Video freezing in fcp4/video quality question

Question

I recorded some DV footage on my firestore fs-4 as raw dv footage. i then dumped it to my hard drive. i then imported it to final cut pro 4. when i watch the footage in the viewer window, the video freezes after about 10 seconds but the audio continues to play. it seems like the computer cant keep up with the footage? then i dump a portion of the clip into the timeline and the audio render line comes up red. i render the clip, and the clip seems to play fine in the canvas window.
Two things:
1) can I use raw dv footage without it freezing up in the viewer window? if not, how can i convert the raw dv files to quicktime files with minimun compression?
2) why does the video that plays in the canvas window look of lesser quality than the raw dv clip playing in the viewer window? is there any way to maintain that higher raw quality for the final master? if so, can that only be achieved by dumping the raw dv footage straight in from the fs-4? or can it be done thru the traditional log and capture?
sorry about the dozen questions.
Thanks.
David

Answer 1

If i understand you correctly :
1) can I use raw dv footage without it freezing up in the viewer window? if not, how can i convert the raw dv files to quicktime files with minimun compression?
either put the clip on the timeline and render it, or render it and export as a QT MOVIE then reimport.
2) why does the video that plays in the canvas window look of lesser quality than the raw dv clip playing in the viewer window? is there any way to maintain that higher raw quality for the final master? if so, can that only be achieved by dumping the raw dv footage straight in from the fs-4? or can it be done thru the traditional log and capture?
dont know anything about fs-4, but i would check tyhe properties of the clip then check the properties of the sequence, for example (is the clip and the seq 29.97 48K, or is one different. what happens when you render, does it help. ALSO REMEMBER THIS :
FCP usually defaults to rendering some but not all, to make sure FCP renders everything - goto SEQUENCE/RENDER SELECTION and make sure you have checks on EVERYTHING, if not keep checking until everything is checked.
then go back and check SEQUENCE/RENDER ALL - do the same thing, god knows why FCP does not default this.....
let me know
thanks ADAM