[Rob Forsythe]

With most higher-end Sony decks you must have the REMOTE switched to “DV” control (and/or the INPUT switched to DV) for the FW control to work.

[Rob Forsythe]

This list contains about everything to try to enable:
a. External Monitor VIDEO and AUDIO via FireWire
b. Viewing in the Canvas window on the computer screen
c. Being able to record on the external FW DV deck or camcorder..

Try things in this order until you find the “cure”:

1. Make sure you have View (Menu) > External Video> All Frames set.
(If the ALL FRAMES option is grayed-out… jump to step 6 below and continue.)
2. Make SURE your Canvas window (right window) in FCP is set to “Fit to Window”… AND that it has not been “pushed off” the edge of the computer screen.
3. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu (Box Icon with broken sides) is checked on Image or Image+Wireframe… NOT just Wireframe.
4. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu is checked on RGB… NOT just Alpha.
5. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Easy Setup… is set for DV-NTSC (or DV-PAL, if that’s where you are).
6. Some camcorders/decks work better under “FW (NTSC/PAL)” -or- “FW (NTSC/PAL) Basic” control (in the capture settings). Try either setting to see which works best for your device.
7. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Audio/Video Settings > A/V Devices (tab) > Mirror on Desktop > must be CHECKED. (If not, playing video will not appear in the Canvas.)
8. Make sure the “Log and Capture” Window is CLOSED and not just “hidden” behind other windows.
9. Turn off the power to the Camera/Deck/Converter Box, then turn it back ON.
10. Make sure the camera is in VTR mode… or the deck is in DV (DV, iLink, or FW) input.
11. On a Sony camcorder or deck, make sure the menu setting “A/V > DV Out” is set to OFF.
12. Re-check that your FW cable is well-connected at both ends (or try a new cable).
13. Important: Quit FCP, then Restart FCP.
14. Now again, make sure you have View > External Video > ALL FRAMES set…

If it still does not work. “Trash” the FCP Preferences on the Mac
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/trashing_fcp_prefs.html

“FCP Rescue” is a free Apple Script that will Trash the Preferences.
It will also restore your user settings afterwards.

Download:
https://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14729

>Then, start again at my “step 1” above.

[Rob Forsythe]

Alright, we’ll bring out the BIG GUNS…

This list contains about everything to try to enable:
a. External Monitor VIDEO and AUDIO via FireWire
b. Viewing in the Canvas window on the computer screen
c. Being able to record on the external FW DV deck or camcorder..

Try things in this order until you find the “cure”:

1. Make sure you have View (Menu) > External > All Frames set.
(If the ALL FRAMES option is grayed-out… jump to step 6 below and continue.)
2. Make SURE your Canvas window (right window) in FCP is set to “Fit to Window”… AND that it has not been “pushed off” the edge of the computer screen.
3. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu (Box Icon with broken sides) is checked on Image or Image+Wireframe… NOT just Wireframe.
4. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu is checked on RGB… NOT just Alpha.
5. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Easy Setup… is set for DV-NTSC (or DV-PAL, if that’s where you are).
6. Some camcorders/decks work better under “FW (NTSC/PAL)” -or- “FW (NTSC/PAL) Basic” control (in the capture settings). Try either setting to see which works best for your device.
7. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Audio/Video Settings > A/V Devices (tab) > Mirror on Desktop > must be CHECKED. (If not, playing video will not appear in the Canvas.)
8. Make sure the “Log and Capture” Window is CLOSED and not just “hidden” behind other windows.
9. Turn off the power to the Camera/Deck/Converter Box, then turn it back ON.
10. Make sure the camera is in VTR mode… or the deck is in DV (DV, iLink, or FW) input.
11. On a Sony camcorder or deck, make sure the menu setting “A/V > DV Out” is set to OFF.
12. Re-check that your FW cable is well-connected at both ends (or try a new cable).
13. Important: Quit FCP, then Restart FCP.
14. Now again, make sure you have View > External > ALL FRAMES set…

If it still does not work. “Trash” the FCP Preferences on the Mac
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/trashing_fcp_prefs.html

“FCP Rescue” is a free Apple Script that will Trash the Preferences.
It will also restore your user settings afterwards.

Download:
https://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14729

>Then, start again at my “step 1” above.

[Rob Forsythe]

Click “Fit to Window” that’s always the correct setting.
Also, make SURE that the window is not pushed OFF the screen to the top or right edge.

[Rob Forsythe]

[Matt Murray] “You can also copy your audio clips, paste them on new timeline under existing clips. “

I THINK you meant to say “…paste them to a new TRACK on the SAME timeline under the existing clips.”

And yes, this works but it gets a bit unwieldy if you need to make further edits.

[Rob Forsythe]

Audio Filters > Apple > AUPeakLimiter

Add it to the clip.
Double-click it back into the Viiewer Window.
Filters Tab > pre-gain > (adjust this setting up to the level you need.)

[Rob Forsythe]

This list contains about everything to try to enable:
a. External Monitor VIDEO and AUDIO via FireWire
b. Viewing in the Canvas window on the computer screen
c. Being able to record on the external FW DV deck or camcorder..

Try things in this order until you find the “cure”:

1. Make sure you have View (Menu) > External > All Frames set.
(If the ALL FRAMES option is grayed-out… jump to step 6 below and continue.)
2. Make SURE your Canvas window (right window) in FCP is set to “Fit to Window”… AND that it has not been “pushed off” the edge of the computer screen.
3. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu (Box Icon with broken sides) is checked on Image or Image+Wireframe… NOT just Wireframe.
4. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu is checked on RGB… NOT just Alpha.
5. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Easy Setup… is set for DV-NTSC (or DV-PAL, if that’s where you are).
6. Some camcorders/decks work better under “FW (NTSC/PAL)” -or- “FW (NTSC/PAL) Basic” control (in the capture settings). Try either setting to see which works best for your device.
7. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Audio/Video Settings > A/V Devices (tab) > Mirror on Desktop > must be CHECKED. (If not, playing video will not appear in the Canvas.)
8. Make sure the “Log and Capture” Window is CLOSED and not just “hidden” behind other windows.
9. Turn off the power to the Camera/Deck/Converter Box, then turn it back ON.
10. Make sure the camera is in VTR mode… or the deck is in DV (DV, iLink, or FW) input.
11. On a Sony camcorder or deck, make sure the menu setting “A/V > DV Out” is set to OFF.
12. Re-check that your FW cable is well-connected at both ends (or try a new cable).
13. Important: Quit FCP, then Restart FCP.
14. Now again, make sure you have View > External > ALL FRAMES set…

If it still does not work. “Trash” the FCP Preferences on the Mac
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/trashing_fcp_prefs.html

“FCP Rescue” is a free Apple Script that will Trash the Preferences.
It will also restore your user settings afterwards.

Download:
https://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14729

[Rob Forsythe]

[Ruby Gold] “Am I setting the level incorrectly?”
No.
[Ruby Gold] “Is there any drawback to just using the GL2’s auto audio level setting?”
There can be. Auto-level for interviews works pretty well, but its not very “musical” for recording concerts.
“Auto” is designed to keep everything the SAME full level at all times. BUT… many audio tracks are better if they maintain more DYNAMIC differences between the softer and louder passages.

What’s more, the auto-level in most camcorders keeps the levels very HIGH most of the time.
That’s likely why you think YOUR manual levels are “too low” in comparison.

And auto-level tends to really crank up any NOISE after any pauses in the “wanted” audio:
The person being interviewed is listening to a question and…
a. his/her breathing sounds and environmental noises begin to increase as the camera turns up the gain during the “pause”
b. when she/he begins to speak the first syllable is too hot and “jumps” back down to “normal” obtrusively.

So if auto-level WORKS for you (if you like it) then go ahead and use it.
But, for anything that that would benefit from DYNAMICS in the levels, carefully set and use manual.

[Rob Forsythe]

This list contains about everything to try to enable External Monitor VIDEO and AUDIO via FireWire, viewing in the Canvas window on the computer screen, and being able to record on the external FW device… carefully observe ALL steps.

Try things in this order until you find the “cure”:

1. Make sure you have View (Menu) > External > All Frames set.
(If the ALL FRAMES option is grayed-out… jump to step 6 below and continue.)
2. Make SURE your Canvas window (right window) in FCP is set to “Fit to Window”… AND that it has not been “pushed off” the edge of the computer screen.
3. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu (Box Icon with broken sides) is checked on Image or Image+Wireframe… NOT just Wireframe.
4. Make sure your CANVAS View Menu is checked on RGB… NOT just Alpha.
5. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Easy Setup… is set for DV-NTSC (or DV-PAL, if that’s where you are).
6. Some camcorders/decks work better under “FW (NTSC/PAL)” -or- “FW (NTSC/PAL) Basic” control (in the capture settings). Try either setting to see which works best for your device.
7. Make sure your Final Cut Pro (menu) > Audio/Video Settings > A/V Devices (tab) > Mirror on Desktop > must be CHECKED. (If not, playing video will not appear in the Canvas.)
8. Make sure the “Log and Capture” Window is CLOSED and not just “hidden” behind other windows.
9. Turn off the power to the Camera/Deck/Converter Box, then turn it back ON.
10. Make sure the camera is in VTR mode… or the deck is in DV (DV, iLink, or FW) input.
11. On a Sony camcorder or deck, make sure the menu setting “A/V > DV Out” is set to OFF.
12. Re-check that your FW cable is well-connected at both ends (or try a new cable).
13. Important: Quit FCP, then Restart FCP.
14. Now again, make sure you have View > External > ALL FRAMES set…

If it still does not work. “Trash” the FCP Preferences on the Mac
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/trashing_fcp_prefs.html

“FCP Rescue” is a free Apple Script that will Trash the Preferences.
It will also restore your user settings afterwards.

Download:
https://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14729

>Then, start again at my “step 1” above.