Sorry Ted no explosions. Just live concert audio. Complete main is selected and I set Dianorm to -31 following a tutorial over on Ken Stones site when I was researching this problem. Thanks

well the downgrading did not go exacly smoothly... lot of files wont open anymore, I have lost my quiktime pro and safari had to be installed again and the recent problems I am having with fcp are probably also related.
I have no idea what I am supposed to do with the file called "previous system"
greetings

I think the problems I am having with fcp are quiktime related... When I open it and want to look at the registration nothing happens, there is no box were formely I could enter the pro-key. I have to versions of installer on my computer all of sudden. 1.3 and 1.4 (the last one does not work)

help

Vegas Vs. Final Cut Pro
 

Hi folks, I've been a PC user for long time, and use Vegas 4.0 which I really like, but I frequently see reviewers start with the preface - "Of course, Final Cut Pro is the standard for NLE.

So....pardon this question, but what is the difference between Vegas 4.0 and Final Cut Pro?

I really appreciate your knowledge, as I clearly have none.

Thanks,
Milt Lee
Lee Productions

There are big, big difference between Vegas and FCP. If you use FCP Vegas will make no sense to you.

The workflow is completely different. You can try the demo for Premiere Pro, which is very similar to FCP. FCP can handle pro formats like SD/uncompressed, HD, etc. whereas other NLEs may not be able to do it or are expensive like Avid (in the past Avid cost a lot more than it does now). FCP has better media management and has some more useful editing tools like roll edit, which Vegas doesn't seem to have. Vegas gives much more performance for the dollar, has much better audio capabilities (but no OMF export), and some other differences. Vegas seems a lot more stable and doesn't have the "preparing video for display" crap.

FCP now comes bundled with Livetype(titler), Soundtrack (like Acid), Cinema Tools, etc.

2- FCP isn't really the standard for NLE except in some areas like movie trailer editing (and maybe in budget places where people buy the cheapest system available). Avid is really the industry standard in most areas. It shouldn't really matter though unless you need to online on a Avid or FCP system. Get the NLE that's right for you. Since you like Vegas you might as well stick with it unless there's something lacking.

Thanks, I really appreciate the honest appraisal!

I do like Vegas, and I especially like the audio capablities. At some point, I expect to be doing doc's that I want to show on Public Television, so I want to have something that I can output in a broadcast standard.

Thanks,
Milt Lee

Milt,
As a relatively long-time FCP user I concur with Glen's remarks. Although FCP is well on its way to becoming a mainstream professional editing tool on par with Avid, Avid has had many years of headstart and has a dedicated sales force permeating the film and broadcast industries.

I would only add this thought. Technical aspects aside (ex: format and functional limitations) the tool you use to edit your work means squat. Viewers of your work don't know and could not care less if they did. If you have become adept with Vegas, Premiere, iMovie, Bozo's Magic Editor, etc. and it serves your requirements use it and be happy. (Editorial comment) I think that far too many people devote far too much energy and expense toward their tools rather than their skills. From what I've seen Vegas, in particular, has matured to a very full-bodied editor leaving little to be desired.

Have fun!

If anyone was looking into this thread a burn and playback on a consumer DVD player resulted in no audio stuttering or dropouts and breathing like I was experiencing on the DVDSP preview and Apple DVD player.

The same audio pumping happened to me also.

What I did was set the dialog normalization to -31 and on the Preprocessing I set the Compression Preset to None and unclicked all the filters (RF Overmodualtion Protection, Apply Low-Pass Filter, Apply DC Filter, etc.)

Hope this helps, let us know if you get it straightened out.

How much res did I lose?
 

Hi.

I finished a job in FCP 3. Exported to a selfcointained FCP file and then recorded a iDVD, dvd.
This DVD was then transfered to a BetaSP.

Not the ideal transfer, I know. But how bad is it?

Thanks.

There is no way of knowing without seeing some examples. iDVD also does not have an adjustable compression setting. The compression is all handled behind the scenes by the software with no input from the user. So, long programs get more compression than short programs.

What did the signal start as, Beta SP, DV etc.? Transferring from DVD to SP is certainly not the way to go to get the best quality.

Hi Jeff!

It started as DVCAM..
I only have the fcp selfcontained file left. (ca 1.3 gb for five min of video. Is that uncompressed??)

what would be the best way of doing it?

Down grading is never a good idea. Programs that aren't designed to work with the old OS are put in the application folder. You need to get QT Pro registered to FCP.

DVCAM is a compressed format. Then iDVD recorded another compressed format (MPEG-2). All that compression is not good for image quality.

Thanks.

So what would be the best, shortest(?), way of making a DVD or alternatively a beta tape.
I work with a dvcam camera, fcp3 and a mac with superdrive..

Thanks.

Going straight from FCP to Beta would be better than using a DVD as an intermediary step. The added compression of MPEG-2 decreases image quality.

Ken, thanks for the editorial comment! I was telling my wife about this thread last night, and she said essentially the same thing - "I hope that this isn't just another way to keep you from doing what you love, and not thinking that it's good enough."

I really appreciate your words,

Milt Lee

Video Monitor
 

I am looking to purchase a NTSC Broadcast Quality Video Monitor to hook up to my G4 Powerbook. Can anyone tell me where I can get the best quality monitor for the lowest price? Thank you.

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Can you export DV AVI from FCP
 

Hello,

I do not use FCP but I was wondering whether FCP can export an DV AVI for use on a PC. Can you install say the Matrox DV codec, or Canopus codec and export from FCP using them?

Cheers,

Ed

Yes. Export using Quicktime conversion and select DV AVI (can't remember exactly what it is called). The codec is exactly the same for Quicktime DV (DV is DV, except for the way the file stores the information and the headers and all that kind of stuff), so Final Cut Pro can play and edit DV AVI's without any problems. But PCs are too limited to be able to edit Quicktime DV's for some reason in many cases. As far as those proprietary DV codecs go, you are probably out of luck. Why are there proprietary DV codecs anyway? Man I'm glad I keep all of my video in the Mac world. :)

Hi Ted,

Thanks for your answer.

Do you know whether the audio is imbedded in the video or a separate audio file, Like WAV?

Cheers,

Ed

Sony DSR-11
 

I just bought a Sony DSR-11 deck. It's very cool...but, I've yet to be able to capture with it. I keep getting drop frame error messages. Never had them when I captured from the camera. Anyone have an idea as to what I am doing wrong?
Mickey

Problems with green bars/idle computer
 

Everytime I leave FCP 3 on for a long time and don't touch the keyboard green bars appear all over the screen. I cannot get rid of them so I have to shut down the program, put the computer to sleep and then wake up and reenter the program. This is very annoying. Does anyone have this problem and is there an easier solution, like a refresh button? Thank You.

I can't say that I know exactly what's causing the "green bars" but it sounds like it is related to your energy saving / sleep settings. Open your System Preferences facility and poke around in the Energy Saver settings. Also look into the Screen Saver settings.

Does the computer go to sleep? Are the greeen bars part of the screen saver? What happens when the computer wakes up?

What were the tapes originally recorded on? Have you cleaned the heads on the DSR-11. Quite often the heads on new cameras and decks need to be cleaned.

The tapes were originally recorded on either a Cannon XL1 or a Cannon GL2.

Using FCP4 there is no problem viewing them in the log and capture mode, but when I attempt to capture I get a time code error and jerky playback within a few seconds.

I have not cleaned the heads. I am reluctant to do so until I'm sure that is the problem. Is it possible I've overlooked a preset or preference setting?

Mickey

Green bars
 

The green bars aren't even really bars. I would say green streaks and green patches. When they appear I can't run the program properly. When I shut the program down, the green streaks are still there until I put the computer to sleep. When I wake it up again, they are gone.

Yet another monitor question
 

Ok here goes....

I have the option of getting 2 x 17" lcd's or I can get 1 apple 20". The only thing is, the apple 20" is the far end of my budget. Is it worth double the 2 x 17" lcd setup?


Thanks in advance.

Well, in my opinion, yes. It's all one monitor and there is nothing serperating it. The LCDs are definitely of higher quality as well. Dual monitors can be good, too. But if it was me (and at one time it was) I would go with the Apple.

Sounds like either way you can't lose!

Mixing on a G5 with lo and fcp4
 

Hello,

I am planning on buying a new G5 with 4GB of memory, 2-23 inch HD screens, FCP 4 and AJA's Lo. This will be the first apple I have bought and I am extremely new to the whole Idea of using an apple and Final Cut Pro. The machine will be primarily used for editing documentaries, recording voice-overs and some occasional 3D Animation jobs. I was wondering if you think this setup would be good for my purpose?
The main reason I created this thread is because I have a question on which mixer I should get. This mixer will be used for recording a voice in a professional studio and adjusting volumes in fcp4. Right now, I am leaning towards the makie 1604, but that was just because a friend has one and he really likes it. I do not have a price restrain, but I do not need a 5,000 mixer. I would like to thank all of you for your time.

Cheers,
David Appelgate

Your G5 setup should treat you very very well. Do you need to mix more than one source going into the G5. If not a quality single mic pre may be better suited than a small cheap mixer.

Hello,

I am very new to editing and use Adobe Premiere and only have one 17" monitor. What is gained by adding a second monitor and how are they configured with the cpu etc.

Thank you for any input

Bob

Yes I will need more than one source going into the mixer. Also, The mixer will not need to be moved.

Cheers,

David Applegate

Bob Fitzgibbon,

A second monitor is better because it allows you spread out your programs over two screens. Thus allowing you to have two programs open at the same time or premiere streched across both screens.

As far as configuring the cpu, it is not done that way. First you need to have a video card that supports dual monitors and if you don't have one you will need to buy one. Once you get a dual monitor supported video card, just plug in the second monitor and everything should work.

Cheers,

David Appelgate

Avid Vs. FCP
 

Hello Everybody,

As you can see from my previous thread I am buying a new high-end apple. While pondering about my future fun, I was starting to convince myself to get avid rather than my original decision FCP4. I will need this computer to create war documentaries, recording voice-overs, minor 3d work and other odd jobs. One of the major reasons I am choosing FCP over Avid is FCP, is my experience with the two has demonstrated that FCP is much more stable and stability is a major factor. What would you get considering money is not an issue and why? Thank you for your time.

Cheers,
David Applegate

Unless you are recording more than two things at a time or overdubbing instruments for music production you do not really need a mixer. A good USB interface with a preamp, like the Mbox, might do very well for you.

Also, if you will be working with DV-originated material why will you need the Io? If you need mutichannel audio (more than two) you can use something like a MOTU 896, and you will need additional software (FCP can't use more than two audio inputs at a time, I think).

As you've figured out, dual monitors are cheaper than one big monitor in terms of screen area and resolution (bigger monitors sometimes hit resolution limits).

You need a dual DVI card like the Matrox ones, a workstation 3d card (Nvidia/ATI), or a gaming 3d card with dual DVI (only a select few Nvidias have em like the gainward 5600 and asus ti-something). Matrox is probably your best bet unless you need 3d acceleration (games, after effects). On the Mac most video cards do dual DVI... but you need adapters (ADC-DVI I think).

There are some other expenses to dual monitors like electricity, desk space/furniture, obsolescence, and adapters/video card but dual monitors should still be cheaper.

Ignacio Rodriguez,

I took a look at the mbox and decided it was not right for me and in a few cases may be recording one stream of audio at a time so I will need a mixer. As far as the lo goes, I will also be importing Analog primary footage and would like the capability to go HD.

Cheers,
David Applegate