Thaxter Clavemarlton
Forum Replies Created
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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.
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Sorry, but there is no entry-level unit that will “clean up” the quality of home video tape to “broadcast quality” level.
The footage you have now will look the same after it is put into the computer.
Unless noisey, low-resolution images are what you WANT (and sometimes, “for effect” you do),
the music video will not look “clean” if your source tapes are not.One-chip camcorders and analog tapes are not even “close” to the same quality of 3-chip digital units.
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It is essential when attempting to monitor the QUALITY of images in FCP that you use an external NTSC VIDEO Monitor (or PAL, if that’s where you are).
Especially after you render…
the Canvas is never high-quality (by design) and should not be used to make determinations of image quality of clips or graphics.VERY IMPORTANT:
If you position the graphics, make SURE the VERTICAL setting for each KEY-FRAME (start, stop or hold) is always a EVEN INTEGER. (examples: 4, not 3 / -144, not -143.27 / 336, not 335.62)
I sometimes forget to check this and I can end up with images that look fuzzy when in-position.
This info applies to re-positioning ANYTHING on the Timeline: moving video, freeze-frames, internally-generated titles, and imported graphics.
It can be quite detrimental to the quality of your final output to not double-check this every time you reposition and/or re-size an image.
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Take a digital photo of a viewfinder you like (or modify it in Photoshop) and effect the image over it.
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[fonetikfilms] ” I am unable to start the camera recording from VCR mode.”
Does the camcorder not HAVE a record button?
If it DOES, you must hold it down along with the PLAY BUTTON (or the “extra” record safety button… usually right next to the record button).Some camcorders do not HAVE a record button in the VCR mode but DO have on the Remote Control for that model (Remotes can be purchased separately).
One more thing…
Does the TAPE have the “record lockout tab” pushed OPEN? (That won ‘t allow recording on that tape.) -
Could be a serious problem, or it could be a simple as a head-clog.
Buy a head-cleaner cassette and play it for ONLY 10 seconds and then change to a standard tape and try a record and playback to see if the cleaner cleared the problem.
If not (after two tries) you need to get the camera to a pro repair shop.
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[eyecamiam] “could anyone recommend a firewire hub that would work well with multiple computers?”
What do you mean by “multiple computers?”
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There is (obviously) a 10 dB difference in recording level (sensitivity) between the two settings.
You must simply TRY your mic under actual conditions.
If the level is too low at the -50 dB setting, set the camcorder to -60 dB (and vise versa).
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I’s sure what David meant by “render” is more properly called “mixdown.”
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.
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In the FCP “Video Generators” > “Render” > “Noise”.
This “Noise” generator looks like old-time TV “static” you’d see on “empty” channels.
Mix it in (’til it looks right) with your clips and render it.
“Zap!”