View Full Version : the dreaded incomplete or corrupt clip issue


Scott Auerbach
September 9th, 2006, 04:49 PM
Well, despite doing everything right (as far as I can tell), I've got two clips* from yesterday's shoot that refuse to import, and generate the FCP 'incomplete or corrupt' error. All the other files on the card (admittedly from a different shoot, the night before, at DVCPro50/60i) import just fine. *edit: (see below... I have a bigger problem than just two clips..)

Specs: shot at 1080i/60.
Scene settings were completely factory default F1 HD Norm settings.
Files generate an error whether imported directly from HVX or from a copy of the contents folder on the Mac.
FCP 5.0.1
Lastclip.txt file is there in the folder.
Files play back fine in-camera.
No warning icon on in-camera thumbnail.
In-camera Properties screen confirms them as 1080i/59.94, doesn't show anything unusual.
Attempt to use Repair Clip function in-camera yielded a "cannot repair" message.
Camera appeared to be functioning perfectly, had a fully charged battery, etc.
Camera/card had not been connected to a computer or even powered up between the time the shots were created (yesterday) and my attempt to import them today.
Camera conencted to mac via reliable FW cable, in 1394 Device mode. Camera was connected to the mac before powered-up for file transfer.


I just tried shooting another shot, just to see if it was some odd temporary condition at power-up yesterday, but I'm having the same problem with today's clip.

As a further test, I popped the card with the shots from the last 3 days, and shot a new clip on another card. Same error message. So it's not just the card. Next, I tried a shot at 720/60p. Same error message.

This is beginning to look really bad. Anyone have any clues?

Barry Green
September 9th, 2006, 05:05 PM
FCP 5.0.1 won't import any high-def clips, you have to be using at least 5.0.4, and preferably 5.1.1. 5.0 (prior to 5.0.4) only supports standard-def P2 clips.

If the files play back fine in camera, then the problem is FCP's, not the footage. We ran into this on a recent gig, FCP refused to import clips, but EDIUS imports 'em, Avid imports 'em, P2 Viewer imports 'em, and P2 Log imports 'em just fine. Because it was an all-Mac shoot we used P2 Log to get around the FCP limitation.

Scott Auerbach
September 9th, 2006, 07:09 PM
FCP 5.0.1 won't import any high-def clips, you have to be using at least 5.0.4, and preferably 5.1.1. 5.0 (prior to 5.0.4) only supports standard-def P2 clips.

If the files play back fine in camera, then the problem is FCP's, not the footage. We ran into this on a recent gig, FCP refused to import clips, but EDIUS imports 'em, Avid imports 'em, P2 Viewer imports 'em, and P2 Log imports 'em just fine. Because it was an all-Mac shoot we used P2 Log to get around the FCP limitation.

THANKS!
This isn't my FCP system, and I thought FCP5 did all the non-PAL formats. I'd just finished testing further, and found that it was importing SD test shots, so I was beginning to suspect the software or its install.