FCPX optimized media in FCP 7 - dropping frames

Question

FCPX optimized media in FCP 7 - dropping frames

Owing to FCPX being a bit ungainly (for me) in finding sections of media, and my not being as quick with it [yet] as I am with FCP7, I shut down a new project in FCPX, and tried to go at it in FCP7. I imported the media from the event folder, and started cutting away. Some footage came from a small Panasonic domestic camcorder (there's a reason!), and other footage is from the Panasonic HMC.

Both show 1920, but have different data rates. Both play fine in the sequence timeline.

Here's the rub:

When I cut between them, FCP7 gives a dropped frame message, or - if I switch off warnings - the image shudders when the playhead crosses the cut.

Any thoughts?

d

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1)

Posted on Feb 7, 2013 11:09 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,561 points

Feb 7, 2013 12:08 PM in response to David Goodall

Click on a source clip in the FCP browser to select and once it is selected type Command + 9 to see the item properties for the clip. Either report those properties or take a screen shot of the item properties and post that here.

Next, click anywhere on your timeline and type Command + 0 {zero} to see your sequence settings. Either report those sequence settings, or take a screen shot of the sequence settings and post that here.

MtD

Reply

Answer 2

Feb 9, 2013 7:34 AM in response to Meg The Dog

Hi Meg,

The HMC clip:

25fps, 1920x1080, H.264, 2.6MB/s, Square pixel, Upper dominant (progressive), Ignore Alpha, Normal Composite

The other clip:

Identical apart from data rate - 1.6MB/sec

The Sequence:

1920x1080; A.R. "HDTV 1080i (16:9); Square Pixel; Upper dominant; H.264 Compressor

Like I said, I imported the "optimized" FCPX files - I wonder whether that is it. I thought Apple ProRes was progressive. I'm babbling now.

Any thoughts?

Reply

Answer 3

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,561 points

Feb 9, 2013 9:14 AM in response to David Goodall

I am not familiar with FCP- X but the clip(s) you are editing (based on your report of the item properties) are in H.264 which is not a suitable codec to edit in FCP-7. It may "kind of" work, but it will usually lead to troubles such as the one you are having.

You need to convert the source files to ProRes and edit on a ProRes timeline.

MtD

Reply

Answer 4

Feb 9, 2013 9:46 AM in response to Meg The Dog

I'm an idiot:

There are 2 folders within FCPX Events: "Original Media" and "Transcoded Media" - which one did I import from?

Sorry for the hassle - and thanks for the help.

d

Reply