[Craig Alan]

Also I have had things break with Mac OS updates and drivers from BM. And the calls to tech support are time consuming. Before all the bugs and third party drivers are fixed we ar on to a new OS.

Here’s a thought though: is it possible something is being done in the back ground in FC when you are getting these dropped frames? Even though FC lets you continue to work, things do slow down and get buggy at times with background tasks in progress.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

FC will open whatever was opened at the last session. Unless those libraries are off line. By default it does open a new library on the system drive with a new event which I find annoying.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

If you can, use the footage they gave you as visuals and record the interviews with the subjects using a quiet environment and good mike placement. Include a little of the party sound on another track. Ask the client what their message is and emphasize that aspect. Along with subtitled scenes from party you’ve got your doc getting potentially close to high quality, whatever that means. You could also interview your clients as adults working with these kids.

Another approach is a VO track telling us what so and so said with the best little voice clips that you can at least hear the words that confirms what the narrative is telling us.

Fix it in PRE is your best option.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Another test if replacements are not available is a another location and quiet.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Why not use xlrs given the situation

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

the projects are stored in the events. if the wrong event was highlighted when you created the project then it would be in that event.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Thanks Simon. Understood. SD mixers do have the option to use a plug in for power and I do have a couple of studio style mixers I could try instead of the mixpre D though it was designed for computer input and on our level its been fine. We do use dynamics for our voiceovers for much the same reasons you pointed out. But not on the level that this thread was addressing.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

Not so sure about that Simon. I use the sound devices mixers . Dynamics need a whole lot more gain. Sound devices don’t add a lot of noise but raising the gain that much more does effect the sound. I find what dynamics are good at is hand held uses and background noise relative isolation. Plus they are great bang for the buck.

I actually called sound devices customer support and complained that our mixpre Ds didn’t provide enough gain for our dynamics. They agreed and said they were working on giving the unit a more powerful preamp (not sure that’s the right description technically).

That said I think the talent is a more important variable than the mike when it comes to voice overs.

I don’t know your b.g. And I’m not assuming anything, but I do know that TY and a couple of other forum leads on this site know their stuff.

I’m actually surprised he’s recommending such an inexpensive condenser but he’s never steered me wrong at each price point.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

I’ve taught beginners both FCP 6-7 and now X. X is a much easier initial learning curve. I have HS kids editing a rough cut in 2 minutes and then can teach the basics of audio editing in about 5. Titles and transitions in a 1 min. Now this is 1 on 1 teaching with simple demo and being around if they forget a step. Which I find is way better than a group lesson where every student is trying to follow a teacher that always assumes everyone is on the same step but as soon as someone misses a step is lost. This is a student body that for the most part has trouble with directions and attention span. That said, I found learning FCP X was easier for me only because I already had a basic understanding of what a NLE does. It’s not that different in terms of what it does, just a different UI. I think for advanced editors working with many layers of media that traditional tracks are a better fit; but for modest complexity projects, it’s pretty equal with X being a faster initial learning curve for new editors. My only reservation about having made this choice is that it is the exception to some standard UI components of NLEs. But I have no way to fund monthly payments Adobe and found AVID the hardest to learn and manage of the three majors.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Craig Alan]

What’s ur budget?

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.