Final Cut Express-Capturing footage off of mini dv with no timecode

Hello,
For some reason my canon xm1 isn't showing timecode from the mini dv. I've already played footage from the same mini dv off of another mini dv deck and it did show timecode. Now Final Cut Express won't allow me to play clips in because it has no reference. Is there a way around this?

Hello Franco,
Welcome to the forum. There are lots of good people here who can provide advice & help.
What is your exact hardware setup - are you using any external Firewire hard drives? What version of FCE are you using; what Easy Setup are you using in FCE (DV-PAL, for example).
Did it work before or has it never worked with FCE?

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Final Cut Express moving videos off hard drive

So I started capturing some footage on my laptop because I didn't have an external drive available. I finished the project, and now I'm back home with my external drive. My internal drive had 1.5 gigs free now, and I want to move all the footage I captured from FCE onto the external.
I know iMovie has an option to export the project and all the files into a single file. Does FCE have an option like this, or do I need to go through finder to where it saved all the footage and move them like that? How can I do this without losing all the links and having to reconnect my media...
hopefully this all makes sense, I've never really used FCE

Hello Drew,
FCE doesn't have that option. You will have to use the Finder to copy the folders/files to your external drive and yes you will have to Reconnect Media after moving the files.
Be sure your external drive is formatted as Mac OS Extended and is connected via Firewire.
In FCE, close your Project. Then in FCE preferences reset your scratch disk location to the new Final Cut Express Documents folder on your external drive. Then exit FCE.
The default FCE scratch disk location is /Users/yourusername/Final Cut Express Documents. Normally your FCE project file and related material is in this folder. Under it you will find the following folders:
Autosave Vault
Capture Scratch
Render Files
Waveform Cache
Thumbnail Cache
and there may be an Audio Render Files folder too
At this point you should be able to find a Final Cut Express Documents folder on your external drive; it should have automatically been created when you reset your FCE preferences earlier, along with an Autosave Vault and a Capture Scratch folder. Copy the files from your internal drive's Autosave Vault and Capture Scratch folders to the corresponding new folders on your external drive. Don't bother copying the render files or cache files - it will be better to re-render after you move your project. Also, if you have any other source media such as photos or music, copy them to a new folder on your external drive. Keep your FCE project file on your internal hard drive but do make a backup copy of it somewhere.
After copying everything, verify & double check that you have good copies of your clips on your external drive because the next step is to delete the originals of your captured clips that are on your internal drive. Don't delete any folders, just the captured clips themselves ... and all the render files. This is necessary so that when you reopen your FCE project it will be forced to reconnect media and you can point it to the new location on your external drive. Otherwise it will just continue to use the clips that are on your internal drive.
Then reopen your Project File that you left on your internal drive and reconnect media when prompted.

Final Cut Express HD 4 on Mac Mini?

Hello,
I know that the Mini isn't the fastest machine in the mac lineup, but I love mine and Apples' specs say that both it and the Macbook can cope with Final Cut Express HD 4.
I was wondering if anyone out there is already using this sort of setup in anger and what performance they had. Any 'groggy' areas?
I have a 1.83 Intel Core Duo mini with maxed out RAM running Leopard.
Thanks for your time

While I certainly don't want to discourage any further FCE users from describing their experiences with the software on Mac minis, I would have expected others to have jumped into that thread if there were additional thoughts - particularly if the comments there were not reasonably reflective of real-world experience. I think the response you got in the FCE discussion area, indicating that this software runs on much older and less capable hardware is a pretty good indicator - that FCE is really not particularly demanding. That's been my experience running it on a variety of systems, including my old G4, and a G4 mini.
Video performance is certainly acceptable, which would be expected since it runs just fine on G4 minis, and the integrated graphics on the Intel models is rather more capable. The Intel processors are also significantly more powerful than G4 systems, and on a par with G5 processors used in systems with far better performance than the minimum spec FCE was designed to work with.
All in all, if you don't get many other responses, I'd urge you not to consider that an indicator of there being a problem with FCE and Mac minis - actually quite the contrary!

Final Cut Express Capture Scratch problem

I am unable to play my video clips as for some reason Final Cut Express is giving a message that a number of capture scratch files are missing. It does this for all clips (referring to different capture scratch files). This did not used to happen. I do not know why it now wants the files. I have looked at old backups and the files are not there (correctly I believe). I have reinstalled the software, copied the backed-up documents (that I know used to work) but still the same error.
Can anyone please help me sort this out (I need the files for Uni work on Monday!)
Thanks.

I occasionally have a similar problem. Tom said:
"Is the media for the project available somewhere on your computer?"
I suggest that you find the exact name of the Project file that is trying to find the lost Captured file(s). Then search the Mac for all occurrences of that file name. The missing Captured file(s) should be in a folder with the same name as the Project. For example, if the Project file is called: "my project file", then search for: "my project file". If they exist, that will find them. (It is possible that the actual Captured File(s) in the folder "my project file" might be named "Untitled", but open it anyway (by double-clicking it) and see if it looks like the missing captured file.
To search on the Mac, click anywhere in the desktop, do File > Find. In the resulting dialogue box choose "Search in:" = "Local discs", then type the filename and press ENTER. (Choosing "Local discs" rather than "Home" is important because the Captured Scratch might have been set to be on an external disc.)
Good luck.

Final Cut Express Capture DV

I have a sony hdr-fx7 which records on mini hdv's, but i have been recording in DV format on my camera recently and would like to know how i should format my easy set-up to capture the dv footage into final cut express

Hi Matt,
Assuming you are in North America, select the DV-NTSC easy setup in FCE, then create a new sequence, then use Capture Clip or Capture Now to capture the DV video from your camcorder.
Note: check what audio setting you used when you filmed the footage (12 bit vs 16 bit). Ideally you should always shoot with 16 bit audio. The DV-NTSC easy setup expects 16-bit (48KHz) audio. If you shot with 12 bit audio then you need to use the DV-NTSC 32KHz easy setup in FCE instead of the straight DV-NTSC easy setup.
You also need to make sure your FX7 is set to output DV as opposed to HDV (via the FireWire output). Check the FX7's user manual for the required menu selection.

Quicktime 7.3 crashing Final Cut Express capturing..how do i rollback 7.2

So After hours of FCE HD crashing after a few minutes into capturing video I finally took to the internet. It seems that the quicktime 7.3 update is to blame so.....how do I remove 7.3 and install 7.2, which it sounds might not even be possible or easily backup everything and reinstall. I have a few thousand pictures and mp3's and I have never backed up my mac so details are important. Any thoughts, suggestions or help would be great. Thanks.

I too recently stumbled-upon this issue. Using FCP 4.5.1 on G4 Quicksilver running OS X 10.4.11. I recently installed iLife 08 and all the associated 'Software Updates' with the QT 7.3 update. Now, I can no no longer capture video longer then 5-10 minutes. After which time the tape deck continues to play, but the capture window displays a spinning beach ball and the machine hangs up. Creating huge files that play for 5-10 minutes and then display a long still frame/garbage at the end.
I've seen others with similar problems all pointing to the iLife 08 and QT 7.3 as the source of this problem. I've got all of same updates/software installed on Mac Pro Quad, where I'm running FCP 5.1.4 and this is NOT an issue. So it seems it's G4/FCP 4 issue, and is brought on by installing iLife 08 and the recent bunch of associated software updates including Quicktime 7.3 as far as I can tell.
As our business is video, and we have a project in the G4 that's in-progress, re-installing the OS and or FCP is not an option. I'd like it very much if I could "patch" or 'roll-back' to QT 7.2. What concerns me, is that it appears there are two alternatives.
(1) Backup my data and wipe the system drive and reinstall Tiger from my 4.6 install disk, and then reinstall all my applications and download a boatload of patches to bring everything back to just prior to iLife 08 and QT 7.3.
(2) Attempt to uninstall FCP, iLife08, and Quicktime 7.3 and hope I can 'clean-up" my system by installing FCP 4.5, and Quicktime 7.2 again, and patching it to back to prior to this mess.
Neither of these alternatives are very desirable, and feel pretty iffy at best. Based on my experience with iLife 08 and the spate of 'Software updates" that hit recently, I'm crossing my fingers and hoping the QT team gives us a way to 'roll back' or patch older FCP installations.

Final Cut Express capturing 48 percent behind camera.

When I go to capture with my HD camera it tells me that it is 48 percent behind the came and to use the camera for preview. Why is it doing this? When it finishes it makes sub clips, some of them have only 2 seconds of video while others have like 5 minutes. I have never had this problem before with the camera I own.

NO I never stopped the camera once.
When I say stopping the camera, I'm referring to the time you recorded the footage. During recording each time the record/record pause button is pushed on the camera that's a shot change/break. These shot changes/breaks are broken up during capture of HDV.
Are we on the same page here?
Otherwise I can only suggest that you double check the currently set Project and Sequence settings match the incoming footage from the camera in all details.
Al

Final Cut Express HD Footage

Hello, a friend has supplied me with video footage taken on an HD camcorder. He has supplied the footage on DVD discs. I usually import my video through the capture feature directly from my non hd camcorder, but of course I can't do that in this case. If I try to import the files they are not recognized. Can somebody please help?

Hi
DVD - is no standard as is - Can be a Video-DVD to be played on DVD-player/TV or a Data-DVD containing whatever file format/Codecs possibly.
So Please. Put the DVD into Your Mac and tell us what files comes up when You open it o DeskTop/Finer e.g.
VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS or .avi, .mov, .mp4
If the last three ones - Then You have to open them with any player that works e.g. QuickTime, VLC or mpegStreamclip and tell what codecs that were used as neither .avi, .mov, .mp4 are such but just containers.
Yours Bengt W

Final Cut Express capture failure

I am trying to create a new project and FCE cannot find the camera which registers in System Profiler. The recent post something about QuickTime 7.0.1 having something to do with this problem is not acceptable. I do not want to install QuickTime 7.0.1 because it invalidates the Pro feature I have purchased for 6.?.? If I ask FCE to "continue" instead of detecting device, the project command "capture" causes FCE to quit. I just completed a project and had no problems with camera recognition.

I'm sorry, you are exposing my very limited knowledge of both FCE and iMovie. I don't know if it is 4:3 or 16:9 and I have tried to find out in iMovie but am spinning wheels. I checked the camera setting (the camera used to shoot the materials) and the "widescreen" setting if off. Because of problems with the original camera (a JVC GR-DVM70) I have been using the Panasonic PV-GS200 to play the DV tape for capture.
I looked at the clip in QT Player and it looked normal (at least the figures in the scene) but the QT screen looked more letterbox than square.

Final Cut Express capturing

Dear All,
I want to capture my TV out in FCE, Im converting my analog video signal in to DV form and then give it to my imac. But prob starts when I click capture button it gives an error of "time code" and stop capturing, I also tried "non controlable device" feature but it is not working, please help me to solve this issue.

Try Easy Setup DV Converter. PAL or NTSC whichever is applicable for your system.
Al

Final Cut Express won't capture audio with the video anymore, why?

I have used Final Cut Express 4 for over a year now with no problems, but recently I am unable to capture any audio with the video from my camera. I can do it through iMovie no problem. I can't figure out if I changed a setting by accident because everything looks normal to me. Could another program be interfering with this? Quicktime Pro? I have no idea how to fix this.

First of all, we need a bunch of information in order to help. Please provide the specs of the footage and the sequence you are using. Also, are you using DV, HDV, or AVCHD? Do you hear audio when the clip is played in the viewer, or is there no audio at all once the clip is captured/ingested?

Does Final Cut Express 4 work with mac mini and other questions...?

I have a few questions I need help in answering... I would appreciate opinions on the following:
I am about to make a purchase of a new mac. I already have a mac mini PPC, but it is too slow...
Here is what I am thinking.
Mac mini, 2GB mem, 160GB hard drive. Will this new mac mini work with Final Cut Express 4?
Or should I go with the more powerful iMac?
I like to make movies on my mac but I hate iMovie 08 so I constantly use iMovie HD 06. Should I go to Final Cut Express 4 or just stick with iMovie HD 06?

There is no doubt that FCE 4 will run on an Intel mini - the GMA graphics processor is compatible. There is also no doubt that an iMac would give you somewhat better overall performance, though it's important perhaps to note that as complex as FCE is, it is actually a little less demanding on hardware than iMovie has traditionally been, so the difference between a mini with 2Gb RAM and a similarly equipped iMac will not be all that great in FCE, though it will become a little more noticeable if you continue to use iMovie 6.
The main reason for the performance difference between iMovie and FCE is that in order to provide a reasonably sophisticated video editing package that will run on very basic hardware, Apple relied heavily on caching techniques, meaning that while FCE basically spools from video and relies on CPU power, iMovie constantly moves data to and from the hard drive. The mini's hard drive is a (relatively) slow device in comparison to the iMac's - thus the iMac runs iMovie rather more seamlessly. In FCE, the difference is, as said, rather less clear unless you were to go for the top-end model.
If your budget can stretch to an iMac it makes sense to go that route simply because the extra power and overall performance (and the better graphics processor) will give you greater flexibility down the road. On the other hand, if funds are tight and you need to spend as little as reasonably possible, a mini will do fine, and is sufficient;y inexpensive that in a couple of years could be sold off and replaced without severe financial implications.
In terms of the choice between FCE or iMovie, beware that if you haven't used FCE before, the transition is not easy, and the learning curve for it is pretty steep. That said, it has far greater power and flexibility in terms of what you can achieve with it than has ever been possible with iMovie.
That said, for casual and home use, iMovie (version 6 at least) has plenty of power and tools for the majority of projects. iMovie 8 is, in many ways, deeply flawed for those who want that sort of power and workflow tools, being that it is designed for quick and easy creation of movies, not creative and considered productions. It has it's uses, but if you have experience with iMovie already, v8 is really not intended for you at all.
All that said, I've used iMovie 6 on systems will a lot less power than the current Intel minis, and have found it stable and workable, so I have no doubt it would work well on any current Mac.

Capturing HD in final cut express

A few capture questions:
1. Is there a way to capture HD material in final cut express?
2. If I'm sending HD material through a digital converter, and then to the computer, will that digital computer all the file to be transfered in HD?
thank you.

From what version up can final cut express capture HD?
question 2: I'm running material from a BetaHD deck, but it doesnt have a fire wire connection, so i'm connecting video and audio cables to a digital converter which is connected to the computer via fire-wire. Does the HD signal maintain over this transfer?

Final Cut Express HD and Animoto resolutions don't match

I imported a 720p video into Final Cut Express HD from Animoto.com (created online with Animoto and downloaded the MP4).
I added a song and a couple of bookend credits then exported to QuickTime Movie. The resolution of the FC export is significantly lower than the original MP4. Significantly lower. I've tried almost all the export settings in the "QuickTime Conversion" export, but nothing comes close to the resolution of the imported MP4.
Can anyone see what I might be doing wrong?

Have a read here:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/19146995#19146995
Sounds like your Easy Setup and clips are scrambled to me resulting in degraded footage.
BTW: MP4 should be transcoded to match an Easy Setup.
Codecs used in FCE are editing codecs, MP4 is for delivery.
Al

Preferred input format with VHS via Canpous 55 to iMovie/Final Cut Express

I am using VHS deck to Canpus 55 to iMovie 08/MacBook Pro.
I do the input to iMovie 08 as it is less problematic for input than Final Cut Express and also I can share these with family for their video making in iMovie.
However I import the video files from iMovie events to FCE for editing.
1. I notice the VHS-to Canopus-to iMovie are .dv files with frame size 720x480 and compressor file says DV/DVCPRO - NTSC, not Apple Intermediate Codec.
2. I also import AVCHD files and those are frame size 960x540 and compressor is Apple Intermediate Codec.
When I bring the .dv files in from iMovie 08 to FCE, I sometimes get the warning about the files not in the standard settings and the drop down list of settings include Apple Intmediate Codec in various choices and the NTSC in various choices.
Should these be somehow standardized or will the eventual output be ok? I had one VHS 15 min segment look great on the computer in iMovie, then FCE but was very digitized after output to iDVD.
Thanks for the help.

misterdmmc wrote:
... and I also don't have Imovie.
you do.
on the Installer Disks, your Mac came with, there's 'Installed software', which allows to install the iLife Package only.
for most of your needs, esp. being no professional editor , iM offers all you need:
https://sites.google.com/site/karstenschluter/how-to-make-a-vidcast
shows you how to use pic-in-pic, green-sceen, integration of 'charts' and other 'effects' of iM, to produce a vidcast.
-Subtitles
'Subtitles' is for me a switchable feature on DVD ... if you mean 'titles in lower third' - any editor offers this. what iM does NOT offer, is a free-locatable title (or e.g. logo-bug), but there's a simple workaround working with transparent pngs, see my site too ....-
-Split screen video. Half/Half or Full screen for one video source, and a tiny screen say on the top left of another source...
side-by-side? iM no, FC yes.
-Export video in ipod compatible format
afaik, any Apple video-app allows that ..
general advice:
• iM is meant for consumers - convenient, but limited.
• FC/e or /p is meant for (semi)professionals - what iM offers as a 'one click done'-solution, is a many-steps-process with some background-knowledge and understanding needed.
• for sure, FC offers MUCH more options .. any option, you'll soon get lost
• the learning curve for FC is steep! buy a book of master-mind TOM WOLSKY, who generously participates here at this board ...-
• I don't see a need for you in spending 1.000$ more for the FC/pro suite ... Motion? Color? Compressor? Highly complex tools for even more complex processing ...
I would 'play' with iM to get familiar with your project - what do you need, how should it look? if you reach the limits, have a look at FC/e at any Apple-store ... if it doesn't scare you, get the app and the book, and spend some months studying ...
and Welcome misterdmmc to the  boards ...

Final Cut Express-Capturing footage off of mini dv with no timecode

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