Next:
THE FOLLOWING COMES FROM THE KEN STONE WEBSITE:
“Over 5,000 years ago Confucius wrote: ‘If you are toiling away, you have changed nothing and FCP heads South on you, [starts behaving in strange ways] then it is time to trash your FCP Preferences.’ ”

Click the following link for instructions on how to do this.

https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/trashing_fcp_prefs.html

A great way to do this is to use “FCP Rescue” a free Apple Script that will Trash the Preferences for you (and restore nearly all of your user settings afterward).
There are versions for FCPro & FCExpress.

Download these free Apple Scripts at

https://fcprescue.andersholck.com/

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AND, are you checking your video quality on an external video monitor?

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Did you RENDER the effects?

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You say you tried the “Apple Fixes”.

Did you use the following link? (Many others have had good results here).

https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301852

Another thing to try is to TRASH your FCP Preferences.
Click the following link for instructions on how to do this.

https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/trashing_fcp_prefs.html

A great way to do this is to use “FCP Rescue” a free Apple Script that will Trash the Preferences for you (and restore nearly all of your user settings afterward).
There are versions for FCPro & FCExpress.

Download these free Apple Scripts at

https://fcprescue.andersholck.com/

p.s. My family and I visited your beautiful country several years ago. Good memories!

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I use Shane’s method (dub to DV tape first) except I recommend using the S-Video connector for the best image signal, not RCA.

I also have another set-top DVD recorder with FireWire input that I can connect to my DV deck/camcorder for a very clean digital transfer.

I COULD hook it directly to the Mac & FCP, but outputting to tape allows me to save the version that I am burning, and I can continue to edit while the dubs (I need to make several) continue, away from the Mac.

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Was this tape RECORDED on this same JVC camcorder that you’re trying to use to capture from?
Regardless,

1. Borrow, rent, or buy used, ANY (properly-working) Sony or Panasonic DV camcorder (a “home video” camcorder is fine).

2. Try playing your tape in this other camcorder (There should be running TC on the tape, its part of the recording format).

3. But, if there is still NOT running TC on the tape, connect two camcorders together via FireWire and make a complete COPY of the original tape over to a NEW DV tape in the other camcorder. (The copy will have no generation loss and it WILL have TC.)

4. Capture to FCP via the Sony or Panasonic camcorder from the new copy of the tape.

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[Chris Poisson] “I want to see the QT frame in the e-mail, sitting on the first fraame or having it just play.”

Here’s what I said before:
“In my email viewer, the QT window shows up and I just hit the “play” button in the window to see the movie.”

At least in my Macintosh “Mail” program, the QT viewer IS just sitting right there when you first open the email, parked at the first frame.

If you want to make this ALWAYS happen in ALL emails (I don’t know how that would be possible considering all the different types of email viewers there are) then you might want to post this on one of the “computer system” forums such as “Apple OS X” and “Windows Hardware & Software”.

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

DV from/to a tape will always be the same “speed” regardless of FW 400 or FW800 because the DV file is being transfered at a speed that matches the tape’s read/write speed.

The same goes for DV25 DVCPro via SDI from/to a tape.

DV transfer speed equals approx. 3.6 MB per second.

However, when transfering between two HARD DRIVES, the speed will vary with the speed of the computer and the HD read/write speed.

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I send emails of my :30 TV spots for client approval almost daily.

I just Export with QuickTime Conversion from FCP.
Then I attach the QT file to any email.
In my email viewer, the QT window shows up and I just hit the “play” button in the window to see the movie.

Here are my usual settings for QuickTime Conversion (You can adjust to taste.)

With the Timeline you want to export open in Final Cut Pro:
File> Export > Using Quicktime Conversion
Format: Quicktime Movie
Options…

Video
Settings…
Video compressor – Sorenson Video 3
Quality: Low
Frames per second: 15
(Check) Key frame: every 300 frames
Limit Data Rate NOT CHECKED

Size: Custom – 240×180

Sound
Settings…
Compressor: IMA 4:1
Rate: 16 kHz,
Size: 16 bit,
(Choose) Mono (or Stereo, if you think that it warrants the larger file size)