NLE Mac / Final Cut questions from 2004

Boyd Ostroff · March 6th, 2004, 10:48 AM

Not sure about this since I have never tried, but the error message sounds self-descriptive. Did you try disabling device control? You might have a look at BTV Pro for live capturing and monitoring on the Mac. Very nice little shareware program. I've used it on my Powerbook as a field monitor.

Kirk Messner · March 6th, 2004, 11:18 AM

Thanks Boyd. I must just be missing some setting in FCE. I just went into iMovie with the camera connected, and from there I can monitor the live video, and capture it by just clicking on import.

Edward Natale · March 6th, 2004, 12:41 PM

I think the titler in FCP4 is aweful, but I'm sure if you're only creating simple text then it should suffice.

I cut mostly television commercials so the necessity of having an intuitive titler is greater. I was really dissappointed with the lack of a standard WYSIWYG within Final Cut Pro.

Livetype has some cool features but having to export an entire project into livetype and then back out to FCP for export to tape is too cumbersome for me. So is the option of creating titles first in photoshop.

Our Avid Xpress has a WYSIWYG titler, so does our AVID DS, and even Adobe Premiere has a decent titler, so I guess I just assumed FCP had the same, but sadly I was mistaken.

Eddie

Edward Natale · March 6th, 2004, 12:47 PM

Whenever I apply a drop shadow and motion blur to a clip using the motion tab FCP4 decides it does not want to render.

If I only use one of those effects it renders fine, but when i apply both FCP opens the render status window for a split second then disappears, leaving my timeline unrendered.

Is this a glitch in the system or am i missing some sort of software setting? I'm working with 10 bit uncompressed media via an AJA IO.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Eddie

Ted Springer · March 6th, 2004, 01:05 PM

Have you tried selecting the clips with the attributes applies in the timeline (so that they are "highlighted") and then select "Render Selection"?

Edward Natale · March 6th, 2004, 01:09 PM

Yes. No luck.

I tried everything I could possibly think of and have narrowed it down to a problem with applying both the drop shadow as well as motion blur at the same time in the motion tab.

I've recreated the problem numerous times with different clips just to be sure it wasnt just a random issue.

Thanks for the reply.

Eddie

Boyd Ostroff · March 6th, 2004, 01:58 PM

I've never used FCE, but on FCP 3 you would go to "Audio/Video Settings" under the FCP menu. There is a pulldown menu "Device Control Preset". Based on your error message I assume you need to choose "non-controllable device" from that menu.

Angel Otero · March 6th, 2004, 05:52 PM

I've done it couple of times and it's like Boyd Ostroff says "Audio/Video Setting" / " non-controllable device"

Ken Tanaka · March 6th, 2004, 10:33 PM

Edward,
I do not believe that this is a malfunction at all. You did not tell us nearly enough to enable an accurate diagnosis.

Based on what you did indicate, however, I would guess that your "problem" is actually related to (a) your the real-time rendering / timeline preference settings (on your sequence of your general prefs) and/or (b) the processeor platform of your Mac.

Spend some time with the FCP doc, particularly familiarizing yourself with the various RT and rendering settings.

Jason Epperson · March 7th, 2004, 05:10 PM

Trying to finish up a "huge" project and my dual monitors just spazzed out!!! Everytime I try to turn a monitor on, the monitor goes into shut down mode and will not respond to my mouse???

So, I shut my computer (G4 Dual 1g) down and restarted with the same result. Eventually went around back of computer, unplugged monitor cables and tried to plug them back in, switch them around, etc. Nothing is working....so now I'm stuck with 1 monitor.

I can get an image on both monitor, so I know the monitors are OK, I just can't get an image from both at once.

Jeff Donald · March 7th, 2004, 05:55 PM

It sounds like the video card that drives the monitors has a problem. Are you using two video cards or a single card with two outputs? What version of OS X are you using?

Joe Cirino · March 7th, 2004, 10:48 PM

Want to install panther but need stability.

Ted Springer · March 8th, 2004, 02:56 AM

Um, well.. yeah. They work decently together. No worse than 10.2.8 and FCP 4 I'd say. But have fun with Panther in general. I don't care for it. I'll pass and wait for the far superior 10.4 "Calico".

Jason Epperson · March 8th, 2004, 12:59 PM

OS X 10.2.6 is the version I'm using and the card has 2 monitor outputs.

Ignacio Rodriguez · March 8th, 2004, 01:10 PM

For me it worked better than 10.2.x. Much better.

March 6th, 2004, 12:47 PM	#289
Edward Natale Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 43	FCP 4 render problem when applying motion blur and drop shadow... Whenever I apply a drop shadow and motion blur to a clip using the motion tab FCP4 decides it does not want to render. If I only use one of those effects it renders fine, but when i apply both FCP opens the render status window for a split second then disappears, leaving my timeline unrendered. Is this a glitch in the system or am i missing some sort of software setting? I'm working with 10 bit uncompressed media via an AJA IO. Any suggestions? Thanks. Eddie

March 6th, 2004, 10:33 PM	#294
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Edward, I do not believe that this is a malfunction at all. You did not tell us nearly enough to enable an accurate diagnosis. Based on what you did indicate, however, I would guess that your "problem" is actually related to (a) your the real-time rendering / timeline preference settings (on your sequence of your general prefs) and/or (b) the processeor platform of your Mac. Spend some time with the FCP doc, particularly familiarizing yourself with the various RT and rendering settings. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

March 7th, 2004, 05:10 PM	#295
Jason Epperson New Boot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Winchester, KY Posts: 16	dual monitor problem....help Trying to finish up a "huge" project and my dual monitors just spazzed out!!! Everytime I try to turn a monitor on, the monitor goes into shut down mode and will not respond to my mouse??? So, I shut my computer (G4 Dual 1g) down and restarted with the same result. Eventually went around back of computer, unplugged monitor cables and tried to plug them back in, switch them around, etc. Nothing is working....so now I'm stuck with 1 monitor. I can get an image on both monitor, so I know the monitors are OK, I just can't get an image from both at once.

March 7th, 2004, 05:55 PM	#296
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	It sounds like the video card that drives the monitors has a problem. Are you using two video cards or a single card with two outputs? What version of OS X are you using? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

March 7th, 2004, 10:48 PM	#297
Joe Cirino Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: United States Posts: 101	Hows Panther and FCP4? Want to install panther but need stability.

March 6th, 2004, 10:48 AM	#286
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,801	Not sure about this since I have never tried, but the error message sounds self-descriptive. Did you try disabling device control? You might have a look at BTV Pro for live capturing and monitoring on the Mac. Very nice little shareware program. I've used it on my Powerbook as a field monitor.

March 6th, 2004, 11:18 AM	#287
Kirk Messner Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fowlerville, MI Posts: 51	Thanks Boyd. I must just be missing some setting in FCE. I just went into iMovie with the camera connected, and from there I can monitor the live video, and capture it by just clicking on import.

March 6th, 2004, 12:41 PM	#288
Edward Natale Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 43	I think the titler in FCP4 is aweful, but I'm sure if you're only creating simple text then it should suffice. I cut mostly television commercials so the necessity of having an intuitive titler is greater. I was really dissappointed with the lack of a standard WYSIWYG within Final Cut Pro. Livetype has some cool features but having to export an entire project into livetype and then back out to FCP for export to tape is too cumbersome for me. So is the option of creating titles first in photoshop. Our Avid Xpress has a WYSIWYG titler, so does our AVID DS, and even Adobe Premiere has a decent titler, so I guess I just assumed FCP had the same, but sadly I was mistaken. Eddie

March 6th, 2004, 01:05 PM	#290
Ted Springer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Glendale CA Posts: 328	Have you tried selecting the clips with the attributes applies in the timeline (so that they are "highlighted") and then select "Render Selection"?

March 6th, 2004, 01:09 PM	#291
Edward Natale Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 43	Yes. No luck. I tried everything I could possibly think of and have narrowed it down to a problem with applying both the drop shadow as well as motion blur at the same time in the motion tab. I've recreated the problem numerous times with different clips just to be sure it wasnt just a random issue. Thanks for the reply. Eddie

March 6th, 2004, 01:58 PM	#292
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,801	I've never used FCE, but on FCP 3 you would go to "Audio/Video Settings" under the FCP menu. There is a pulldown menu "Device Control Preset". Based on your error message I assume you need to choose "non-controllable device" from that menu.

March 6th, 2004, 05:52 PM	#293
Angel Otero New Boot Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toa Alta, Puerto Rico Posts: 6	I've done it couple of times and it's like Boyd Ostroff says "Audio/Video Setting" / " non-controllable device"

March 8th, 2004, 02:56 AM	#298
Ted Springer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Glendale CA Posts: 328	Um, well.. yeah. They work decently together. No worse than 10.2.8 and FCP 4 I'd say. But have fun with Panther in general. I don't care for it. I'll pass and wait for the far superior 10.4 "Calico".

March 8th, 2004, 12:59 PM	#299
Jason Epperson New Boot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Winchester, KY Posts: 16	dual monitor problems OS X 10.2.6 is the version I'm using and the card has 2 monitor outputs.

March 8th, 2004, 01:10 PM	#300
Ignacio Rodriguez Contributor Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santiago, Chile Posts: 932	For me it worked better than 10.2.x. Much better. __________________ Ignacio Rodríguez in the third world. @micronauta on Twitter. Main hardware: brain, eyes, hands.