Please help! 100A/30P/FCP4 sync problem

nedcam

nedcam

Well-known member
I have a mysterious tech problem. I recorded on my Panasonic 100A, in 30P, in NDF, digitized into FCP4 on my G4, and when I playback to record on the DSR 20 DVCAM deck, either in Edit to Video or from the time line, I lose sync after awhile on this 39 min. clip. I have tried every possible combination of time code setting, changed decks, cables, etc. I figure it must be a 30P issue.

I have gone through every setting I could find that was relevant. It is probably something very simple but I am a cameraman learning to edit. If you have the answer I would greatly appreciate it. This is my first 30P experience and I just digitized it normally. I notice the footage is DF in FCP but was recorded NDF on location.

Thanks in advance!

Ned Miller
www.nedmiller.com
 
Ned --

Capturing more than about 20 continuous minutes at a time on FCP is NOT recommended. The problem? Sync issues with audio drift.

Try splitting tapes up into at least three 20 minute segments. I usually do four at 15 minutes. You can always abut 2 clips with frame accuracy if you split up a shot in the middle. I think that might solve your problem.
 
What if project is longer than 15 minutes?

What if project is longer than 15 minutes?

Thanks for your reply, I will try exporting in 15 min. sections. But...what do I do with a project that is longer than 15 minutes? How would I make a master? I believe I have done several thirty minutes projects that stayed in sync. I will have to ask the freelance editors who did them for me.

Regards,

Ned
 
Ned - I think we have a miscommunication. I was under the impression that you CAPTURED a clip from a tape that was quite long. You said you had a 39 minute "clip". That made me think you imported something from a tape that was 39 minutes long without breaking it up into smaller sections when you captured.

Is that the case? If so, Try capturing smaller segments.

When printing to tape, you should have no problem printing a SEQUENCE that is as long as the tape you're going to. You don't print clips to tape though - only entire sequences (also called timelines) that contain various clips that make up your project.

What are the settings of your sequence? You'll find them in SEQUENCE > SETTINGS. Even though you're working with 30i NDF footage, you need to be at 29.97fps in Final Cut. Are you? That might actually be the issue. If you're at 30fps, make a new sequence that's 29.97, select all the clips on the old timeline, copy them, and past them onto the new 29.97 sequence. Try printing that one. It should fix your sync issues.
 
Thanks again for taking the time. I really meant "sequence", sorry. The settings are for 29.97. I have consulted with 3 of the best editors I know and they all made me check that. So are you saying that even though it was 30P in NDF mode it should seamlesly go into FCP4 and then print out in perfect sync? The problem occured when dubbing to the 100A as well as the DSR 20, so I know it's not a deck issue, I think. I made sure the decks were set to DF.

Best regards,

Ned Miller
 
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