Debe
Forum Replies Created
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Thanks for such a detailed recounting of your journey, Michael.
I wish you well as you embark on the next one!
debe
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Tell us about your monitoring set up, and your computer specs and which versions of FCP, QT, & the OS you are using.
debe
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It depends on the PC.
The PC has to have QT and the proper codecs installed. If this is true, then it should play.
If it’s not, it won’t.
debe
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Those files are waaaay to huge for FCP to deal with reasonably.
They need to be optimized for use in FCP, using ideally either Photoshop or GIMP. Photoshop is pretty expensive. GIMP is open source, so it’s freeware, but it requires you to install the X11 component from your original system install disks to run it. (If you find you like it and use it, it’s nice to contribute to the open source project that created it. It might be technically shareware. I’m not sure. It will let you know when you download it. Google is a great place to start.) GIMP is great if you don’t need to trade images with a Photoshop user. There are some limitations it has in general with respect to compatibility with FCP, but if you are simply re-sizing full screen images, it will suffice.
I have always had access to both the above programs, so I’ve never had to investigate other options. I don’t know if Graphic Converter or even iPhoto will let you re-size an image. That would be the free, and likely already installed option for you, as well, if either one will let you re-size.
They should be no larger than you actually need them to be. If you’re doing moves, figure out how close you need to be and how fast they need to move, but get them down to at most 3x raster. 2x is usually sufficient, and I usually find 1.5x works for most of the situations I encounter. You can push it larger than 3x, but it will run you the risk of FCP choking.
debe
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Have you looked at GIMP? It’s open source and it’s FREE!
Google it.
It requires that you install X11 from the OS install disks, but if you are merely looking for preview functions, that may be the thing.
I tried to use it as a replacement for PhotoShop because I hardly use PS to it’s fullest, but there are enough things GIMP does just a wee bit differently, that it’s not a replacement for PhotoShop in my studio. If I didn’t work with any outside artists, it might be worth trying to make it work, but I get too many PSD files in from outside sources that it’s just not a reliable substitution for PS.
In your case, it might be worth a look, and did I mention it’s free?
You can donate to the open source project if you find it useful.
debe
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I don’t do much sound effect work, but I have been using the Digital Juice Sound FX library as well for the handful of things I’ve needed to do in the past couple of months.
So far, for the basic things I’ve been looking for, it’s been great. The only thing I couldn’t recently find was an IBM Selectric-type typewriter sound.
SoundTrack also has some pretty good sound effects. Have you tiptoed through those, yet?
debe
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I used to use Fetch, and it was OK. I wasn’t doing much uploading or downloading back then, however.
Now I use Transmit, and it’s Grrrreat!
I was having lots of problems using the OS X Connect To Server. It only worked consistently when connecting to other people’s .mac accounts. It was a crapshoot trying to connect to any others.
debe
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How full is the internal hard drive and how full is the scratch disk? If either one is over 90% full, that may cause the problem.
If either one is 90% full or more, try clearing out some space and see if that helps.
When working with video and it’s generally large-ish files, it’s sometimes a good idea to keep 20% of all drives free for swap space and head room.
debe
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In order to get FCS at the special crossgrade price, you must send in your current master disks to Apple and they will send you the crossgrade UB. You cannot walk into an Apple Store and buy this. It’s a mail-in only deal.
All the details are in the link the previous poster listed.
debe
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But are you monitoring audio from the PD170 or the computer? There will always be lag if you watch external monitor for video and use internal monitors for audio or vice versa.
If not already, can you connect your external speakers to the PD170?
If you are already monitoring external audio, can you check the sync form the PD170 using headphones? Is the lag before the camera, at the camera, or after the camera?
debe