FCP5: Constant dropped frames during Print to Video
 

I'm currently using Final Cut Pro version 5, and I've been experiencing issues attempting to print to tape.

I've made over a dozen attempts, but I always encounter dropped frames, and then the exporting function stops. I've dumped all of my render files and re-rendered to no avail.

I have tried to free up as much CPU power as possible.

No dice.

I am ready to give up, but I'm wondering if anyone has some possible solutions. Thanks.

Are all your media files stored on a second drive to your OS? sometimes that can make the difference. Try exporting a Self Contained Quicktime Movie and importing that into a brand new project and then printing that to tape.

All of my files are on a single external HD.

I will try the self-contained QT trick.

Print to tape is very finicky from my experience. Have a look at the following threads for some ideas:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=80826
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=88162
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=89505
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=62951
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=51194

Dear Brian,

Is your single external HD connected via firewire? I assume yes.

And your camera is connected via firewire also? I assume yes.

If yes to both, then this may be the source of your dropped frames.

If you have enough disk space, copy the file from the external HD to the internal, then attempt to print to tape. It is worth a try.

Be sure to not be doing other things on your computer while you are attempting to print to tape.

Problem solved. The self-contained export trick worked.

(For the record, yes, my HD is connected via FW800.)

Yeah, not a good idea to be sending stuff out to the tape, while using the same bus to bring it in. The camera will slow your FW800 down to the camera's speed. If you buy a separate FW bus card to separate the two, it might be okay. But remember, FW always has to slow to the speed of the slowest device on the bus.

-gb-