Before I purchased the c100 I was editing in FCX without too many problems. Now that I have footage from the c100 my system is constantly getting bogged down and crashing. Has anyone else experienced this? I am running a Mac Mini with 16gb memory. I do not seem to have this issue with Premiere so I am thinking it is a FCX problem. Any suggestions?
C100: FCX importing and ediiting
- Thread starter Carroll B
- Start date
Andrius Simutis
Veteran
External drives getting full? Slow connection to those drives?
Nate Haustein
Well-known member
What is your import process? How do you get the footage from the cards into FCPX?
Nate Haustein
Well-known member
Are you pulling the entire private folder from the card, or are you using another application to transcode to mov before import?
ddixon
Well-known member
I have the Canon XF100 (shoots same codec). When I import, FCPX will not let me transcode to prores. Apple has decided that these mpeg2 files in an mxf wrapper can be edited natively on FCPX, so the option to transcode is grayed out and you must go native 
I think it would work much better if we could use prores, especially if you have a lower powered Mac or lesser video card or an older Mac with slower RAM bus like my 2008 MacPro. So, how old is your Mini? 7200 rpm drive? internal or external drive being used for Events and Projects? When you import can you transcode to prores? If you are not able to use prores, I don't know of a good app to convert it - things like MPEG Streamclip and Clipwrap will not.
Now I almost never get crashes, just spinning beach balls. If you are getting crashes, have you done the usual steps of deleting prefs, and if that doesn't help, reinstalling FCPX?
I just keep any Events and Projects hidden that I can, either manually or with Event Manager X. I finally hit upon the perfect solution - just yesterday ordered the fastest i7 iMac with fusion drive and an external Thunderbolt 4-bay drive box
I think it would work much better if we could use prores, especially if you have a lower powered Mac or lesser video card or an older Mac with slower RAM bus like my 2008 MacPro. So, how old is your Mini? 7200 rpm drive? internal or external drive being used for Events and Projects? When you import can you transcode to prores? If you are not able to use prores, I don't know of a good app to convert it - things like MPEG Streamclip and Clipwrap will not.
Now I almost never get crashes, just spinning beach balls. If you are getting crashes, have you done the usual steps of deleting prefs, and if that doesn't help, reinstalling FCPX?
I just keep any Events and Projects hidden that I can, either manually or with Event Manager X. I finally hit upon the perfect solution - just yesterday ordered the fastest i7 iMac with fusion drive and an external Thunderbolt 4-bay drive box
MattDavis
Well-known member
@Carroll - try this:
1) With FCPX open, insert card into computer via adaptor of choice (see note below).
2) Cmd-I to import, note that the card will appear after a bit of spinning of the spinny thing - if you've got hundreds of clips, it can take the time to make a proper cup of coffee or pot of tea, and then some.
3) Import your clips as per usual, NOT using the 'transcode' option (we'll do that later) just importing the AVCHD. Then...
4) WAIT until everything has finished - everything. Wait until every clip doesn't have a little circle in it in the event viewer. Don't move onto 5 until everything's done.
5) Select all your clips, and then follow the many tutorials available online that demonstrate how you switch your inspector window to Settings View (bottom left pop-up), select all your C100 event clips, then switch the 'Field Dominance Overide' pop-up to 'Progressive'. If you do this before the whole import thing is finished, it won't 'stick' or even work as advertised. Just be patient and do it at the end.
6) When everything's done, and you're under way with your edit, find the end of your natural day, then select all your (still AVCHD) clips, control-click them and select 'Transcode Media' from the pop-up. It's not 100% necessary with every job, in fact most jobs don't warrant it, but if your machine is a little old or a little stressed, it will help. In fact, if you have the time and the space, just do it anyway - life is easier.
I've found a sweet spot with this workflow. I love FCPX, I love C100, C100 loves me, FCPX loves me, FCPX and C100 hated each other and we're at Decree Nisi, so hopefully Apple or Canon will pull their finger out and sort out this silly 'Malignant PSF' issue out, and whilst doing it, find out why the FCPX Import Spinny Thing spins for ages with Canon AVCHD, whilst Sony AVCHD is pretty much instant.
NOTA BENE: I don't have an SDHC slot on my MacBook Pro, but I do have a PCI-Express slot. I have SDHC to PCI-E adaptors because I own EX1s. I've never had a problem with the MxM and MxR SDHC to PCI-E adaptors. I did buy a Caldigit USB3 PCI-E adaptor, which has been great, and a Transcend USB3 SDHC adaptor (well, does lots of other card types), which has been crap. Seriously, dangerously crap. I should rewire it with a hammer.
So, take it as a given that FCPX will import C100 AVCHD happily, but it may take a wait whilst FCPX analyses the directory structure. Once under way, it's one of the quickest imports. You will need to fix the PSF interpretation for PAL stuff at least. I, and a few others, have been having issues with ClipWrap - I am not using it at the moment, as a few clipwrapped clips go 'bad' in FCPX in my experience.
Oh yes, and if you earn money by editing in FCPX, the Digital Rebellion toolset is a must-have IMHO.
1) With FCPX open, insert card into computer via adaptor of choice (see note below).
2) Cmd-I to import, note that the card will appear after a bit of spinning of the spinny thing - if you've got hundreds of clips, it can take the time to make a proper cup of coffee or pot of tea, and then some.
3) Import your clips as per usual, NOT using the 'transcode' option (we'll do that later) just importing the AVCHD. Then...
4) WAIT until everything has finished - everything. Wait until every clip doesn't have a little circle in it in the event viewer. Don't move onto 5 until everything's done.
5) Select all your clips, and then follow the many tutorials available online that demonstrate how you switch your inspector window to Settings View (bottom left pop-up), select all your C100 event clips, then switch the 'Field Dominance Overide' pop-up to 'Progressive'. If you do this before the whole import thing is finished, it won't 'stick' or even work as advertised. Just be patient and do it at the end.
6) When everything's done, and you're under way with your edit, find the end of your natural day, then select all your (still AVCHD) clips, control-click them and select 'Transcode Media' from the pop-up. It's not 100% necessary with every job, in fact most jobs don't warrant it, but if your machine is a little old or a little stressed, it will help. In fact, if you have the time and the space, just do it anyway - life is easier.
I've found a sweet spot with this workflow. I love FCPX, I love C100, C100 loves me, FCPX loves me, FCPX and C100 hated each other and we're at Decree Nisi, so hopefully Apple or Canon will pull their finger out and sort out this silly 'Malignant PSF' issue out, and whilst doing it, find out why the FCPX Import Spinny Thing spins for ages with Canon AVCHD, whilst Sony AVCHD is pretty much instant.
NOTA BENE: I don't have an SDHC slot on my MacBook Pro, but I do have a PCI-Express slot. I have SDHC to PCI-E adaptors because I own EX1s. I've never had a problem with the MxM and MxR SDHC to PCI-E adaptors. I did buy a Caldigit USB3 PCI-E adaptor, which has been great, and a Transcend USB3 SDHC adaptor (well, does lots of other card types), which has been crap. Seriously, dangerously crap. I should rewire it with a hammer.
So, take it as a given that FCPX will import C100 AVCHD happily, but it may take a wait whilst FCPX analyses the directory structure. Once under way, it's one of the quickest imports. You will need to fix the PSF interpretation for PAL stuff at least. I, and a few others, have been having issues with ClipWrap - I am not using it at the moment, as a few clipwrapped clips go 'bad' in FCPX in my experience.
Oh yes, and if you earn money by editing in FCPX, the Digital Rebellion toolset is a must-have IMHO.
Mr. Davis, Thanks for taking the time to post your workflow. I believe this is a FCPX issue as I can import and edit in Premier with few problems. My problem is I learned FCPX and I really do not want to bounce back and forth between two pieces of software. I am photographing a Beauty Pageant tomorrow night and I might grab a few frames of video to tryout your workflow. I have not heard of the Digital Rebellion toolset, I will do some research.. Thanks again for the input.
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