Dropped frames during Analog to Digital capture

I've been slowly working on a project capturing analog 8mm video tapes to my computer with no problems so far but am getting a lot of dropped frames on one particular tape. I've been using Scenalyzer for the capture and on this particular tape, am getting approx. 30 dropped frames every 10 to 15 seconds.
I've cleaned the heads of the camcorder and shut down background processes on my computer with no improvement.
As a test though, I captured the same clip using WinDV and had significantly fewer dropped frames, but WinDV doesn't do optical scene detection which is why I'd prefer continuing to use Scenalyzer.
It it the software or my computer causing the dropped frames or is it the age/condition of the 8mm tape? Any advice appreciated.

It looks like the dropped frame issue has been fixed. The glitches occurred during playback from the files on the hard drive so they looked to be real but I did two things. First, I Played/FF the tape for the first 15 minutes of the tape and then Played/Rewinded it as Bill suggested.
Secondly, I noticed that my S-Video cable from the Hi8 camcorder didn't connect very well to the front of the ADS Pyro unit so I trimmed back the surrounding plastic on the S-Video cable to get a more solid connection to the ADS unit. Between those those two things, I'm getting a nice capture now.
Thanks again for the help. Now onto transferring and editing the shoebox of tapes.

Similar Messages

Help Please? Dropped frames during capture!

Hello everyone, I am capturing from a mini DV camera to FC Express HD using a fire wire. I've been doing this for a year and all the sudden I'm getting a "dropped frame during capture" message.
I have read many many discussion boards and tried all of your suggestions...
Using different camera's, different tapes, different firewire cables. I've uninstalled and reinstalled FC EX HD and Quicktime. I tried turning off my external drives and using the internal drive to capture to and created a FC project within the internal drive. I have plenty of space on all drives.
Does anyone have any other ideas? Nothing seems to be working. I appriecate your help!!!!!
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.9) final cut express hd

maybe you switch off the warn dropped frames during
capture option... after that watch your clips... is
there any problem still?
I'm really worried now. I turned off the "warn dropped frames" option. After capture, when I playback, I get a warning that there are dropped frames, and then picture freezes. Help! I don't know what to do!
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Dropped Frames During Capture

FCE HD is dropping frames during capture when I'm taking video from my Canon Video camera and the three DVD players I've been using. Any suggestions or ideas?
Here's my info:
- Didn't work for either of these setups:
- Canon to my iBook G4 via firewire
- DVD player to DVD converter via RCA cables to ibook via firewire
- My external Harddrive (LaCie 230 GB) is hooked up to my laptop via USB Drive.
- Easy setup configured to DV-NTSC or DV-NTSC-DV Converter dpending on capture device
Thanks in advance for the help

Hi Lisa,
Well, for starters you probably have less free space on your internal HD than you did a year ago - rule of thumb is keep at least 15%-20% free space on your drives, especially your system drive; more free space is better. Couple that with the fact that USB really can't keep up with the demands of video and it's easy to get dropped frames.
There's also the question of what else you've put on your machine since last year, whether or not you updated OSX or QT since then, if you have anything else running when you capture ... there could be lots of factors.
Have you ever run a maintenance utility on your Mac - eg. MacOSXCocktail, MacJanitor, Onyx, etc ?

Dropped frames during capture attempt

Hi,
I keep getting dropped frames during my capture attempts. I am using a Canon Elura 70 as my playback deck which I realize is not ideal for log and capture. Can anyone one give me suggestions as to how to solve this problem?
Thanx,
John

I'd try to borrow a friend's camcorder and see if that works which would isolate the problem to your Canon. As you're probably aware, it's very possible that the Canon is the source of the problem - especially if you're experiencing the problem with both the G4 and the MBP - I assume you're using at least FCP5.1.x?
Are you daisychained through an external FW drive? Are you capturing to the system drive? You don't have any other apps open?
Have you successfully captured with this set-up before? Have you tried changing the firewire cable?

Dropping Frames During Capture; Noticed QT Update.

Dear Friends,
I have Final Cut 4.5, Lacie 500gig drives, use for DV industrial projects, typically capturing 1 hr tapes in 15 min clips. Then, at 5min30sec +/-, capture freezes and an error msg tells me frames were dropped during capture. I have tried every config to troubleshoot, including erasing one of the drives. Right now I can batch 4min clips, any longer and I get dropped frames.
My last successful capture was on 10/22/07; QT updated to v7.3 on 10/23/07. I'm running OS10.3.9 and use a DSR-11.
Everything else seems to be operating fine. If the QT update is the culprit, how do I fix this? Or is there a different solution? I just want my perfectly-running Final Cut system back!!
Regards, Matt Alcorn

QT updated to v7.3 on 10/23/07.
Why did you do that? The most stable version of FCP 4.5 is with OS 10.3.9 and QT 6.5. Heck, even 7.1.6 works. BUT, why did you mess with a good thing?
NEVER mess with a good thing:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1275141&tstart=50
Shane

Dropping frame during capture

Hi
I keep dropping frames during capture. A message say "switch off unlimited RT" How do I do that and are there any other options. It had a new hard drive with bulk space still remaining

No, "Safe RT" plays everything at the highest quality therefore if your computer is not fast enough you drop frames.
Unlimited and Dynamic will reduce the quality of the played back video so that the computer can usually cope. (Note that when you output your finished project it will be at maximum quality).
If you are struggling with FCE, download a couple of hours of free video tutorials here:-
http://www.izzyvideo.com/learn-final-cut-express/

Dropped Frames During Playback

So I'm new to Final Cut Studio and have been trying to ingest footage from a SANYO digital file based camcorder. It records in several HD modes including full 1080i and in MPEG-4 file form. I've had trouble getting the files into Final Cut on my MacBook Pro and editing without constantly having frames dropped. I'm not sure what to do. Is it a problem with my computer (which is brand-spanking new)? Also, I get a warning when trying to Log and Transfer the footage telling me I have un-supported media. Any insight I can get on the issue would be excellent.

FCP works best when the media you're importing or capturing matches the Sequence settings. Check your Sequence settings in FCP and see if they exactly match the settings of the clips you're trying to use. If they don't match, it may be best to convert them to match PRIOR to importing them, or use Sequence settings that match the clips.
FWIW, when you get dropped frames during playback, it's an indication that the effort to read and display the clips is exceeding the ability of your system. This can be due to a number of things or a combination of things. Some of the conditions that can contribute to the problem are (in no particular order):
• data throughput problems due to hard drive connection, buss speed or drive speed
• using media made with a codec that isn't fully supported in FCP
• using corrupted media files
• RT settings not right for your system
There are other conditions as well, but those are the most common.
-DH

Dropped frames during playback due to "slow disk"

I work off an external Rocstor 160gb firewire drive; suddenly as I started to edit a project I get constant dropped frames during playback. It says it's due to "slow disks" and I wondered if my hard drive was dying. But I opened other projects on the drive and they play just fine. Why just this one? It's shot on the same format, captured the same -- nothing's different from my older projects. Maybe the captured media files got corrupted? I've never seen this. I've tried using the Rocstor on three different machines (first a 17" PB, then two different G5 towers) and it happens on all of them. I have FC5 on the PB, but FC6 on the G5s -- doesn't matter. I'm stumped here.

How full's the drive? The fuller it gets, the slower it becomes. If it wasn't a superfast FW drive to begin with (especially a 400 device) You're gonna have problems as it gets fuller... starts slowing down big time around 70% capacity. It's always something... if the drive's not in a fast enclosure, and is also a fastish drive has a least 8mb disk cache, it will behave like this with DV footage.
One thing I've seen and learned from reading a few posts on this is that the better/faster stuff suited for FCP use is worth the investment. G-Raid, Grainite Digital, OWC all sell really nice FW800 setups... they are up to twice as fast as older/slower FW 400 drives. and NEVER buy any more than you need now for storage. It's half the price and twice the speed next time you need more it seems.
eSATA should be considered by any pro. laptop or not.
Jerry

Dropped frames during playback & must render everything & tried everything

This is an updated question. My last posting for some reason did not include everything, such as my System Settings, A/V Settings, and View Settings. There also was no Preview option. Hope it works this time.
I am editing a multiple camera project with a lot of color correction (to get the cameras to match up), and photo montages with motion and image compositing.
I am getting way too many dropped frames during playback, and I have to render every little thing, even simple dissolves. It's taking forever to work like this, and is extremely counter productive. I have tried all the obvious things, but nothing seems to be working. Please help.
I have a 17 inch Mac Book Pro, using OX 10.4.8, processor 2.16 ghz, Intel Core Duo, memory 2 gigs, 667 mhz, DDR2 SDRAM.
Using FCP 5.1.4, and Quicktime 7.1.3
My external hard drive is a 300 gig Maxtor One Touch II, firewire 800, 7200 rpm, which is divided up into 3 partitions of 100 gigs each:
First Partition - 12.79 gigs left (did not use for this project. Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Second Partition - 44.53 gigs left. Currently using now. MAC OS Extended.
Third Partition - 47.75 gigs left. (Used earlier - had another project on it and ran out of space so I switched to the second partition. The other project is now deleted which left me 47.75 gigs.) Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
Here are my current settings that may be applicable:
- Tried variations of playback control: safe and unlimited
- Tried variations of playback video quality: dynamic, high, medium and low.
- Tried variations of playback frame rate: dynamic, full, 1/2, and 1/4
- Record to tape is at full quality.
- Play Base Layer only: Tried on and off
- Monitor Color LCD 1280 x 800 millions, NTSC/PAL 640 x 480 60 hertz NTSC. There is only one ntsc setting which is 60 hertz, so I am unable to increase it.
- User Prefs - Real time audio mixing is at 2.
- System Settings
Memory Usage
Application 100% (1820 MB)
Still Cache 10% (167 MB)
Thumbnail Cache
Disk 8192 k
Ram 512 k
- A/V Settings
Sequence Presets
Frame size - 720 x 480 pixels
Edit timebase - 29.97 fps
Field Dominance - lower even
Pixel Aspect Ratio - NTSC-CCIR 601/DV
Anamorphic - Off
Video Processing - YUV allowed (8 bit)
White Point - White
Compressor - dv/dvcpro-ntsc
Millions of Colors (24 bit)
No Date Rate Limit
No Keyframes Set
Quality - 100
Audio Settings
16-bit 48.000 kHz stereo
View
Video Playback - Digital Cinema Desktop - Full Screen
Sequence
Render All - Everything is checked.
I haven't increase my memory aloted to fcp yet, cause I'm not sure how do it with this version. The article that I found was for the older version. Would that help? If so, could someone tell me exactly how to do it?
Well, that's it. Hope one of you experts out there will be able to help me out.
Thanks
Anneita

Even if you use Dynamic as your playback setting, depending on the complexity of the edit or composite, you may still get dropped frames. Keep in mind that the weak link in this chain is the FW800 connection. You also mentioned that you using quite a bit of color correction as well as motion effects. Depending on the color correction, the more that you add to your sequence as far as effects are concerned, the more processing is required. The dropped frames that you are experiencing is most likely the computer trying to maintain realtime playback at the expense of the quality of the picture. In order to really judge the final result, you'll need to render.
The official definition of Dynamic Playback:
This option allows Final Cut Pro to automatically change between high,
medium, and low quality as necessary to maintain real-time playback. In this case,
the quality of the video resolution can change frame by frame.

Ran Software Updates and Now Drop Frames during Playback

I updated all of my Software back in late December. Since I have updated, all projects (old and new created ones) within Final Cut drop frames during playback. I had no issues with drop frames until I ran the Software Updates. Currently running Leopard 10.5.6, Final Cut 6.0.5, Quicktime 7.5.5. Any suggestions on how to determine why I now have drop frames. Is there an easy way to revert back to software that was in place prior to me running Software Updates on 12/22/08?
Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.
Jim Bob

ZRose:
First, you should have an up-to-date tested reliable backup. The best way to do it is to get an external Firewire HDD, clone you entire computer to is using SuperDuper, then keep it up-do-date.
Next, get in the habit of doing regular maintenance procedures. Here are some links to help.
Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
Mac OS X 10.3/10.4: System maintenance
Maintaining OS X
For the probably immediately at hand
Repair Disk
Insert Installer disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu (Panther and earlier) or Utilities menu (Tiger) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel, and report if it says anything but Verified)
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
If DU reports errors it cannot repair you will need to use a utility like Tech Tool Pro or Disk Warrior
BGreg's suggestion to install the Combo update is a valid fix. Remember to Repair Disk Permissions before and after installation.
Please post back with further questions or comments.
Good luck.
cornelius

Dropped Frames During Capture but no Warning

Hello!
Set up: iMac 20" (early 2006) with 512RAM, Acomdata 250GB External FW HD, Canon GL1 as FW Deck.
When I capture video the process always seems to work, no error messages and yes the dropped frame error boxes are checked in User Preferences, and I always receive the "successful" message when the capture is done. But when I play the video there are numerous dropped frames.
The source tape is fine.
Both external devices are plugged into the iMac's FW ports, not daisy chained. The HD is brand new with no data on it and formatted as Mac OS Extended
I guess what bothers me most is the system does the captures regardless of dropped frames or not - and without any warnings.
What can I do to fix this?
Thanks!

As a normal workflow you may have to capture to the
internal hard-disk.
Generally, as a rule, a drive other than your system drive, if connected and formatted correctly, should be more reliable for capture and output than the system drive, but when the job needs to gets done - whatever workaround works, eh?
I'm with andy though that the thing that scares me the most is that FCP alsmost never seems to abort on dropped frames on either capture or output. I have seen my output freeze for 10 frames at a time, audio disappearing, huge multi-frame digital glitches in DV capture with the scrambled rainbow video and loud screeching audio hit. An output of a 1-hour doc - Uncompressed to DBC via our AJA Io from the RAID - opened up a 6-frame black hole in the output - playback just topped for 6 frames. The only way I knew to even look for it was because I checked a match frame at the end of the tape and my video was out of place by 6 frames. If that's not a "dropped frame" I don't know what is. I've seen this on 3 different workstations, from 4 different decks, using several combinations of input/output hardware, and in all cases, FCP just glitches away without ever aborting or alerting about dropped frames. I'm so paranoid now about my masters (some of our output is for broadcast) I keep reviewing them over and over.

Dropped Frames During Capture! Please Help!

I have tried capturing numerous tapes and I still get the same error message. "Dropped frames were detected during last capture attempt". I have only recently had this problem and I have read other threads saying that QuickTime could be the problem but I am running on QT v7.3.1 and Final Cut Pro HD 4.5
I have my capture scratch set to a G-Raid 750GB external hardrive and I don't know what else the problem could be. Can anyone help

could be the problem but I am running on QT v7.3.1 and Final Cut Pro HD 4.5
That is your problem. QT 7.3 and FCP 4.5 are incompatible. The best version of QT for that version of FCP is QT 6.5. Unfortunately you cannot simply revert to the older version, as components and system files are installed all over. What you'll need to do is an Archive and Install of the OS...and DO NOT upgrade to QT 7.3.
Shane

Can't figure out why I'm dropping frames during capture

I'm dropping frames when capturing 1-hour Mini DV tapes and I can't figure out why.
I'm capturing on a Mac Pro (Early '08) with 8 GB of memory running FCP 7.0.3 and OS X 10.6.6. I'm capturing to a 4 TB G-Speed eS (eSATA) formatted as RAID 5 (Non-Journaled Extended) with about 750 GB of remaining space. I'm capturing via FireWire with a Canon GL-2. This should be a breeze for this system.
I've run Apple Disk Utility, Disc Warrior 4 and Techtool Pro 5 on the drives and they seem to be fine. I've unplugged all USB and FireWire devices besides the keyboard and mouse. No virus protection or background utilities are running. I've trashed preferences. AJA System Test shows a 286 MB/s write speed and 254 MB/s read speed. Blackmagic Disk Speed Test shows a 312 MB/s write speed and a 379 MB/s read speed. No other applications besides FCP are running. I edit 1080p HD footage on this system all day long with no issues but when I try to capture DV SD footage, I run into issues.
The dropped frames error does not ever occur in the same place on the tapes. The tapes are brand new and don't seem to have any time code issues. The only thing I haven't done is to defragment the hard drives. I wouldn't think that capturing simple DV video would be that demanding; the defragment for a 4 TB RAID would likely take 2 or 3 days.
Any other ideas on what's going on and how to try to fix it? Thanks!

Thanks for the prompt reply, Studio X. Yes, I'm using FireWire Basic and no other FireWire devices. I've switched FireWire cables, although I doubt that's the issue as the cable I was using was brand new and fit snuggly. Unfortunately, I don't have an alternate playback device right now. Would switching to Non-controllable device capture settings be worth a try?

XSAN and FCP5 - Drops frames during capture

We are trying to capture video directly to an XSAN volume from FCP, and we get dropped frames usually within 5 minutes. Capturing to local HD works fine.
We've been dealing with these problems on and off ever since we got the XSAN. We've 'tuned' our fiber switch, reinstalled 10.4 and FCP and the XSAN software from scratch, ran all the updates to the latest stuff, and still no loving from the SAN environment.
I'm coming to the conclusion that this just doesn't work - does anyone else capture from a DV deck directly to a SAN volume successfully? If so, any hints or tips about what / where I might turn to get this working??
Thanks!

Derrick,
I have successfully captured from SDI with 8 Channels of Embedded Audio through the AJA I/O into the DV Codec (which ends up being 4.5 Mb/S) for more than an hour without a problem (directly to Xsan Volume).
If you are hitting a wall about 5 minutes everytime, it sounds like the cache in the controllers on the Xraid are filling up (1 Gig = 5 minutes of DV) and not writing to the drives properly.
I might sound far fetched, but just a though.
Kalagan

Dropping frames during capture Premiere 2.0

I am capturing 63minute mini-dv tapes, and I am dropping 5-8 frames every 10 minutes and 1 second.
I am running Premiere Pro 2.0, win XP SP2 on a hpxw4300 workstation with pentium 4. I have had this system for years, and have recently put new hard drives in, which is when the problem started. The new drives are Seagate 500GB SATA.
I have also tried capturing with windows movie maker - same problem. Tried capturing through matrox capture card and through the in-built firewire port - same result. Have tried changing the scratch disks which didn't help.
Any ideas? Really desperate to figure this out because i edit a lot of seminar footage and i'm sick of having to re-capture the dropped frames and splice them in.
Justin.

Two possibilities:
1. The tape you are capturing from really has dropped frames. Nothing you can do about it.
2. Your PC is not up to capturing, which I think is unlikely, unless you are running an old P4.
You can try to see with Process Explorer what processes are running. If there are more than 40-50 processes running, kill all extraneous activities.
Look here: Sysinternal Utilities

Dropped frames during Analog to Digital capture

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