Dropped frame ****

I've had the same problem for a couple of years and I wondered if anyone could help
When I output my final programmes from FCP to DVCAM tape, I almost always end up with what i think are dropped frames like small juders, which causes the programme to be rejected by the TV station I am selling to. Their technical dept says that the video skips back one frame and then forward two
I have just purchased a new drive (a LACIE Porche) , figuring it is mostly because of full disks and disk fragmentaion but have had same problem. I always create a stand alone FCP file, uplug my ethernet connection, disable the diplay on screen and auto archive options and either print to video or play from the timeline.
I had one success with a file on a Lacie Extreme drive yesterday (Which may have a bigger buffer) and have about 1.5 gig fee on my internal drive (in case I need extra memory). I am mastering 5 programmes and am trying different methods
Normally when I master programmes it takes me at least 4 attempts to get a clean version. This is bad enough with a 22 minuite programme but even worse with a 2.5 hour film. The post prod house which transfers my dvcam to digibeta tells me it is a common problem with lots of the producers they deal with.
Does anyone know if this is likely to be a hard drive fragmention problem or a memory problem
should i upgrade to a G5?
Should I just get loads more memory?
Is one kind of Lacie drive better than another?
Is keeping a virgin drive for mastering and reformating it each time goinf to help?
I am using FCP version 3.
Even though a lot of things in post production (such as creating split music and effects files) cause me problems this is the biggest single problem I have and it waisting hundereds of pounds in needless deck hire for each project I produce, not to mention driving me slighly crazy!
Dual 450 MHZ Power PC G4   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   768MB SDRAM

I'd try reformatting and reinstalling and/or upgrading to a newer version of FCP (4.5 would do the trick).
I don't think it's the speed of the computer necessarily. We just retired a Dual 500mhz G4, which is almost identical to what he has, and it was rock solid. We just needed more speed.
As for the jumping, we had that happening on a Dual G5 2.0 ghz. A reformat took care of that.

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    I can play most of the sequences on the book's dvd in real time fine except for this one. With this one as soon as I get to the clips that have a lot of audio channels as well as a lower third text effect I get the dropped frames message. I can render the whole sequence and watch the whole thing fine. Really my question is this: I thought having spent what I did on a mac pro that would be enough hardware power to play back almost anything in real time, but do I need something else like more memory or the faster ati video card to play back this "heavier" sequences?
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  • When i am logging/ Capturing my mac is telling me that i am getting dropped frames. would i need to get a LaCie Hard Drive?

    When i am logging/ Capturing my mac is telling me that i am getting dropped frames. would i need to get a LaCie Hard Drive?

    To be honest, I've had 2 Lacie drives crash out of 2 bought.  That's not a good track record for me.
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    Let me explain a bit more.  External hard drive manufacturers often put no-name hard drives into fancy cases to cut costs and that's how they make a profit.  I've have had nothing but problems with with these types of drives. (Like Lacie) You are much better off getting some type of decent drive enclosure and getting your own GOOD hard drive.  I would highly recommend Seagate, I have NEVER had a problem with a Seagate drive in 20 years of owning PCs and Macs.  Western Digital is also a good brand (though I had 1 crash). These are the types of drives you would put in your Mac Pro.  You want to get an SATA hard drive.
    I have owned several external cases where the case electronics fried, but the hard drives were still in good shape. Take the hard drive out, put it into a new case you're good to go!
    For video you want to make sure that your hard drive case supports Firewire 800!  This is mandatory.
    My personal favorite, (and I own 5 of these) is Vantec's NexStar hard drive enclosure.  They accept any SATA 3.5" drive (I bought mine from a company called ComputerStop).  I have yet to have a single problem with any of them.  They are solid aluminum casing, you can literally throw them into your backback, drop them on the floor and your hard drive is fairly well protected from impact damage (at least you won't break the case with anything short of a sledgehammer).  I am currently looking at getting a second one of these:
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    (My bad, this is an IDE case up to 750GB)
    This the one you want:
    http://www.vantecusa.com/gl/product/view_detail/354
    As far as the hard drive, you can get a Seagate Baracuda drive 1TB at 7200rpm drive for about $60.  The case and hard drive together, maybe a few over $100 for the whole thing.  With shipping, and tax figure about $150.
    Don't let the price fool you.  It will rock.
    Story: I got an iOmega "raid" case with two Seagate drives in it and the iOemga case fried, but the hard drives were still good. Fortunately, they were in two removable trays.  I put them into two "rocketfish" hard drive cases almost 3 years ago and I am still using them every day today. 
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    Is it hard to set up?
    Not at all.  You put the hard drive into a tray, (with Vantec case), screw it in.  It only goes in 1 way.  Plug in a power cable to the drive.  Slide the tray into the case (carefully, don't munch the power cable!) and screw it in place. You can literally do it in 10 minutes or less.  There are, of course instructions, but if you are reasonably clever, you can literally see what plugs into what just by looking at it.
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    Peace.

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