[Ron Dawson]

Hey Jeff

I use MPEG Streamclip to transcode my DSLR h.264 footage to a format the I can edit in FCP. I use ProRes format. As long as I don’t enter any specific frame rate in MPEG streamclip, it’ll default to the clip’s natural frame rate of 23.976. My problem before was that I was specifically entering the frame rate 23.98. That was causing the problem in FCP.

Not sure how you use your footage, but you were calling it 1080i 24p. That’s kind of an oxymoron. Either it’s 1080p at 24 fps, or it’s 1080i. I don’t think that’s your problem per se, just pointing that out.

Are you able to use footage out of the HPX in its native format, or do you need to transcode it first? If the latter, whichever program you use, either leave the frame rate field blank, or specifically enter the exact frame rate of your footage, which in this case sounds like 23.976.

Hope that helps.

~ Ron

Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer Media

Creating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.

*** Dream Out Loud ***

[Ron Dawson]

Hi Arthur,

You wrote that the clips were transcoded properly “as far as you can tell.” What does that mean? Is there any chance they WERE transcoded at 23.98 instead of 23.976?

The other question is, does the audio drift get progressively worse, or is it exactly off by 2 frames all throughout?Lastly, is the clip out of synch when played in the Finder or in QuickTime? If so, then at least you know it’s a problem with the clip. If, as it was in my case, you only notice the synch issue within FCP, then you know it’s an issue with how FCP is interpreting the clip, and something needs to be changed with how you created it that will make FCP “happy.”

Good luck!

~ Ron

Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer Media

Creating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.

*** Dream Out Loud ***

[Ron Dawson]

Actually, on these two shorter clips (49 min and 21 min respectively) I still did notice the drift. It was obviously much more pronounced on the longer hour+ long clips.

I’ll take a look at the plugins you suggest.

Thx again.

Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer Media

Creating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.

*** Dream Out Loud ***

[Ron Dawson]

HALLELUJAH! EUREKA! LAND HO! Jeremy I could kiss you! No kidding. That did it! I re-encoded two of the problem clips and dialed them in specifically at 23.976 (whereas before I did it specifically at 23.98). Both clips when dragged and dropped into FCP play fine. These were both shorter clips so I’m going to re-transcode the very first problem clip which was over an hour. But, based on these two tests, I think I can officially call you my hero.

When I think about the other “23.98” clips I have that didn’t experience the problem, my guess is that when I created those with MPEG Streamclip, I left the frame rate box empty (which is what I normally used to do). So, the original h.264 files must have just defaulted to their actual 23.976 frame rates. Only recently did I start actually typing in 23.98 into the frame rate field in MPEG streamclip.

If I’m ever in Chi-town again, I owe you a drink! Thanks again.

Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer Media

Creating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.

*** Dream Out Loud ***

[Ron Dawson]

I’m way ahead of you Jeremy (well, maybe not that way ahead of you. 🙂 I am currently transcoding some clips at 23.976 that I originally transcoded at 23.98. We’ll see if the addresses the audio drift issue. It is a promising theory. If 23.98 is not the real frame rate that FCP recognizes (despite the fact it says 23.98 in the sequence settings, etc.), that could explain it. Especially since clips encoded at 29.97 work fine.

stay tuned…

Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer Media

Creating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.

*** Dream Out Loud ***

[Ron Dawson]

Thanks for the transcoding tip. Will definitely keep that in mind.

Anyhoo, it is embedded audio. Clip plays fine when played in QT or the Finder. Once imported into FCP and I play in the Viewer, I get the drift. Gets progressively worse as you get to the end of the file. The longer the file, the worse the drift gets. For one 3.5 hour file it’s as much as 22 frames.

Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer Media

Creating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.

*** Dream Out Loud ***

[Ron Dawson]

Hi Jeremy,

I transcoded the clip to 23.98. That’s what I’ve always done and have never experienced this. It’s the most baffling thing.

Here’s my latest update: I discovered that 29.97 footage does not drift when imported into FCP. I transcoded the original h.264 files (shot at the 1080 24 on the 7D) and this time transcoded them to 29.97, and the drifting does not occur. The downside is that I don’t want 29.97 footage, I want 23.98.

I would make the conclusion that 23.98 footage is the culprit, except that there are SOME 23.98 clips I have which are also fine (i.e. don’t drift). But, somehow the drifting seems tied to 23.98 footage shot after a certain date.

Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer Media

Creating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.

*** Dream Out Loud ***

[Ron Dawson]

Damon,

I don’t know if you solved your problem, but I have a similar baffling issue. I have 23.98 footage shot on both the 7D and T2i, transcoded to one long clip using MPEG Streamclip. When I play the transcoded clip in QT or in the Finder, it’s perfectly fine. When I drag and drop it into FCP, then play it in the Viewer, the audio drifts. This only happens with footage that is 23.98. I transcoded those original files to 29.97 (even though they were shot in 23.98) and the resulting file did NOT drift.

What’s weirder is that I have some other 23.98 files which also do NOT drift. Those are clips I created earlier in the year. I can’t find a consistent pattern. I’ve tried numerous clips and dozens of tests and can’t nail down a consistent source. The closest thing I can determine that it’s 23.98 footage created after a certain date.

I’ve posted on the Cow and a few other forums, and no one can figure it out. Your problem seems like the same issue I’m having. At least I’m not alone.

Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer Media

Creating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.

*** Dream Out Loud ***

[Ron Dawson]

The latest update is that I discovered that 29.97 footage does not drift when imported into FCP. I transcoded the original h.264 files (shot at 23.98) and this time transcoded them to 29.97, and the drifting does not occur. The downside is that I don’t want 29.97 footage, I want 23.98.

I would make the conclusion that 23.98 footage is the culprit, except that there are SOME 23.98 clips I have which are also fine. But, somehow the drifting seems tied to 23.98 footage. Is there some other kind of special FCP tech support out there. No one can figure this thing out. Is it just a quirky bug?

Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer Media

Creating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.

*** Dream Out Loud ***

[Ron Dawson]

It’s an economics issue Noah. The majority of projects I produce go to web 640×360. Maybe they’ll be played once at a corporate event on a computer from an HD QT file or a SD DVD. I do a lot of grading with Magci Bullet and by the time I add all the other filters, music, etc, the end product is great for the delivery and distribution purposes of my clients.

If I do a project that goes to broadcast, or some other kind of distribution channel that requires the quality of ProRes, I’ll do it. But, even at $100/TB (which is great), the amount of TB drives I’d have to purchase would add up quick.

FWIW, I will plan to start using ProRes LT and Proxy.

Anyway, the codec is not the reason for the audio drift I’m getting. I wish it would’ve been that simple.

Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer Media

Creating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.

*** Dream Out Loud ***