P2 Import to Final Cut Pro Problems

R

ryanmaneri

Member
Hi. I have been reading a lot on the forums about people's issues with P2 and FCP 5.0.4. .. I have a similar issue, and it is pretty urgent. I have been dealing with it since April and I even sent my camera in to Panasonic, but to no solution.

I am able to successfully record 720p24PN, and view it in my camera. I use a g4 powerbook version 10.4.6. I used to be on 10.3.9 and I was able to inconsistently import p2 clips, but I thought not being on Tiger was my problem so I upgraded to Tiger. I also reinstalled FCP when I upgraded my OS.

I have downloaded the p2 plug-in so that my computer recognizes and is able to read p2 cards and clips. Currently I am able bring my p2 card into my computer via the PC slot, and the computer recognizes it. FCP also recognizes is, when I go "import"..."Panasonic P2" the window comes up and the icons are there with timecode and everything.

When I press import or import all the error message "One or more P2 clips failed to import; probable incomplete or corrupt clips." But when I take out the p2 card (by ejecting it, then powering off, I am able to play all of the clips in the camera?!?!?)

This used to not be the case when I was on 10.3.9, I could actually import clips, but some would not appear (never figured out why).

Now I can't even import any clips.

I have been told to upgrade to FCP 5.1.1 but I can't get that without sending the discs in and I don't have the time to do all of that.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I really need some help on this one!!
I have tried everything possible.

Please help ASAP!!

Thanks.
 
"I have been told to upgrade to FCP 5.1.1 but I can't get that without sending the discs in and I don't have the time to do all of that. "

if thats your only option, then you should do that. Unless you really just dont have the discs, in that case, tsk tsk.
 
I've got the discs, but I need to be able to have a working solution for my shoot tomorrow. I can't go back and undo what I have done as far as upgrading OS. I just need to hav a solution by today. That's the problem.
 
Right now I am trying to use the option where I connect the camera to the g4 via 1394 cable. I've got the connection going, but I am stuck at this point. I am able to get the contents off of the p2 card and into my computer by drag and drop, but they are still MXF files and Final Cut can't recognize them. I tried the Import panasonic P2 from this setup and the same problem occurred, the files corrupt error came up again. Anyone help PLEASE?!?!?!
 
Verify that you're actually using 5.0.4. This situation would happen if you were using 5.0 and hadn't upgraded to 5.0.4 yet.
 
I hope you're right Barry. Thanks for helping me out. I am at the apple store right now, and when erased FCP 5.0.4 in order to install it fresh with the new Tiger OS, it looks like I did revert back to 5.0.1. So I am updating to the 5.0.4 right now and hopefully this will work. I tried everything just now on one of the Apple store computers that is in 5.1.1 and it worked just fine, so hopefully this will fix it. If not, I am potentially screwed because I can't seem to get 5.1.1 before tomorrow at the EARLIEST, that is if Apple online will overnight it. It would still be too late for my shoot tomorrow. Thanks for your help Barry, I hope this works.

Ryan
 
Good point.
What would be the best method to get the footage off the p2 cards but not in an editable form if I don't need it in an editable form by tomorrow?
 
Dump it to hard drives...

Dump it to hard drives...

Backup the lastclip.txt file and the contents folder. Don't discard anything. Start with that at the very least. Then get yourself at least pair of hard drives...

If you have a redundant raid system then you can just copy over to that and it will make a pair of copies of the files for you. You can just create folders and drag and drop as if transfering files from one hard drive (the P2 card) to another (your editing system hard drives). You can automate this process w/ P2 Genie (just google it). There are both PC and Mac version for it. Its quite handy for that kind of purpose and very affordable.

Additionally, you can just have two hard drives (say one internal and one external) and back up to both of them (so you have a redundant system of some sort). This is a great time to break out P2 Genie as to my understanding it can backup to both hard drives at the same time in that type of setup.

FCP can later import the 'Cards' (folders) by simply having to manually select the volumes when you use the import function (normally it would scan and find the materials on the cards itself, but now you'll just have to tell it where it is).
 
It looks like Barry's advice worked!!
I didn't realize the FCP reverted back to 5.0.1 when I installed it new now that I have Tiger.
It all seems to be working well now that I have 5.0.4. Does anyone have any reason why I should be upgrading or "cross-grading" as they call it at apple to 5.1.1? Is this a waste of money?

Also, Cynic821, would you let me know how to do what you had suggested just in case I need to do that in an emergency?

Thanks everyone for the help!
See you at HVX Bootcamp Barry.
Ryan Maneri
 
See Apple's documentation...

See Apple's documentation...

From Apple themselves:

Final Cut Pro 5.1.1 resolves an issue in using the Import Panasonic P2 feature with
720p/24PN footage resulting in duplicate frames in rendered sequences.
Click to expand...

and:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303950

Beyond that just Google or search this forum. Plenty of people seemed to be happier w/ their P2 footage after upgrading. However, there have been some around here that have said they've had absolutely no problems w/ P2 and 5.0.4. So you can take the risk and hope you can be part of that list.

cheers.
 
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