FCP Project sharing

Hi,
I've got two edit bays with two editor's that work on the same project at different stages from their respective machines. I'm trying to come up with a way to manage this, from both a network standpoint ie. all media on the same drive, file permissions etc. and trying to keep all of the different versions straight and ways to merge them if needed.
Does anyone know of any books, forums, or other places I could find info on this?
Thanks in advance,
Steve

One simple thing I've done in a non-networked situation is to have duplicate media on two systems, start with two basic project files, one on each machine with DIFFERENT names.
Work on your stuff in your project, save your project file onto a flash card, pop it into other machine, open it, and copy the sequence to the other project. It helps to have the media drives have the same name on the two machines-- that way you don't have to always reconnect the media.
Two different project names relieves a lot of confusion about which version you're working on-- and all you are doing is really just tossing sequences back and forth.
Networked media is a whole other can o' fish. Or whatever.

Similar Messages

Re: FCP Project sharing on Apple Mac Pro machine

Hi All,
I have 5 Apple Macpro with FCP 6.0.3 installed on each machine.I have created one Apple Mac MAchine as a Server.
Follwoing things done...
On the Apple Mac machine ( Here i will treate this machine as a FCP-5 Which is act as a server ) on this Apple File Shring is On,
I have 2 1GB network card installed and i have combined it with Link Aggrigation protocol.
I have LC3 Switch and i have combined 2 ports on the LC3 Switch.
I have change my remaing 4 machines Scrach disk to FCP-5.
My all machines having same user Edit and passwords of all is Edit.
Normally everything works fine but some time when users save there files on FCP-5 ( Server) folder - edit-proj system gives error "Unknow File Error"
I am just trying to rectify this and i am helpless..
See how we work..
Five Apple machine with FCP loaded..
FCP-5 is a Apple MAcpro machine but i have created one disk for all other users to save there project files etc on FCP-5. Works greate but some time when we cliuck save or save project as gives error "Unknow file Error"
Please help me.
NArendra

Read this for ideas:
http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/build-your-own-affordable-san-that-iwork si
Shane

Sharing FCP projects between user accounts problem

Hello!
I'm working on a project with several other colleagues. Each of us has his own User account on the computer (dual G5 / 10.4.7) because we have different preferecnes regarding keyboard layouts, desktop colour etc. We would like to have our FCP project files accessible to each of us.
I have tried different approaches to solve this task, but haven't fully succeded yet (I tried creating the project file within the /Users/Shared foler; putting it into a dedicated /Users/FCPProjects folder and applying chmod/chown commands; creating a Editors group with NetInfo and assigning those foders to this group; I even tried to work around this using ACLs).
The problem is that when we click "Save All" command in FCP, we get three or four OK-only dialog boxes in a row saying "Access denied". The project file is in fact saved (I can see it by checking the Modified time in Finder), but FCP seems not to be aware of this and doesn't want to quit. It's an unpleasent situation because it allways makes us worry about losing our work.
Could someone please give us instructions on the correct procedures for resolving the issue.
Thank you
Best regards
Mato Ilijic

matoid,
ACLs should work for you, and it seems that they are. You shouldn't have to deal with the error dialogue either, so let's see if we can't get rid of it.
First, let's talk about groups. I have looked at your "step by step," and I notice that you didn't bother to change the group ownership of the "shared" folder that you created. Fine, ACLs still work, but the group ownership of "wheel" might be the cause of your error messages. ACLs are a more advanced system of access controls than the older POSIX system, but POSIX still exists, and might affect your work.
Let's assume that you have your standard users that will be using FCP placed properly into a common group. For this discussion, I'll call that group "fcpusers." Under the POSIX paradigm, any "shared" folder can be owned by any one of the users in this group, but it must have a group ownership of "fcpusers" in order to work properly for everyone. When it does, every new file or folder created in it will "inherit" that group ownership.
Now, every user on a given machine will have read access to that shared folder. If a non-member of group "fcpusers" attempts to save a file there, however, an error message is likely to appear. One other possibility is that the file is saved, but with an "unknown" group ownership. This is because of a conflict between the groups the saving user is a member of and the attempted "inheritance" from the enclosing folder.
I want you to try the following. Please do this exactly as I outline it:
1) Create a new group in Netinfo Manager. Duplicate the "admin" group. Change the name of the duplicate to "fcpusers," then delete the "realname," "generateduid," and "smb_sid" properties. Change the GID to "101." Select the "users" property, then choose Directory>Insert Value. Type the short name of one of your users. Repeat this procedure for every user of FCP. Select any admin users in this group who will not be using FCP, and click the "Delete" icon. Finally, choose Domain>Save Changes.
2) Create a new folder in /Users/Shared. For this discussion we will assume that you will call it "FCP_Data." Further, we will assume that one of your FCP users is named "usera" (your terminology ;-)). Open Terminal. Since you seem to be well-versed in the use of Terminal, I will simply post the commands needed:
<pre style="overflow:auto; font-family: 'Monaco'; font-size: 10px">sudo chown usera:fcpusers /Users/Shared/FCP_Data
sudo chmod g+w /Users/Shared/FCP_Data</pre>
3) Before anyone begins saving files in this directory, make sure that their umask is changed using TinkerTool. Also, I recommend that all media gets saved here, too. I'm not sure how close FCP is to iMovie, if it doesn't save all data in a "package," but it is likely that media is being referenced using "placeholders." If this is the case, and media for a given project is scattered all over the file system, there could indeed be ownership issues. If media needs to be on externals, this same "shared" folder can be created there. Just make sure that #1, the volume has "ownership and permissions" in effect, and #2 all media is kept within the "shared" directory structure.
You must use TinkerTool to change the umask such that members of the group have read/write permission. TinkerTool doesn't specifically say this, but the corresponding umask is "002" (the OS X default is "022"). BTW, umask is subtracted from the "full permissions" value of "666" when saving non-executable files ("777" for folders and executables).
Once you have a properly configured "shared" folder and a proper umask in place, your users can begin to populate the shared directory. If any existing projects are to be added, they must be copied by a user into the shared directory, not simply moved. Only when a copy is made will the new copy inherit the proper group ownership. Just to be sure, I will include one more set of commands to use, once the shared directory has been populated:
<pre style="overflow:auto; font-family: 'Monaco'; font-size: 10px">sudo chown -R usera:fcpusers /Users/Shared/FCP_Data
sudo chmod -R g+w /Users/Shared/FCP_Data</pre>
Please follow these instructions carefully, then report the results. This should work, and without using ACLs.
Scott

I have Video camera movies that are HD format.. I am doing editing work on them using Final Cut Pro, but using DV PAL format for the projects I am editing. When I then tried to copy my work done in FCP Project that's originally DV PAL , into a new FCP Pro

I have Video camera movies that are HD format.. I am doing editing work on them using Final Cut Pro, but using DV PAL format for the projects I am editing. When I then tried to copy my work done in FCP Project that's originally DV PAL , into a new FCP Project that is HD, and tried reconnect media with original HD movies (video), the sequence project got distorted for all the text, shapes used and all.. everything changed its orientation and scale.. Is there a way by which I can preserve my work done on DV PAL and switch it preserving its proportions, scale and orientation, but on a HD project sequence?? Appreciate your help and advice..

Yes. A couple of ways that might work.
First Way
What you need to do is load one of your hd clips in the viewer and edit into a new HD sequence. Does it display correctionly?
OK, select the clip in the hd timeline and copy (command-c). Now go to the HD sequence with the material that's distorted. Select all (command-a) and paste attributes (option-v) and choose basic motion and distort. That should maek things work. What won't work is anything that you've adjusted as far as basic motion or distort in your PAL sequence. That I'm pretty sure you'll have to redo.
Second Way.
Choose your original PAL sequence and do a Media Manage changing the sequence preset to the appropriate HD paramenters with the media offline. You then should be able to reconnect these clips with your original HD media.

Recording standard dvd from completed FCP project thru DVD STUDIO PRO...

OH, kind geniuses...
it boils down to this...I'm very FCP friendly...production is done...I'm aware of "compressor" issue...one question tho
...is it easier to compress thru Quicktime movie or the
standard compressor functions when project is completed...
BOTTOM LINE...is it possible to crank out a standard DVD copy of a completed FCP project QUICKLY/ EASILY...thru
DVD STUDIO PRO? i've went thru the manuals for ALL, and am
affraid I'm reading T.M.I. into it... THE question..."is there a simple Wham-Bam-Thank You-Maam way to get a simple
DVD copy from a completed FCP project THRU, (the dreaded)
DVD STUDIO PRO??? I don't need to re-learn digital electronic theory...just crank out a gawl-dern DVD I can
present to a perspective employer that needs a FCP editor...
"much gnashing of teeth & lament",
thanks folks!
G. Tirebiter
mac G-5 Mac OS X (10.4.7) final cut studio

whoaohohohohohohoh nnnnnnneleeeee(a keith jacksonism)
silal..............
way too much info, amigo....I have one track (2min total...
including "live-type" graphics)....we don' have no marks....
we don' need no marks....we don' got to cho you any steenking marks!!!!! (Alfonso Bedoya from "treasure of Sierra Madre"..adaptation)...I love that guy/scene...back to the problem at hand...waaaay too involved it seems, my
friend....tho, I high 5 you for the extensive work & effort.
I'm lookin' for quick & dirty...did get a response that basically gives me that...still left out some "see spot run"
info that my "little grey cells" aren't absorbing...I'm
sure it's MY ignorance & comprehension skills that are in question here...I guess I wanna' get outa' th' gate & grab th' hole shot before I dial in my ride...like I said..."see spot run"....another try would be appreciated but not necessary...thanks for you're valuable time...
they're in.......everybody's eggs...
DOH!....
G. Tirebiter
mac G-5 Mac OS X (10.4.7) final cut studio

FCP Project won't open in new version

I want to work on an old FCP project I haven't touched in years. I have all the files but not the application any longer (was FCP from 2004). I downloaded the new FCPX trial version but it won't recognize the older files. Do i need an older FCP version?

Depending on what you need to accomplish with this old project, don't discount the possibility of importing a flattened Quick Time movie and working with it in FCPX. Not ideal, but perhaps acceptable.
It seems like a waste to pay the considerable amount pf money that getting either Final Cut Studio 3 or 2 would presently require. (If you go to Amazon, you'll find new sets of FCS3 selling for premiums ranging from $300 to nearly $1,000 above the original price; used sets are selling for nearly as much as the original price.)
The apps in these suites were great for their times, but it's been well over four years since they recieved a refresh. Many who own them (myself included) continue to use them and expect to continue to do so on operating systems like Snow Leoppard for some time. But sooner or later, a new OS version will break them as will the dereasing cability to handle new formats.
Good luck.
Russ

How do I import old FCP projects that have mysteriously changed to Linux Executable files? Is it as simple as renaming the files with the.fcp extension?

I had some FCP projects on an old G3 tower that I finally want to finish. I was able to grab everything, media, etc. to my macbook pro but all of the Final Cut Pro actual movies/projects have turned into "linux executable files" that FCP X won't import.
I tried googling this issue but didn't really see any good answers. Would it be as simple as renaming the files with the .fcp extension? I can't recall if my old version (really old) of FCP saves projects as .mov or .fcp files, but I'm assuming I'm not the only person this has happened to.
Thanks for your help!

I had some FCP projects on an old G3 tower that I finally want to finish.
What version of FCP was this? The project files can probably no longer be opened in the newer version of the OS. You could try adding the .fcp suffix, but I don't think it will help for this. Projects files are .fcp.
Regardless of the version, no legacy FCP projects will import into FCPX.
Media is a different matter. These are probably QuickTime .mov files. If these are appearing as Unix ececutables, they're probably not recoverable either.

Need help in exporting my FCP project to work on my laptop

I'm taking a long trip and I'd like to export all that's needed to work on my FCP project from my PowerMac G5 to my Powerbook Pro. I could really use some advice on this.
1. It's most likely that all of my files will not fit on the Powerbook hard drive (half is devoted to Windows). I know there are issues with importing footage to a firewire drive, but what if my footage is already imported? Can I get a tiny firewire external drive and move all my video files to work with? Or will I still be at a risk of dropped frames or other problems? Can I even get a USB drive for this? WD makes a great tiny one. I've got a huge Maxtor firewire drive, but I need one that is portable and doesn't need external power. Any recommendations? Is this just a stupid question and there's no way this is possible?
2. Will I run into a problem of installing my Final Cut Studio on my Powerbook Pro since it's already installed on my PowerMac? I guess if I absolutely had to, I could uninstall FCP from my Powermac, then install it on my Powerbook, then uninstall it from my powerbook when i'm done with my trip, then reinstall it on my PowerMac. But it'd be much simpler if I could just install it on my Powerbook and leave the already installed version on my PowerMac alone.
I'd love some advice with this. Thanks!

I'm taking a long trip and I'd like to export all
that's needed to work on my FCP project from my
PowerMac G5 to my Powerbook Pro. I could really use
some advice on this.
First, do you mean Macbook Pro? Also what version of FCP are you running? If you have a Macbook Pro then you must have FCP 5.1 in order for it to run on your notebook.
1. It's most likely that all of my files will not fit
on the Powerbook hard drive (half is devoted to
Windows). I know there are issues with importing
footage to a firewire drive, but what if my footage
is already imported? Can I get a tiny firewire
external drive and move all my video files to work
with? Or will I still be at a risk of dropped frames
or other problems? Can I even get a USB drive for
this? WD makes a great tiny one. I've got a huge
Maxtor firewire drive, but I need one that is
portable and doesn't need external power. Any
recommendations? Is this just a stupid question and
there's no way this is possible?
You are correct in assuming that you need not put your media files on your system drive. Get a small Firewire drive that is bus powered, I recommend on from G-Technologies, maker of the G-Raid.
2. Will I run into a problem of installing my Final
Cut Studio on my Powerbook Pro since it's already
installed on my PowerMac? I guess if I absolutely had
to, I could uninstall FCP from my Powermac, then
install it on my Powerbook, then uninstall it from my
powerbook when i'm done with my trip, then reinstall
it on my PowerMac. But it'd be much simpler if I
could just install it on my Powerbook and leave the
already installed version on my PowerMac alone.
This depends on what version you are using. I believe that you can have 5.1 installed on both a desktop and notebook with one license. However, be sure to check the license that came with your software just to be sure. If you do not have 5.1 (and you don't have a MBP but instead a Powerbook (not Pro) then you will have to uninstall and reinstall.
Once you have these issues worked out it is a matter of transferring your project files to your new FW drive.
2 - PowerMac G5 2.0Ghz DP Mac OS X (10.4.6) 1- Mac Mini

FCP Project file won't open

Hello,
An FCP project file I worked on this past Friday suddenly won't open. When I try it immediately gives the helpful "general error" message. I tried opening the autosave files as well, with no luck. I tried renaming the project file and manually adding the .fcp extension, but still nothing. I'm not sure why it's doing this, since nothing unusual happened in the last few days. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Power Mac G5
6gb ram, dual 2ghz processor
FCP 5.0
Also, does anybody know where I can purchase an unused version of the FCP 5.0 bundle? I can't upgrade because of OS and processor restrictions on my old G5. And I can't buy a newer mac right now. All of my related FCP programs are starting to act buggy, and I don't have the install cds anymore. Any ideas?

I can't upgrade because of OS and processor restrictions on my old G5
Huh? According to the requirements for FCP 6, it needs A Macintosh computer with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo, or Intel Xeon processor and Mac OS X v10.4.11 or Mac OS X v10.5.5 or later. How does your computer not fall into this range?
Patrick

I have a MacBook Pro , Model Identifier MacBook Pro8,2 , MAC OX S 10.7.4 I noticed that if I open Final Cut Projects created on other/older models MacBook Pro Laptops or MacPro Desktops, the fonts used in the previously created FCP projects, change their

I have a MacBook Pro , Model Identifier MacBook Pro8,2 , MAC OX S 10.7.4
I noticed that if I open Final Cut Projects created on other/older models MacBook Pro Laptops or MacPro Desktops, the fonts used in the previously created FCP projects, change their font spacing! which distorts the look of the Text that was written, by oevrlapping on other things that were put & present on the screen.. Another similar probelm is that the Vector shaped used for example to highlight certain words or shapes, also change their position on the screen so that they no longer highlight exact things that we once used these vectors to highlight or outline... Anyone knows how to solve this problem please?? I made sure that the same fonts are available in the Library in both old and newer computers...
thanks in advance..

You might want to take your question to the FCP forum - if you copied all fonts to your Library>Fonts folder and restarted they should be recognized by all applications. I know that this works for Adobe products, anyway.
Clinton

HELP! Can't Open a FCP project File, "General Error 41"

Trying to open a project for a Good guy
over a barrel, using FCStudio /FCP 5.1 FCP opens,
then says "General Error 41". All I need to
do is create an SD Version DVD, But first
I Gotta open it.
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Since this is your friend's FCP project file, check to see if he/she has version 5.1.1 or above.
I think the project file is from a newer format.
For some reason, the bump from FCP 5.1 to 5.1.x was big enough to require the project files to be a different format.
If that is the case, (and if you want to take the chance on the unknown,) you can upgrade to the version your friend has (or above.)
Make sure you really want to upgrade and are prepared for all the potential problems!
Dual G5 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

FCP Projects Converted To .m2v In Compressor Are Not Accepted ?

Normally I export my FCP projects as QuickTime Movies and drop them into iDVD 08.
I have just exported to Compressor and ended up with a .m2v and a .ac3 file which work in Toast and DVD Studio Pro but cannot be dropped into the iDVD window.
They jump straight out !
I have also tried importing them via the File menu with no success.
What am I doing wrong ?
I have just searched the iDVD Help menu again and discovered this:-
"MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 files, QuickTime VR movies, and movies with sprite or Flash tracks cannot be added".
Does that mean that my .m2v files (which I believe are MPEG-2) will not work and the best I can do is to export from FCP as QT Movie ?
Message was edited by: Ian R. Brown

That is what it means. iDVD will not accept pre-encoded files. However, I would be curious to know why you would want to use iDVD when you have and know how to use DVD Studio Pro? IMHO, on big disadvantage to iDVD is that it doesn't use AC3 or compressed audio, it uses uncompressed PCM.
Mike

PLZ HELP.. How can i make dvd from FCP project..

Can someone plz help..
I have FCPPRHD and DVD Pro..
I got lost trying to make a dvd out of fcp project
Can someone plz help in easy 123.. steps how to make a dvd for my client to view..
Thnx ever so much
awaitng ur reply

I don't want to sound too harsh, but you really need to read the manual and do the tutorials.
You shoot, capture and edit in FCP. You export that to MPEG2 using compressor and you import the resulting video and audio files into DVDSP. You add a menu and set up buttons to get to the footage, and you set up navigation so that your client can get back to the menu at any time. You build and format that (i.e. burn the disc).
That's the process, but it is very much more detailed than any of us could write here.... it's all in the manual and tutorials

FCP Project closes and Compressor only gives black render

hi
apologies if this has been covered, my extensive search of about 10 seconds found nothing.
Recently on certain projects when i try to export via compressor two things happen. Firstly the rendered file is made up of black only, audio is fine though. And secondly the fcp project closes itself, leaving only the temp project open, that creates itself when you export via compressor. The one sequence in this temp project is the one i want to export and it plays fine in the timeline. Of course this is annoying since the project closes itself without asking if you want to save.
I do have some odd footage in the project. It came from some dodgy video camera device, but I had converted them to dv specs. Mind you none of these clips are in the sequence in question.
any ideas anyone
thanks
adam

exporting to compressor directly from FCP will re-process all your rendered material, so if your sequence has lots of filters, generators, stills or non-native clips, this can greatly add to the time it takes.
Also, exporting video for iPod most likely involves changing the frame size and frame rate, and possibly pixel aspect ratio (are those files square pixel?) Depending on the frame Controls settings for the preset you are using, this can make it take a lot longer.

Upload FCP Projects and Associated Media to a Production

Hi,
This sounds very silly but I`m really disappointed and can`t figured out how to do it.
Is there a way to upload a *.fcp project and associate NOT ONLY the project but ALSO the Media that this project contains?
In other words, if I upload a FCP project and choose a Production to be associated the production is created but ONLY the FCP Project Asset is inside this production, not the whole medias.
A scan production (for the FCP file) also doesn`t work.
What works is uploading all media and associating to a production or do a Scan production into a directory with medias. But my FCP and Medias are in distinct places and a thought that FCP project could help me cleaning the Media directories (by uploading the project and after all medias are catalogued archiving them, so the rest in directories are useless).
The work around would be:
1- to do a Scan Production in the Media files and after that uploading a FCP project associating with that Production, but as I`ve said I can`t just scan the entire Media as it`s very messy and with this way I could be guaranteed that my important assets are catalogued (and archived) and the left ones in the messy directories could be quick filtered to exclusion and cleaning without worries.
2- to upload a FCP and associate to a production and after that manually move fcp associated assets to this production (this almost impossible because the limitation of 200 assets per page).
Can some one propose a better way?
Regards

No, you are correct, but unfortunately these are Elements (inside the FCP project) and not real Assets. So for instance, if you fill in the annotations on the Asset it will not show on the Elements (inside FCP projects) and vice-versa. You can`t do a lot of other things as well with elements as you can with assets.
So I would like to have a Production with all media created automatically when a FCP project is uploaded (or scanned).
Regards

FCP Project sharing

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