If you are trying to do everything from just the interal HDD in the MacBook Pro then you're overtaxing the resources, which is why you're getting "drop outs" during playback.

If you follow this guide on how to optimize your system for direct capture then you need to get an external drive to actually capture to.

If you're going to actually edit from the MBP especially in 1080i then ideally you'd need 3 external FW drives to keep things running smoothly: One drive to put all your capture files on, a small second drive for things like thumbnail/waveform cache and render files, and the third to keep the project and backup files on. Be sure you create 2 distinctly separate FireWire busses on the laptop by using the Express Card 34/FW adapter.

Read the guide for details on setup strategies.

thanks
 

thank you robert!
I do have an external HDD but it's an fw 400, which i believe, from reading your thread 'no P2 cards?...' is not ideal. The thing is that the clips are captured perfectly, without drop outs (when i look at the quicktime files) but its only in fcp 5 where the drop outs occur. Sorry if i just didn't understand your reply fully. I would shoot in 720P but fcp won't let me select it because my camera is pal and only the options for ntsc are to be found in fcp 5's easy set up. but fcp 5.1 shoul resolve that problem right?

Thank you very much for your reply

I've never had to consider any PAL configurations so I won't be any help there. Barry, David S. or others would be better suited to ask that.

FCP5.1 doesn't support 720/25p or 720/50p either.

You can get support by getting Imagine Software's HD Log software; it lets you export a 720/25p or 720/50p clip in a format that FCP can understand.

pretty bad
 

thanks barry, that's pretty bad that fcp5.1 doesn't support 720p25 and 50, i though it was only the PN format it didn't support. So that means even if i get a P2 card i won't be able to capture 720p directly through final cut but have to use HD log first. Do you have any idea when fcp will support us pal users too? Untill then I might just have to use the camera in the DV mode:(

You can use 1080/25p and 1080/50i right now.

No idea as to when they\'ll add 720/50p or 720/25p natively.