"Dropped Frames on Playback" - when playing back FCP's Bars+tone

We've been having a problems with one of our edit suites dropping frames when playing back to tape (Edit to tape).
In checking it out, I created a new project and added DCP's PAL Bars and tone to the default sequence. FCP is stopping playback with the "Dropped Frames on Playback" error after 13"-15". I've tried all the usual stuff - trashing FCP prefs, zapping PRAM, repairing preferences etc.
Has anyone any further suggestions??
RT is set to Safe, with dynamic frame rate and video quality.
The Mac is a Dual 2.66GHz Dual Core Xeon, 4Gb RAM, with an AJA kona lhe card, connected to an XServe Raid via fibre. The tape deck is a DigiBeta M2000.
I've read all the posts I could find, and checked Shane's stock answer #12.
Cheers
Steve

Try creating a new user, log into that and test FCP.
In my case, a new user worked, for awhile.
Through a lot of trial and error and a reinstallation that was ineffectual - properly surmised by a very learned friend of mine, Mr. Sheffield - I found a project to be corrupt. So thoroughly corrupt that it would corrupt FCP and any projects opened downstream which is why my new user worked for awhile. Took me some time to figure out the proper order to open things after a system restart. Looks like I'll be doing a rebuild of the project through xml which shouldn't take to long.
In your case, if a new user doesn't help and you go the reinstallation route, uninstall FC Studio with this jewel of a utility. Many thanks to Jon for writing and distributing. http://www.digitalrebellion.com/blog/posts/fcsremover_1.0.6released.html
Zeb

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Final Cut Pro dropping Frames on playback

I am editing a multi cam video in final Cut Pro. I have set playback to proxy media. I have 250gb free hard drive and 8gb ram. I have an IMac that isnt a year old yet.
I have previously completed a music video, excactly the same composition of 3 camera angles and a soundtrack and no issues at all.
The individual clips play fine but when I play the multicam clip its dropping frames on playback and output. The video is lagging behind the audio.
Considering upgrading ram, but Im confused as to why last week I could do this perfectly and now the machine seems to be struggling?
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Model Name:
iMac
Model Identifier:
iMac12,1
Processor Name:
Intel Core i5
Processor Speed:
2.5 GHz
Number of Processors:
1
Total Number of Cores:
4
L2 Cache (per Core):
256 KB
L3 Cache:
6 MB
Memory:
8 GB
IM121.0047.B1E
1.71f22
Hardware UUID:

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This is an updated question. My last posting for some reason did not include everything, such as my System Settings, A/V Settings, and View Settings. There also was no Preview option. Hope it works this time.
I am editing a multiple camera project with a lot of color correction (to get the cameras to match up), and photo montages with motion and image compositing.
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I have a 17 inch Mac Book Pro, using OX 10.4.8, processor 2.16 ghz, Intel Core Duo, memory 2 gigs, 667 mhz, DDR2 SDRAM.
Using FCP 5.1.4, and Quicktime 7.1.3
My external hard drive is a 300 gig Maxtor One Touch II, firewire 800, 7200 rpm, which is divided up into 3 partitions of 100 gigs each:
First Partition - 12.79 gigs left (did not use for this project. Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Second Partition - 44.53 gigs left. Currently using now. MAC OS Extended.
Third Partition - 47.75 gigs left. (Used earlier - had another project on it and ran out of space so I switched to the second partition. The other project is now deleted which left me 47.75 gigs.) Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
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- Tried variations of playback frame rate: dynamic, full, 1/2, and 1/4
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- Monitor Color LCD 1280 x 800 millions, NTSC/PAL 640 x 480 60 hertz NTSC. There is only one ntsc setting which is 60 hertz, so I am unable to increase it.
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Ram 512 k
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Edit timebase - 29.97 fps
Field Dominance - lower even
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Even if you use Dynamic as your playback setting, depending on the complexity of the edit or composite, you may still get dropped frames. Keep in mind that the weak link in this chain is the FW800 connection. You also mentioned that you using quite a bit of color correction as well as motion effects. Depending on the color correction, the more that you add to your sequence as far as effects are concerned, the more processing is required. The dropped frames that you are experiencing is most likely the computer trying to maintain realtime playback at the expense of the quality of the picture. In order to really judge the final result, you'll need to render.
The official definition of Dynamic Playback:
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eSATA should be considered by any pro. laptop or not.
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Can anyone reproduce this:
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After inserting a couple of stills into the sequence, when playing back those stills I can't stop playback until playhead has either reached one of the movie clips of end of sequence.
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The cards are made by several manufacturers, and i don't think there's much difference between one and the next except for the number of ports it adds.
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"Dropped Frames on Playback" - when playing back FCP's Bars+tone

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