[MountainMac]

I'm having some compatibility issues with Final Cut Pro 1.2.5 and Sony DV cameras. When capturing footage shot on a VX2000, the audio has a little "snap, crackle, and pop" to it, regardless of the camera or deck used to import it (I've tried a VX2000, a TRV900, a TRV30, and a DSR-20 deck).

Also, when printing to video on a TRV900, the timecode stops and resets to zero during transitions and other rendered clips; it then resumes writing timecode during unrendered clips from the point where it left off.

I had heard that there were some plug-ins for Sony cameras for FCP, but I can't seem to find them anywhere. I'm running OS 9.1, FCP 1.2.5, and QuickTime 4.1.2.

[Cipher13]

I've only ever used Sony cameras... can't remember the models... TRV120E, and two others (one Hi8, the other two MiniDV), and I've never had such problems, nor had to install special drivers... that's on FCP 1.25 and 2.

Are you sure the audio capture settings are correct, and that the audio glitches aren't present on the source material also?

[osiris]

Hi MountainMac - just putting my two cents worth.

That snap krackle and pop sound may be due to an incorrect audio frequency rate - my VX1000, VX 700 and DVMC record audio at 32khz, capturing at any other rate will cause pops and those weird noises - and during the capture process itself I always hear pops, etc, but the captured file is always okay. So that may be something to check...

As for the timecode reset, well this usally happens when there is a blank space or the camera was turned turned off in between recording. Printing unrendered footage may cause these breaks to occur too - have you tried rendering the entire project first and then printing to video?

BTW, under OS X I can't use any of my equipment, for whatever unknown reason my camera and media converter refuse to work under all flavors of X and on multiple systems. I'll be using OS 9 for a while.

good luck!

[MountainMac]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think on the audio that it was the sample rate--just something I had forgotten to check. Anyhow, it seems to be working now--thanks For my future reference, if some footage is accidentally captured as 12-bit 32kHz instead of 16-bit 48kHz, can you Mixdown Audio and get rid of audio inconsistencies? It's sort of frustrating--I provide tech support for a college lab and so I don't always know what the students did to cause the problems. I'm just supposed to fix them!

Also, on the timecode breaks, all of the transitions have been rendered, and it's printing to video, so starting and stopping of the camera (during previous recording) shouldn't be an issue (since print to video lays down new timecode). Any other ideas?

I appreciate the help.

[ 12-11-2001: Message edited by: MountainMac ]

[osiris]

I've seen sync issues when using different rate audio, but usually after 20mins or so. Laying a music track or audio track at a different rate may also cause hissy 's's or fuzziness, but can work if you have to.

Your timecode issue boggles me, I've never seen that before

[Cipher13]

Originally posted by osiris:
<STRONG>I've seen sync issues when using different rate audio, but usually after 20mins or so. Laying a music track or audio track at a different rate may also cause hissy 's's or fuzziness, but can work if you have to.

Your timecode issue boggles me, I've never seen that before </STRONG>

I've seen it loads. Record something, cue the tape, and record some more... now try logging a clip from the second batch and capturing it. You can't. You're then stuck with "Capture Now" or something, cause it'll rewind the tape when capturing the logged clip.

You know what I mean.

[MountainMac]

Originally posted by Cipher13:
<STRONG>

I've seen it loads. Record something, cue the tape, and record some more... now try logging a clip from the second batch and capturing it. You can't. You're then stuck with "Capture Now" or something, cause it'll rewind the tape when capturing the logged clip.

You know what I mean.</STRONG>

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean, but that's not the problem.
The problem is in exporting, when FCP is controlling the camera through device control and is actually writing new timecode. Say I have a sequence that's 10 seconds of regular video, a 2 second transition, and 10 more seconds of regular video. If I start at the beginning of the tape and choose "Print to Video," the timecode prints from 00:00:00:00 to 00:00:10:00, prints two seconds worth of 00:00:00:00, then goes from 00:00:10:01 to 00:00:20:00. My timecode only goes up to 20 seconds, even though my sequence is 22 seconds long...

[Cipher13]

Originally posted by MountainMac:
<STRONG>

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean, but that's not the problem.
The problem is in exporting, when FCP is controlling the camera through device control and is actually writing new timecode. Say I have a sequence that's 10 seconds of regular video, a 2 second transition, and 10 more seconds of regular video. If I start at the beginning of the tape and choose "Print to Video," the timecode prints from 00:00:00:00 to 00:00:10:00, prints two seconds worth of 00:00:00:00, then goes from 00:00:10:01 to 00:00:20:00. My timecode only goes up to 20 seconds, even though my sequence is 22 seconds long... </STRONG>

Oh... ouch... that's pretty bad...
I think someone mentioned this before... but the sequence is 100% rendered isn't it? (will FCP even allow it to be printed if it isn't?) Otherwise I can imagine it doing this...

Try exporting it as a Final Cut Pro movie (hence, a single clip), then start a new project, put the FCP movie on your timeline, and try printing it to the tape.

[MountainMac]

Good idea on exporting as an FCP movie. I'll try it and see how it goes.

Thanks.

[rjc3]

I've edited a bit of footage using Sony equipment, and have experienced the snap, crackle and pop occasionally. When I do, I just defrag my HD using Norton and the pops disappear. I don't think the problem is related to the Sony hardware, but rather to some fragmentation on your HD. Try defragging your HD and see if it doesn't clear up your audio. Good luck!

[rjc3]

I've edited a bit of footage using Sony equipment, and have experienced the snap, crackle and pop occasionally. When I do, I just defrag my HD using Norton and the pops disappear. I don't think the problem is related to the Sony hardware, but rather to some fragmentation on your HD. Try defragging your HD and see if it doesn't clear up your audio. Good luck!