[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

[kevin c.] “But dubbing to the ZR45 is problem. the ZR45 just keeps recording live. Anything I’m missing? thanks.”

Recording “live” what?

A camcorder must be in the “VCR” (Playback) mode in order to record an external source.

If the ZR45 is recording “live” (video from its lens) then it is still in the “camcorder” mode.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

Plug camcorder into computer via FireWire.
Open FCP.
Open “Log and Capture” window.
Capture your clips.

If you need more basic FCP instruction, go to the following link and ask:

https://creativecalf.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_view_posts.cgi?forumid=8

The FCP manual is a great resource, too.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

There are lots of great mics out there.

Studio condensers are a good choice:

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/s=mics/search/detail/base_pid/273156/

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/R0DE-NT1A-Anniversary-Model-Microphone?sku=271593

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Neumann-U87-Ai-Shockmount-Set-Z-Microphone-with-Box?sku=271404&src=3WFRWXX

It all depends on your budget.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

[JeremyG] “Are you sure it’s an aiff? What sample and bit rate is the file?
“

I’d also say that this file is behaving like an mp3 (or other incompatible file-type) in FCP.

I’d convert the file in iTunes.
QT PRO works fine… but iTunes is also a simple ready process after the initial set-up presets:
iTunes > Preferences > Importing > AIFF> Custom > 48.000 kHz, 16 bit, Stereo >OK

Once these are set, you won’t have to set them again.

Put a CD in the Mac (or use a imported audio file that’s already on the HD), open it up in iTunes, click once on the track you need, and choose:
Advanced > Convert Selection to AIFF.

Works VERY fast and stores new 48 kHz file in the iTunes library. You can just “drag and drop” this new file (.aif) onto your open FCP Browser.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

2-cam shoot will be fine (that’s what it does best).

The limited CC will likely not be able to fully correct the plasma to match the studio lights, but it can be of some help (especially in combo with adjustin the plasma’s controls.)

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

There is a function in FCP that is often overlooked… and it can help with many audio and video “skipping”, “sticking” and “missing” problems.

You should “Mixdown” the Audio for playback before you dub out of FCP, or during the edit, if you have audio/video stuttering, drop-outs, sync-slippage, or freezes.

NOTE: Mixdown has even been demonstrated to help with slipping, skipping problems (or “missing” audio clips) for files being EXPORTED as QT (or similar) files out of FCP.

First, SELECT ALL of your audio tracks (highlight them) on the timeline, then:

Sequence Menu > Render Only > Mixdown.

You should see a dialog box telling you its rendering.

It might seem to make little sense that “Mixing down” even simple audio tracks will “fix” complex video “freezes” or random audio dropouts to tape or export, but it CAN.

NOTE: It does not matter of you only have one audio track, if there are random freezes during output, you should try the Mixdown.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

The video source you are currently recording can symultaneously be sent into the Ref. input on the record deck and the record deck will “lock” to it.

Reference is simply a constant video source (in most cases its “black” but it does not HAVE to be black) so you can choose use any video playback signal as a “sync reference.”

I do this frequently when I need to record an “odd” video source like a (ugh) VHS deck.

It may still “roll down” on the monitor, but it will allow a clean “edit” from a non-gen-locked source.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

They SHOULD play just fine, however…

An “available on every Mac” method is to use iTunes to resample CD and mp3 audio to 48 kHz.

QT PRO works fine… but iTunes is also a simple ready process after the initial set-up presets:
iTunes > Preferences > Importing > AIFF> Custom > 48.000 kHz, 16 bit, Stereo >OK

Once these are set, you won’t have to set them again.

Put a CD in the Mac (or use a imported audio file that’s already on the HD), open it up in iTunes, click once on the track you need, and choose:
Advanced > Convert Selection to AIFF.

Works VERY fast and stores new 48 kHz file in the iTunes library. You can just “drag and drop” this new file (.aif) onto your open FCP Browser.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

You can also feed the video source into the “Reference” input on the deck and it will lock to it.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

[35mmGuy] “ut here’s the bizzare thing, I’ve been cutting on FCP for a month now…how on earth did that setting suddenly get changed?????????
“

You likely hit a key combo with that window selected that zoomed the size.