[James Bayliss-smith]

I’ve just completed a PAL edit with footage from P2 DVCpro using FCP X

After exporting from FCPX and trying to compress using a program called M-Link Newscaster I got an warning message saying

“This looks like a PAL video but but has an unexpected field order (top field first)”

Sure enough when I analyse the output file in VideoSpec it says the top field is first. When I analyse the footage (that I ingested with FCP 7) it is bottom field first. SO it has changed during the edit

Why has FCP X done this?
Does it matter (I have a feeling it does my content is destined for television news)
How do I solve this problem?

Cheers

[James Bayliss-smith]

Here’s a screen shot

[James Bayliss-smith]

Here’s a screen shot

[James Bayliss-smith]

Tearing my hair out here. I love FCP X but it keep messing with me I really want it to work.

Ok I want to add a audio crossfade. Seemingly very simple, I even got this great plugin

https://alex4d.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/fcpx-transition-sound-only/

This is what I am doing

Detach Audio from two clips

then select the two audio clips

then command G to create secondary storyline

then select the desired edit point

command T to put a default transition on to audio tracks audio only

This works fine I have tested it on two clips at the end of the timeline. But within the edit I have just completed it does not work. The transition appears to get added but I cannot hear the crossfade.

To add to this the bottom half of the green audio track (I know it’s not called a track anymore but that’s what it looks like) is now shaded blue. I can’t for the life of me work this out.

sending me crazy I use these all the time, any help much appreciated

[James Bayliss-smith]

Okay works above the primary storyline but not below. I edit news and I always have a voiceover that I need to shift about. Should I just always put that audio above the primary storyline or is this just a bug. I’m still on 10.0.1 so hopefully once I’ve downloaded the update (20 hours from China!!) this may work or is there some other logic behind this?

[James Bayliss-smith]

OK command option click, got it for connected video but I’m trying to move the connection point for a connected bit of audio (its connected below the primary storyline it wont do it driving me crazy! Any thoughts

[James Bayliss-smith]

Hi Tim, I’m back trying to edit news on FCPX and I’m running into these same issues.

If you’ve time please see:

https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/344/6533

[James Bayliss-smith]

Thanks for your responses guys.

I work for Australian news, normally when we file our stories we compress them and send them over the internet (I’m based in Beijing). We normally just export a full quality Quicktime file. Before we export we make sure that we only have two tracks of sound. We put all the voiceover and interviews on one track and all the background sound on the other track. We pan the voiceover to left (-1) and the background to the right (+1). This ensures that when FCP does a mix down as part of the Export process the two tracks are still distinct. That means the editors in Australia can split the tracks and re-mix the audio should they need to.

I was previously advised to group the different audio using compound clips then adjust the pan. So how does this tally with your advice not to break apart clips?

Happy New Year!

James

[James Bayliss-smith]

Thanks David befor I wish you a very merry Christmas I wanted to keep this discussion going if you can bear it.

[David Roth Weiss] “Yes, but you won’t be able to move it over to to your iMac and you’ll be stuck working on your MBP with your best hard drive setup.”

This is no problem as the one at work will stay at work, I’ll have to think of a different solution for my iMac at home.

[David Roth Weiss] “I would go with RAID 0 and simply do manual backups for now. Save your ammo for another day when you can purchase a solution that will do all of the things you require with complete reliability.”

Do you mean build my budget RAID array with my proposed cheap kit that I can get easily here in China. Forget about setting it up as RAID 5 and set it up as RAID O to get one nice big fast hard drive then manually back up the important stuff as regularly as I can?

I have to say that I am tempted to go with RAID 5 using that box I linked to over eSATA. It sounds like it would work.

Given that unless two hard drives fail at the same time I can replace a failed drive and let the RAID re-build itself then the weak link is my cheap RAID enclosure that has not been built specifically for Video editing.

[David Roth Weiss] “RAID 1 is also not a great solution for video editing BTW. It’s really meant to provide redundant backup for documents and still photos, etc., but does not ultimately have the throughput for video editing without dropping frames.”

I currently use a 500GB x 2 CalDigit VR mini in a RAID 1 formation. I’ve not experienced any problems editing DVCPro footage using that drive (all we will ever use at work unless they upgrade the whole bureau to HD which is not on the Horizon). So if that works fine for my needs then perhaps my budget RAID array over FireWire 800 in a RAID 1 formation is my best bet for safety and backup?

[James Bayliss-smith]

Hi Todd, thanks for your response.

The product I have looked at (and can get here in China with minimum hassle for $250) has good reviews. I am assuming it also has a dedicated RAID controller otherwise it would not work.

I’m guessing that this product hasn’t been tested on video editors.

When you talk about reliability do you mean that the RAID may not re-build itself properly should (or when) one of the internal hard drive fail because it is cheap and most likely made of cheap components.

Or do you mean that because it is cheap the hard drive failure is more likely?

I’m assuming it is the former. It sounds like a Risk not worth taking I guess. Any thoughts?

Merry Christmas