Final Cut Express shuts down when I try to log and capture AVCHD files

Question

Final Cut Express shuts down when I try to log and capture AVCHD files

I used to be able to log and capture video from my Canon HFS10 without any troubles. Over the past several days, though, I've tried everything I can think of and every time I open the log and capture screen with my Canon plugged in, or if I plug in my Canon with the log and capture screen open, Final Cut Express just shuts down completely.

The only likely suspect I can think of is Snow Leopard -- since I never had such problems before upgrading to Snow Leopard. (I didn't immediately make that connection because I didn't do anything with Final Cut Express for a couple of weeks after upgrading.)

Mac Book Pro 2GHz Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.6.1), 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Posted on Sep 22, 2009 12:17 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,980 points

Sep 22, 2009 12:50 PM in response to Nathan Andersen

Did you do a clean erase and install of the new OS, or did you do an update? That usually does work well for pro apps.

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Answer 2

Sep 22, 2009 12:53 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I did an update. Are you suggesting a clean installation?

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,980 points

Sep 22, 2009 1:08 PM in response to Nathan Andersen

The OS really needs to be reinstalled. To do this you should back up your drive by cloning, then erase the drive, install the new OS, then install the applications, and use Migration Assistant to move your documents back to the new OS.

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Answer 4

Sep 22, 2009 1:10 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Okay, will do. I'll report here afterwards.

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Answer 5

Sep 22, 2009 6:03 PM in response to Nathan Andersen

I just finished a clean install of Snow Leopard, and FCE still shuts down when I try to log and capture files from my Canon Vixia HFS10.

Any other ideas?

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Answer 6

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,980 points

Sep 22, 2009 8:07 PM in response to Nathan Andersen

You keep saying log and capture. What is exactly that you're doing? You are using log and transfer, right? You may have a hardware problem. How are you connecting the camera to the computer? Anything else connected to the computer?

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Answer 7

Sep 22, 2009 8:50 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

You're right, Tom, it's "Log and Transfer".

So

1. I open up FCE; my easy setup is for "AVCHD-Apple Int. Codec 1920x1080i60"

2. I open the "Log and Transfer" window. Then I connect my Canon Vixia HFS10 to the laptop and set it for PC Connection - it connects via USB 2.0 (it also needs to be plugged into the wall for the USB connection to work). (I also tried connecting the Canon first before opening FCE and the log and transfer window - the same results occur).

3. I wait for a little while -- it used to be that after about a minute the window would refresh and all of a sudden start showing all of the available video files. Now, as soon as FCE seems to "register" that the Canon is open and ready to transfer files, the log and transfer window closes and FCE shuts down completely. No video thumbnails show up as available, it just shuts down immediately. (Sometimes I have to wait a while for it to "register" the presence of the camera and shut down. I find that if, from the "Log and Transfer" window I click on the "gear wheel" and then "Add Custom Path" and then manually find the folder where my .mts files are located, immediately when I select that folder the whole program will shut down.)

4. I usually have an external drive attached that I use as a scratch disk. But, just to be sure that wasn't the problem I ejected my external hd and put my scratch disk on my main hard drive. Same thing happens.

I've tried every setting adjustment I can think of; I did a clean install of Snow Leopard, and then imported all of my old files and preferences using Migration Assistant; I've "trashed my FCE preferences". I don't have Rosetta installed, but I don't think that's necessary for FCE. I saw on Apple's support site that sometime back people were having a similar problem if they had Perian installed, so I uninstalled Perian, but I'm still having the problem.

Help?!!!!

Message was edited by: nate.andersen

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Answer 8

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,561 points

Sep 22, 2009 9:37 PM in response to Nathan Andersen

Hi -
Suggestion -
Connect your camera to your computer, then before opening the Log and Transfer window go to the menu
View>External Video>Refresh A/V Devices
then open the Log and Transfer WIndow.

Hope this helps.

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Answer 9

Sep 22, 2009 9:48 PM in response to Meg The Dog

No dice. I tried that, and the same thing happened. Shut down, crash and burn. Thanks, Tom and Meg, but so far no luck. Any other ideas?

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Answer 10

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,980 points

Sep 23, 2009 1:17 AM in response to Nathan Andersen

Take your computer to an Apple store or service technician. It sounds like a hardware problem.

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Answer 11

Sep 23, 2009 5:10 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Hi Tom -

I don't know - it was working just fine prior to installing Snow Leopard, which makes me think there's some kind of software conflict going on. But if no one else is facing the same issue, then it's probably not something that anyone on this forum can help resolve, and may require some kind of systematic diagnostics. That's unfortunate, since that means more cash....thanks anyhow.

Nate

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Answer 12

bobbyco57

Level 4

1,768 points

Sep 23, 2009 12:34 PM in response to Nathan Andersen

Since you have an HF s10 am I correct that you have both internal memory and an SDHC card slot for the camera? Have you tried recording to both, then try import with Log and Transfer?

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Answer 13

Sep 23, 2009 2:36 PM in response to bobbyco57

Yes. I've got both, and I've recorded on both. When I plug in the camera, they both show up as little separate hard drive icons on my desktop. When I open the "log and transfer" window with them plugged in, it will shut down. I've also tried deleting all the files on both and then recording just one video file to just one and it still shuts down.

When it used to work, all the files from both drives would show up automatically in the log and transfer window and I could select and upload whichever ones I chose.

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Answer 14

bobbyco57

Level 4

1,768 points

Sep 23, 2009 2:59 PM in response to Nathan Andersen

Using the camera, reformat (Initialize) the SDHC card and memory (if that's an option), shoot new video and try Log and Transfer again.

Note that if you have clips currently in the camera memory on on the SDHC card you should use Disk Utility first to back up those file. For the step above, use the camera to re Initialize though, not Disk Utility.

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Answer 15

Sep 24, 2009 10:46 AM in response to bobbyco57

No luck, bobbyco57. I did a thorough initialization of both the care and the onboard memory, then I recorded a very short clip, plugged in the camera, opened FCE, then the log and transfer window and it immediately shut down. While I don't think it's "hardware" per se, I'm beginning to think this problem is unique to my set up. I think the next thing I may try is uninstalling and reinstalling FCE. If that doesn't work, I'll probably have someone look at the computer.

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