DROP FRAME MINIDV TAPES

Hey guys, I've got some MiniDV tapes that a client gave me that seem to all have a glitch where the tapes won't play audio and are skipping frames continuosly. The tapes are all labelled "drop frame" and "avid output". They are not playing in the DV deck (JVC) so it's actually not a FCP question. Does anyone know what this is?

As Wes said, it could very well be a dirty head(s) or misalignment problem. But are you certain the material on the tape is actually DV and not some other format? I've seen DVCam and DVCPro recorded onto MiniDV tapes in a pinch and while some DV VTRs will play DVCam footage, they don't always playback other formats.
-DH

Similar Messages

  • Ex. device detecting dropped frames (from tape) and breaking clips!

    I am using a Panasonic mini-dv camcorder to capture footage with on Final Cut Pro and the camera is being pretty sensitive to any glitches/dropped frames and is messing up capturing clips. When I try it multiple times it will sometimes not stop/find glitches, but this is very time consuming (have about 80 hours to go through!). I have gained some access to a mini-dv deck and that is working, but I also need to use the camera due to deadlines.
    Is there a way to make this sensitivity in capturing turn off? Any suggestions/tips? (I've already gone into User Preferences and deselected 'Abort Capture on Dropped Frames' and that didn't change it).
    Thanks!

    #12 Dropped frames on capture/playback
    Shane's Stock Answer #12: Dropped frames on capture/playback
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58640
    1) Do not capture to your main system drive. Since it is busy reading the operating system and application files, it will intermittently drop frames during capture. Capture to a separate internal drive, or external hard drive (firewire and eSATA for example).
    2) Deactivate any anti-virus/filesaver software, including Norton and Virex. For some reason these programs think that the large files created when you capture media are in fact caused by some sort of virus, and they try to prevent this.
    3) Check the format of the drive you are capturing to. It should be Mac OS Extended, journaling off. If it isn't, copy your files from it and re-initialize it. If it is any other format, you will encounter problems. If not at first, then eventually.
    4) Trash the FCP preference files. Use FCP Rescue available here:
    http://www.fcprescue.com
    5) Make sure that the hard drives you are capturing to are fast enough to handle the footage being captured to it. A regular firewire 400 drive cannot capture uncompressed HD, or even uncompressed standard definition. A RAID array of drives might be in order for these formats.
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  • Problems working with non drop and drop frame DVCPRO HD material in project

    I am having playback problems with my non drop frame HDV material. It stutters.
    All of our projects up to this point have been shot in drop frame. During our last shoot however the Bcam was recorded in non drop. I loaded both the non drop bcam tapes as non drop and the drop frame Acam tapes as drop. All of the drop frame Acam material plays back fine in the source viewer and the timeline. The non drop Bcam material seems to randomly stutter in the source viewer, or causes the system to serve a "dropped frames warning" in the timeline.
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    I have exported the non drop clips in a drop frame timeline and re-imported them as drop frame clips - thus correcting the problem. Is this the best solution?
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    I had no problems capturing the material as long as I used the corrrect firewire setting (ndf vs df).
    Anyone have a problem like this? I would greatly appreciate a response.
    Thanks,
    Mark

    http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/DisplayModel?m=10014&p=2&sp=141&id =78439
    The camera can record 60i, and 30F:
    "HDV 1080, 50i/60i/30F/25F Recording and Playback capable"
    Look at the clips...look at their frame rates. What do they say? Is one 59.94? Is the other 29.97?
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  • Canon GL1 and dropped frames

    Greetings all: I've used a GL1 for a long time, but will be selling it shortly to upgrade. My concern is this: it seems that my Sony DSR-20 has a problem with dropping frames on tapes shot with the camera. It seems to be increasing in frequencey. I had the camera factory reconditioned last year. And, a client had a similar problem and had to use a Canon camera to digitize.
    Is this a Sony --> Canon issue? I want to sell the camera, but I want to know the full issue before I do.
    Any experience with this is appreciated
    Dual G5 tower   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

    this is a canon issue. root around on different forums and you find many tales of woe such as this. i like canon products in general, their broadcast glass and still cameras in particular, but i would never get one of their video cameras, toooo tempremantal and naughty when cooperating with other devices.
    sell the camera, do not get another canon. my two cents.
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  • Edit to tape confusing drop frame and non drop frame

    This is a re-creation of a dead thread I found from June 6, 2006. This is the exact problem this other user was having.
    OS 10.4.7
    FCP 5.0.4
    Dual G5 2.5
    4.5 GB RAM
    KONALH
    Trying to edit to a Sony DVW-A500 (Digibeta) in Drop Frame mode.
    Read Below for deets.
    Problem: When working with a drop-frame sequence, and editing to tape, the program is edited to the tape with an offset of 3 seconds and 18 frames at the end of one hour.
    Reproducible: Yes.
    Steps to Reproduce:
    1. Create a drop-frame sequence.
    2. Edit the sequence in step 1.
    3. Perform an edit to tape with the sequence edited in step 2.
    What should happen: The sequence should be edited to tape at the time it occurs in the timeline.
    What does happen: The sequence is edited to the tape 3 seconds and 18 frames after it should be!
    Other observations: 3 seconds and 18 frames is exactly how much time is not in an hour of drop-frame time when compared to non-drop frame time. If you drop two (2) frames in every minute that does not end in zero, the math works out to 2*54=108 dropped frames in an hour. For the sake of simple mathematics, lets say there are 30 frames in a second. So 108/30= 3 with a remainder of 18, or 3 seconds and 18 frames.
    It's as if FCP is getting confused about drop and non-drop timecode when the sequence is drop-frame. If anyone can offer any insights, confirmation, or resolutions for what I am seeing, it would be appreciated.
    Thanks for reading!

    So is the timeline a drop frame timeline, starting at 1:00:00:00?
    And then is the DBeta tape prestriped (at least enough to do an assemble edit) to start the program at 01:00:00:00?
    In other words, is the FCP timeline timecode matching the Dbeta tape timecode in a 1:1 relationship before you attempt to Edit to Tape?
    Thinking further: FCP can't really confuse the two timecodes, it's dependent on the operator to tell it what to do. When it outputs it's not outputing timecode or looking even really looking for timecode. It's looking for your IN point in the Edit to Tape tool.
    Message was edited by: loyed256

  • Dropped frames during playback and Record To Tape

    Mac G-5, OS X 10.4.4; 4 X 2.5 GHz; 4.5 GB DDR2; NVIDIA GeForce 6600 w/256MB.
    G-Raid 1TB, Format Mac OS Extended; External FireWire 800 port.
    Maxtor 300GB Internal, Format Mac OS Extended (journaled)
    Tape deck, Sony Mini DV GV-D1000 NTSC FireWire 400 port used for digitizing and mastering.
    Have searched forum for solution to dropped frames. Based on other suggestions, set Final Cut Pro 5 RT button to SafeRT; Playback quality to High; Playback Frame Rate, Full. Compression rate at 75%. Sequence > Render All-Video Needs Rendering;Audio, For Playback Render Only-Mixdown.
    System Settings--Scratch Disk Video Capture and Audio Capture set to RAID. Video Render and Audio Render set both to Maxtor or RAID. Either case dropped frames.
    User Preference--Real-Time Audio Mixing, 2 tracks (have also tried 4 tracks, which equals # of tracks actually used).
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    Kerwin

    Any heavy filtering and/or effects?...including audio, since you've specified the same number of audio tracks in your real-time audio prefs that you're working with...
    ...and yes, please explain 75% compression...
    K

  • Drop-Frame v. Non-Drop Frame and Edit to Tape

    System Configuration: G5 Dual 2.0, QT v7.0.4, FCP v5.0.4, OS X v10.4.6, KonaLH, Keyspan USA-28x USB-->Serial Adapter
    Problem: When working with a drop-frame sequence, and editing to tape, the program is edited to the tape with an offset of 3 seconds and 18 frames.
    Reproducible: Yes.
    Steps to Reproduce:
    1. Create a drop-frame sequence.
    2. Edit the sequence in step 1.
    3. Perform an edit to tape with the sequence edited in step 2.
    What should happen: The sequence should be edited to tape at the time it occurs in the timeline.
    What does happen: The sequence is edited to the tape 3 seconds and 18 frames after it should be!
    Other observations: 3 seconds and 18 frames is exactly how much time is not in an hour of drop-frame time when compared to non-drop frame time. If you drop two (2) frames in every minute that does not end in zero, the math works out to 2*54=108 dropped frames in an hour. For the sake of simple mathematics, lets say there are 30 frames in a second. So 108/30= 3 with a remainder of 18, or 3 seconds and 18 frames.
    It's as if FCP is getting confused about drop and non-drop timecode when the sequence is drop-frame. If anyone can offer any insights, confirmation, or resolutions for what I am seeing, it would be appreciated.
    Thanks for reading!

    This may be related to a "bug" or issue that has been around since FCP1. When FCP is using deck control over firewire, The timecode display will default to DF, even if the tape is NDF. Look closely at the timecode dispays in the edit to tape window. If you see a semicolon before the frames place, FCP is seeing the tape TC as DF. Play the tape until you see the TC display change to NDF, then re-set your in point. This has worked for me in the past.
    Hope this helps.

  • Reverts to non drop frame without a tape

    Whenever I try to just log timecodes into Final Cut without a tape, it reverts to non-drop frame timecode. How do I tell final cut to always revert to drop frame?

    Well I wasn't typing typing either, but when I do type a semicolon it reverts to a colon

  • PPro cs 6.0.2 Export to Tape Dropped Frames

    My specs are in my profile pic (pending approval).  I just upgraded to PP cs6 and have an odd thing happening.  Has anyone else seen this?  Does anyone have an explanation?
    Whenever I output to tape (FireWire to Panasonic AJ-D250, DVC Pro), I get dropped frames.  Anywhere from 2-30 but I only get them in the first five seconds or so.  After that I don't think it drops a darn thing.  I don't hear or see any stutters in my output as of yet.  I usually start with five seconds of black so I really don't care if that has drops. This is more of an oddity at this point.
    What I've tried, each case the timeline was fully rendered:
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    Outputting NOTHING (put something in the timeline, increase the work area, delete the instance)
    Clean Cache & delete prefs and retry the above
    I think I forgot something else but that is my list.
    I reinstalled PP cs 5.5 and tried an output from that.  All was golden...no drops and smooth playing.
    I'm playing back NTSC video off a 5TB RAID drive, it's not like I'm trying to play 1080i off a memory card or anything.
    So that's what I've got going.  Like I said, an oddity.  The moment this starts to hinder the important stuff, the stuff that goes on air or in presentations, then I'm going to be a little more upset.

    I don't use tape, but I do have a few saved links that may help
    Export to Tape http://forums.adobe.com/message/4699448
    Hardware MPE must be OFF to be able to export via Firewire
    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/902499
    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/880824

  • Tape based camcorder is giving me an error. Import was aborted due to dropped frames

    Importing into imovie. Tape based camcorder is giving me an error. "import was aborted due to dropped frames" There are spots on the tape that have no image. the tape must have been fast forwarded so some soptes are blank. I just want to capture the video and burn to a dvd disc. Importing into iMovie.
    I just wast to record into imovie and burn the home movie to dvd disc. i have done this with other tapes. What do i do? Please help.

    the built-in webcam doesn't deliver standard video with a 'clocked' time-base, such as 25 or 30fps.
    I assume, when the frame-rate starts to flow too much, FCPX interprets this as a drop-out.
    I would suggest to use the Quicktime Player X app to record first, and use a converter tool such as Mpeg Streamclip to 'convert' it into a regular, with a fix timecode, stream.
    Plan B)
    from my box of silly advices:
    give this a try: rise the surrounding brightness - lower frame-rates are used by webcams to compensate low-light conditions.
    in general: I would never suggest to use FPCX as a 'recording' tool .......

  • Dropped frames on capture from miniDV camcorder

    Can't capture as I'm instantly gettting 'dropped frames on last capture' error message. I can control my sony DCR-PC5E PAL camcorder remotely though using Firewire.
    Any suggestions as to how I overcome this please?

    Dropped frames during capture are typically caused by:
    · Bad tape
    · Dirty or misaligned playback heads
    · Defective Firewire cable
    · Poor data throughput - using a Firewire hub; capturing from a Canon device; capturing to a USB hard drive; capturing to an improperly formatted hard drive; too many Firewire devices sharing the same Firewire bus
    -DH

  • Avoiding Dropped Frames While Printing to Tape

    Hi everyone. Quick question. I'm trying to avoid dropped frames during playback while printing to Mini DV, and I just read the article everyone links to about ways to do it.
    Some solutions are to reduce playback quality, lower framerate, change RT to unlimited, turn on Play Base Layer Only, etc. I was just wondering if any or all of these solutions will affect the quality of my sequence on Mini DV. I see that the lower framerate does, but the others, I can't really tell on my small camera screen.
    Thanks.

    ... reduce playback quality, lower framerate, change RT to unlimited, turn on Play Base Layer Only, etc...
    Most of these settings are for playback only and are ignored for printing to video/edit to tape.
    Did you read this thread?:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1403093&tstart=0
    Jerry's tip to export a Selfcontained movie first is a very good workaround.
    Andy's tips are very important too.
    And finally, if your footage is on an external firewire drive, I want to tell you the importance of having an extra firewire card to make sure that your camera is on another firewire bus than your disk(s). (On your G5 all firewire ports are on the same bus and the camera slows down the bitrate of the whole chain. And so can cause dropframe problems)
    Rienk

  • Drop frames when printing to tape !

    HI
    I would like some help please !!!
    The problem is when I print to tape I keep on getting drop frames
    Here is the run down
    The video is normal some where around 1hr 30 min 2hrs long
    3 layers maximum
    The audio is four layers
    I have tried “Nesting all items” and then printing to video (it last a little longer but I still get the same problem)
    My system stats are as follows
    G5 Dual 2.7 with 3.5GB Ram, 10.4.8, FCP 5.04 650GB Internal HD and 900GB Sata HD
    Thanks

    Maurice,
    make sure all your audio is 48K
    close all sequences other than the one you are using to print to tape
    Try exporting your project as a QT movie then place it back on a new timeline and print to tape that way
    make sure your hard drives are not going to sleep
    try recording from the timeline rather than using the print to tape function

  • Not rendering - Getting dropped frames when exporting to tape

    I am trying to export my project to Mini DV tape. I have been successful before, but am continually getting dropped frames. I noticed that the sections that are getting dropped frames are showing that it is not rendered (red bar). I have tried rendering them several times, but still show the red bar. I am using a PowerMac G5, Dual 2 GHZ processor with 3GB RAM. The footage is on a Lacie Firewire 800 external hardrive and there is almost 200 GB of free space. I do get occasional dropped frames, but not as often as I am now.

    Is there anything else I can do? When I get the Warning - Dropped frames, it suggests turning off "Unlimited RT", which I have and set to "Safe" because I was getting dropped frames. Will this affect the quality when exporting? I have set the Video Quality to "Dynamic" and Frame Rate "Full" and Record "Full Quality". Do any of these settings need to be changed? Lowering your compression data rate (I'm not sure what that is), Closing open sequences (which I've done), Lowering the preference for real-time audio tracks (how do I do that and again will it affect the quality?), Increasing the speed of your system and/or disk drives and/or network connection (Is there a way for me to do that?)

  • Dealing with dropped frames and out of sync audio

    Hi!
    I'm using Final Cut Studio 3 and I'm trying to record some video from a pretty old MiniDV-camera. The problem is that a have some dropped frames and when I record the whole thing it gets out of sync.
    By default Final Cut aborts the capture (without saving) when it finds dropped frames. That won't work for me. I start recording, it records a couple of minutes and then it just aborts without saving anything.
    I tried to record the entire tape when using the option of not aborting on dropped frames. I recorded the entire video but not it gets more and more out of sync later and later in the video.
    So, do you have any suggestions on how to deal with this? Maybe I can use an external application for this cause I haven't found a way to deal with this in Final cut.
    Best
    Felix

    Hi(Bonjour)!
    Did you shoot in DV or HDV ?
    Did you try to capture HDV with Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i60 (or 50 for europe)?
    Does you downconvert HDV shooted to DV upon capturing from camcorder ?
    DV-NTSC 48 kHz is the way to go with downconverted material.
    Does your DV audio setting is 16 bit on FX1 ? (HDV is a fixed one).
    Michel Boissonneault

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