So if I have to use a firewire drive for my media, what can I do to stop dropping frames in multicut?
Use a RAID 0 FW 800 drive. It should provide a throughput around 70MB/s. Your FW400 drive is probably producing 30MB/s or less.
Is it an issue with Pro Res? If so, what is the best codec to use for clips that will be multiclipped?
It is an issue with what the hard drive system can provide and the computer can process. ProRes was intended as a lower resolution option to *Uncompressed HD formats*. It is more demanding (heavier bitrate demands on the hard drive) than HDV, AVCHD and the other mpeg based acquisition formats. People like ProRes because it moves them out of a Group of Pictures (GOP) codec to an all "i" frame one at the cost of increased hard drive space and a more demanding throughput.
'd like to get this problem solved as soon as possible and any help will be immensely appreciated.
Convert everything to DV and your drive may function ok.
Get a RAID 0 drive from a manufacturer who makes drive systems for video editing and connect it via FW800.
If you have a computer that allows for external cards, get an esata card and connect an esata RAID 0 device.
Have fun.
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