Analyzing video 0%?

Question

I have  captured about 30 min of video through firewire 800 from a Sony Fx1 (so from tape). I chose to analize video for poeple and consolidate results. In the last two hours, backgroung tasks have done nothing. I am running final cut x  on a new mac book pro with 4 gb and the radeon HD 6750M. But after three hours trascode and analyze are all at 0%. There is the option to pause the function, which would suggest that fcpx beleives it is transcoding or analyzing or both. The circle on the tool bar (middle part) is turning, but no number is displayed in the middle. If I try to quit, it says background tasks are underway. Everything is totally at 0%. What am I doing wrong?
We have done other projects with fcpx but from files. This is the first from tape. Maybe the process is different?
Thank yoiu for your help
antonio

Answer 1

Yes, sometimes we have to manually stop the camera.  When you do the import there will be a little circle on each of the clips that the window shows.  These clips are the ones on your camera.  The little circle will work like a little clock that fills up as the importing of that clip progresses.  When that clip is completely imported the circle will be all white. When there are no more circles on the clips, all importing is complete and you can close out the import from camera window and stop your camera if needed. You would have already specified the event you wanted to import those clips to.  From that event you will be able to use them in your timeline.  Remember you might want to also make a camera archive using the Import from Camera window.  I always set the option to convert the files to optimized media upon import.  This converts your camera's clips to ProRes after it imports them.  FCP X may take a little while to convert them in the background, but it is well worth it.  This is the professional format that FCP X needs to efficiently edit video.  Even though these ProRes files are around 5 to 7 times the size of the originals, it is far better to edit in these.  Later you can choose the Delete Project Render Files from the File menu of FCP X to free up space after your project is completed.  Best wishes.
stephen