FCP keeps crashing

F

filming

Active member
I am working with HD video in FCP and everytime I go somewhere on the timeline or playback the video FCP just crashes. What could be causing the problem?

This is the system profile

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac7,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B00


The clip is 1280x720 MPEG-4. Any suggestions why it keeps crashing?
 
My first guess is because its MPEG-4. MPEG-4 is not really an editing codec. Its fine as a finishing codec (web, HD-DVD, etc.), but not so much for editing. So Final Cut Pro just might be telling that its really unhappy you're trying to edit using that.

Since you have Final Cut Pro, you could open it with Quicktime Pro and then do a File Export into a different codec (or use Compressor for that matter). You might lose a bit of quality, but at least then FCP will be happier with it. Try using either the ProRes 422 or DVCProHD codecs, either ought to be okay.

Also, if you take in any other footage, not MPEG-4, does Final Cut Pro work ok? If it does, then I'd try converting the MPEG-4 file immediately. If it even crashes using other codecs then you might need to trash your preferences. If it is a preferences thing, after you trash them, Google, download, and install a program called FCP Rescue. It can be your best friend (but its only value is to preserve a clean set of preferences, so if yours are not working right now, you need to clean them first before using that program).

Hopefully one or the other there works for you. Good luck.

Cheers.
 
When I convert it do I have to re-edit the whole piece again?

Also, is 2GB of RAM ok or should I just get 4GB?
 
You won't need to re-edit as long as you convert the source clips exactly how they are. ie: length.

You could create a duplicate project and do a reconnect media with the new files just to be safe. If it messes anything up you still have the old project. But it shouldn't do anything.

I don't think your ram has anything to do with it?
 
I converted the video using quicktime pro to DVCPRO HD (720p60) 960 x 720

There is a difference in quality but it does not lag like the original when I open it in quicktime and drag the slider. Why is that?

I shot a 1 hr video of time lapse and put it on the time line. It crashed the first time but maybe because the clip was too long. I done it again and it did not crash. It plays fine and I can edit faster without waiting for anything to render or lagging on the time line.

I am trying to open compressor but I can't get the batch window to open so I can't convert anything.
 
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the reason Mpeg-4 would be laggy is because it is a long GOP codec instead of a frame by frame codec. There is terms for this but I'm not sure which is which, intra-frame/inter-frame. (I think?)

Also for curiosity? What is you storage? External HD? USB, FW400, FW800. We may be looking at a data transfer speed issue rather than a codec issue? Just throwin that out there.
 
I store it on HDD on the iMac. I have 120GB of storage. All other video footage that I edit work fine without crashing. The MPEG-4 codec gave me a lot of problems and just kept on crashing.

I just have one more question out of curiosity. On the time line I get a green bar sometimes or a grey bar. Both allow me to edit without rendering but what is the difference? Just curious.

Also, which is the best format to edit with. In premier pro uncompressed AVI is the best format. So what is the standard format for FCP?
 
There are so many questions in this thread since your first one I'm not sure where exactly to start this time out. But going back to the whole MPEG-4 issue, I don't think it is a computer issue, its an MPEG-4 issue. Its not meant to be an editing codec. It should playback okay in Quicktime Pro though, not sure exactly why you're having those issues persay.

It seems like you've got the video footage in a more friendly codec now, so I assume you're okay with the whole re-edit or not re-edit issue.

As for the timelapse you talk about, I would highly recommend not bringing it in (digitizing it) as a single 1 hr video (quicktime) clip. I believe most people use the rule of thumb of 5 mins max for any given quicktime file for editing in FCP. Its not a hard fast rule or anything, but just a way to help yourself. You just then have to sew the pieces back together on a timeline in FCP. Maybe a little more work, but if you're doing a complicated enough timeline/project it might be one of those little intangibles that makes life easier.

You should really invest in an external hard drive. If your iMac can do FW800 get a FW800 drive. Its way better performance. But if all you can do is a FW400 (because of the iMac) ports, then go with that. You really never want to store your media files on your boot drive. You're then asking a single drive to run final cut pro and access the media all at the same time. That's a big demand and as the complexity of your projects grow it might become too much. Also, if all you have is a 120GB, you're going to run out of space fast. The general rule of thumb is to never fill your hard drive up past 80% capacity. So in your case you always want to have about 20GB of free space on that drive. If you ever have less than that your hard drive is going to potentially start to see performance losses. So really, look into an external hard drive solution.

Grey bar means the footage is playing back in 100% real time with no compromises (full quality). The bright green bar means it is playing back in real time at a preview quality. It plays back the preview according to your RT pop-up menu setting. If that is set to high then it is playing back at a decent quality sure, but if it were rendered its likely going to be a bit better.

Okay, finally, "best format for FCP" doesn't really work. "Uncompressed AVI" for Adobe means "Uncompressed Codec." AVI is just a wrapper and is really meaningless. But do you need the Uncompressed codec for FCP? Not usually. With the latest FCP (6.x) most people will likely say use the ProRes codec because the quality is great and the file sizes small. But that still doesn't make it "the best." For that it depends on your setup, your raw footage, and your final output(s). "The best" choice will vary for you on each project (unless all you do is one type of project).

Cheers.
 
VaricamLife you have nailed it on the head.

What I am going to do from now on is anything I shoot, I will use compressor and convert it to DVCPRO then bring it into FCP. I don't know if that is the best way as I am looking to work with 24fps motion picture cameras and the RED one camera so I don't want to loose the feel and look if I convert it.

I tried to convert it to ProRes 422 but it said failed; codec missing :(


I do have an external HDD thats 500GB but the speed is 6MB per second and the iMac drive is more faster at handling the data rate. So, I don't know if I should use the external HDD.

As for the uncompressed codec, which would you say in your experience and other peoples, is the best to work with on FCP especially if you just shot on 24p film and want to keep the look without sacrificing anything in detail.


Once again, thank you for your help. You're a Saint ;)
 
I can chime in on this one also.
Usually for the most part you can never go up. meaning shooting DV then capturing Uncompressed isn't really going to benefit you, it won't hurt you either. You'll just end up with bigger file sizes and such.

You may want to reconsider capturing "everything" in DVCPro HD, I'm not sure if resolutions will vary with cameras and all that.

Are you going to be using footage that is from a "film" camera? As you said motion picture camera, not sure what you mean by that. Also, doesn't the RED camera have it's own editing format for FCP right now or use ProRes? (might be a question for Varicam) It sounds like you might have more issues with not being able to use ProRes?

Any who, about the External. If it is FW400 that should be fast enough for DVCPro HD. If it is FW800, then it is plenty fast. I can't say this from personal experience, but from reading on here, you should be fine. See, because you are have your footage on your system drive and running FCP off you system drive you might be just slowing you system drive right down to the speed of a slow external.

For your last question about uncompressed, I haven't worked with actual film before so someone else will have to jump in on that one.
 
Thanks for the reply man.

I will break it down as clear as possible;

1.
If someone brings me a footage in AVI format or MOV format , should I edit it in that format or should I use compressor and convert it to DVCPRO or PRO res 422 then edit it?

2.
Why does compressor say "codec not installed" when I try to convert with ProRes 422? How do I fix it?

3.
I was asking about the film camera for future filming. If I shot on a film camera or a progressive 24p camera that takes tapes. Do I just upload the footage straight away or use compressor to convert it like I just have? How do I setup FCP useing the right setting for different cameras? How would I know which settings and compression to use? Thats one part I am confused about, setting up FCP and giving the right settings so when you drop or upload the clips on the timeline FCP does not ask you to change settings. I dont want to use compressor and convert it everytime.

A complicated question but I am confused about that part.


Lastly here is my external HDD but its connected with a USB 6MB per second which I think is not fast enough. The only connection it has is through a USB.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Dig...xternal/dp/tech-data/B000WP0NM8/ref=de_a_smtd
 
1. NEVER try to edit off a USB drive (OK I admittedly do it @ times, but it is doomed, and I know it, so I don't complain :)

2. A Firewire 800/400 drive is the way to go. Both will work well with DVCPRO/DV/DVCPRO HD

3. Your MOV/AVI question actually makes a lot less sense than many people thinks...
Both "MOV" (Or quicktime, if you like) and "AVI" are NOT codecs, but extensions pointing towards container-decoders - which in their part can decompress a number of codecs. Which means that a ".mov" file can be for example:
mp4, uncompressed, h.264, HDV/mpeg-2, DVCPRO-HD, DV or whatever.

Same goes for avi...

So, if you get a "mov" and open it in QT-Pro, you can use the "get info" command to see which codec it's compressed with. When you see a codec you don't like, re-compress it with compressor. if it's an ok editing codec, you don't need to re-compress.

You can see this from whithin FCP as well.

As to your Prores question, which version of FCS do you have?

Gunleik
 
I second the thought on the USB HD gunleik

And more to add about the codec thing. If you film something on a camcorder, you won't have to worry about going to compressor with every clip. You make the choice of what codec you want, then you digitize off your tape to that codec and your ready to go. (not sure if that part was still confusing to you, but I though I would address it.)

As far as knowing what camera and what codec to use. That will just come with practice and getting to know what cameras shoot what. One way to help out with that is to just do research about what cameras are out now and just read up on the specs and stuff like that. I know that kind of stuff isn't for everyone, but in this industry you have to stay on top of what is new and shiny to stay competitive. IMO
 
FCP 6.0.2 works entirely fine with ProRes. So I'm not sure why you're getting any kind of Compressor issue. I might need more detail as to what exactly you're doing though. But you could also pop in the installer discs and just re-install and re-update Compressor, see if that helps at all.

As the others have mentioned, the data rate issue with your external is because its USB. Which is great for dumping your digital photographs and iTunes library onto. But it really serves no value in video editing. You definitely want to invest in a FireWire based hard drive as soon as you can. I like G-Raid (just google it), Western Digital, and/or Seagate solutions. I personally do not like Lacie (too many fried drives).

If someone gives you AVI footage, kick them where the sun doesn't shine and tell them they should have talked to you first. Any project you get into, you want to be there at the start and direct anyone that is going to be giving you footage. Make sure they give it to you that best suits you. Screw production, only post matters!

Whether you shoot 24p or shoot film and have it transfered to a DI, you should never need to use Compressor really. As mentioned, you need to do your homework beforehand and figure out how to natively get the material into FCP at 24fps. Sometimes its as simple as shooting 24pA and turning on the Advanced pulldown. Other times it might require getting access to a system with a Kona 3 card and a good VTR. Regardless, using Compressor should not be of your concern, doing your homework before the first frame of video is shot should be.
 
VaricamLife said:
Screw production, only post matters!
Click to expand...


!!! LOL !!!

Second all Varicams notes - as always! LOL

You'really NOT doing anyone - including yourself - any good taking up or even taking over - projects which haven't been planned for post.

The other side of that equation, is that You Will Have To be The Guru/Master Who Plans For Post.

Know your tools and your workflows, give good advices and screw them if they don't listen-

When someone tells you:
"But hey, I think that h.264 harddisk-cam looks really good, much better than DV!" And harddisks are the future and Sd is dead!!! And I can transfer them files fine into MovieMaker/Pinnacle or whatever"

Tell them to edit themselves. Give advices (if they are friends or paying) but NEVER sit down and try to solve the mess. You'll be stuck.

Cheers, and good luck!

Gunleik
 
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