dropping frames the saga continues

[Phildoh]

I've been working on some programmes (1 hour plus) and when recording to tape I've been dropping frames-always at the exact same point in the edit. Can dropped frames be caused by something specific in the edit at that point e.g a corrupted file, a certain effect, dissolve etc. ?
As a work around (thanks Jerry) I've exported the sequence as a movie, re-imported it and then recorded it to tape. Solves the dropped frames but creates a separate, unrelated problem-I've deterioration in audio quality. Does anyone know what may be causing this?

[Josh]

What is at that point? Have you applied filters to that clip?

My first instinct would be to delete all render files, then let FCP generate fresh render files overnight for your project.

If that didn't work I would remove the clip at the point causing the problem and see if that works. If so, recapture that one clip from tape.

[Phildoh]

Thanks for your response. I'm still trying to find out why it is happening so frequently (never had a problem with FCP3) just since the upgrade and what I can do to stop it. At the moment I'm in a very time-consuming loop of recording to tape-aborting-trial and error fixing-recording to tape-aborting-trial and error fixing, etc, etc. On an hour long edit this is , as you can imagine, very frustating.

[Patrick Mac]

Could be a bad spot on the tape itself. Can you slow mo through that portion of the tape to see if timecode drops out for a frame?

Patrick Mac

[Josh]

Delete all render files, then let FCP generate fresh render files overnight for your project.

That should be a lot faster then the trial and error method- and I predict 75% chance of success...

[Phildoh]

I'll try that however I would like to eradicate dropped frames altogether maybe by upgrading my system (currently FCP4 and G4 1gig Powerbook) to make it more robsust (and more professional in my clients eyes). Would Cinewave help (not actually sure what it is)

[Patrick Mac]

I assume that you are using your camera (DV?) as the playback deck as well, and use a firewire configuration. I don't know that CineWave would be any more stable than what you're using, as CineWave is really best suited for controlling an external deck and allowing a number of different input/output types (composite, component, S, etc) through what's known as a break-out box or "BOB". CineWave has it's own issues just as any computer platform editing system. (If you think AVID is so great, check out some of the problems their users are encountering on discussion forums!). Personally, I use CineWave to control BetaSP decks.

If indeed your are using your camera as your playback platform, I'd first invest in a separate stand-alone DV deck to play your field footage as well as for final printing to tape. The circuitry in a deck is going to be more sophiticated (and stable) than your camera, plus you'll save wear and tear on the camera heads and pich roller. You should also be using an APC battery back-up to condition the input voltage on your devices....who knows what fluctuations may be coming in through your wall sockets.

Good luck
Patrick Mac

[Twofer]

Another thing could be using a laptop. I know that the powerbook G4 is probably the best laptop on the market, but it is still a laptop. I never ever had any luck trying to capture or edit with any laptop ever, and I have since sworn them off, I hate them, especially when it comes to video editing. The only thing they are good for is for business people that don't need any major processing power whatsoever, like Power Point presentations, or showing a Quicktime movie of a project that is being worked on. I don't mean to disrespect your setup, but I'm just speaking from personal experiences from working on laptops, and every thing I tried working on either crashed, or dropped a unreasonable amount of frames. When it comes to video editing, I strongly recommend a G4 or G5 tower over a laptop anyday.

Chris

[Patrick Mac]

I couldn't agree more.

P

[Phildoh]

Thanks for the responses

Using dsr decks by the way (I hire them in so not always the same deck)

RE: laptop. never let be down ever when using FCP3 on comparatively complicated projects but I think it's time to buy a G5 Tower.

I have a 667 G4 powerbook and a dual 1.25 MDD with 1.75gigs of ram. I stopped working with final cut on my laptop because the internal drive only spins at 4200 rpm which is very slow compared to a 7200 rpm ide. As a work around, I ordered a 60g 5400 drive from OWC which did help, plus I run lacie external drives in series. With that said, there are limits on how much data is getting in and out of your system and perhaps the problem occurs at a point where your ram is cached out.

Dixon

In response to Patrick Mac Cinewave is not responsible for deck control. That is done through serial controllers like Gee Three Stealth or Keyspan. Cinewave is a capture card that allows for input/output of various formats ie Component, Composite, S-video pus audio using a B.O.B. or breakout box. The same as other cards like AJA or Kona (they don't utilize a BOB) but Cinewave offers realtime playback that others may not. Especially with uncompressed Component. Cinewave is one of the leaders in regard to hardware support with FCP. And dropped frames will continue until processors are even faster or hardware support like Cinewave is improved. With the G5s, the capture cards like Cinewave are becoming the weak link. Slower than the processors. But there are many issues. Just visit
www.pinnyclesys.com They have all the know problems with regards to Cinewave and FCP on their site. I do agree with others in that try to configure a system with the biggest and fastest possible. Laptops are good for quick field edits but should not be used as a primary post tool. Same with using a camera as one's primary source for delivering or recording material to and from FCP. Get a deck! In simple terms, you should be as serious about your equipment as you are about your business and work.

bvick was here!
kzoo michigan

[Patrick Mac]

I stand corrected on the machine control issue, thanks. For what's worth, the Gee Three Stealth never worked for me; had all kinds of problems until I swapped it for a Keyspan...no problems since.

Patric Mac