[Oliver Jones]

In Final Cut Pro the volume of the tone they’re asking for is ,according to a previous CreativeCow forum, -12db. If my film occasionally goes up to -10db is that ok? Or do I Have to avoid going over?

I’m still a bit confused if a reference tone is a basis for sound levels that follow…

Sorry for the trouble.

[Oliver Jones]

Sorry about that. I’m away for the next couple of days so I’ll probably call them when I get back in front of my equipment.

I was just wondering if any of you guys had heard about such things.

Thanks for the advice anyway.

[Oliver Jones]

Hi there,

Might be what happened to me a few months ago.

I had been living happily with my MacBook Pro for about 2 years (interesting coincidence: does this verify a programmed life span?) and Boom… as if I had no battery left, though I was plugged in… Black screen, starting up noise the first couple of times then lifeless.

Now, a major detail, have you experienced trouble with your battery?

Mine was basically slowly dying the previous few months: overused it probably (I rarely took it out even while being plugged in… silly I guess). Anyway, as a last hope I took the battery out, pressed ON and my Mac was reborn!!!

Hope this is your case. Let me know.

[Oliver Jones]

I’m using:

Mac Pro, FCP 6: video output is set to Blackmagic PAL 8 bit or 10 bit, audio output is set to Blackmagic (only option). I connect my audio to the Sony Beta SP recording deck using channel 1 and/or 2 with Jack cables (RCA and mini Jack cables didn’t solve anything). My Beta deck only has XLR input (2) so I have to add a little Jack to XLR converter.

Surely an important fact: I have had a problem with audio levels at the very beginning. With standard FCP and Blackmagic audio output settings I would cause my Beta deck to peak massively: a big “digital” bang, nothing like the average saturation peak noise.

Consequently, I had to reduce my Blackmagic output levels and/or FCP timeline film levels until I avoided this, which introduced this hissing: maybe insufficient output volume?!!! I’m also having to put my Beta SP deck input levels to the max to reach about -20db at best!!!

Ideally, I need to keep my original FCP levels and find a way of solving these weird peak bangs my deck is sadly experiencing…

When I plug in headphones or speakers into my Blackmagic’s Channel 1 or 2 Jack output, with default or minimum output setting, it’s fine.

[Oliver Jones]

Thanks for the info. I’ll try that.

An interesting fact I came across:

When I convert my timeline setting to Quicktime H264 it’s in synch. I have always worked in DV PAL, so that seems to be a problem. I know my original footage is fine and in synch when I play it back OUTSIDE FCP.

Any extra thoughts?

[Oliver Jones]

Fantastic!

It was all down to a key… weird.

Thanks!!!

[Oliver Jones]

I suppose the best is to use “Mire et 1000 Hz PAL” (in French) in Video Generators right?

[Oliver Jones]

Thanks for the help.

Do you know how big the difference will be between a transfer to miniDV and a transfer to Beta SP?

[Oliver Jones]

Indeed, I’ll do that.

Thanks for the help guys.

I’ll be back…

[Oliver Jones]

The film is finished and was shot in DVCAM PAL.