Final Cut Express no longer working

I just purchased a MacBook Pro refurb (2.33C2D) and I imported all my data and programs from my old iBook G4. Everything seems to have gone well, but Final Cut Express is no longer working and is requesting a serial number. I entered in the number I had for the version 4 upgrade I purchased (I also had bought versions 3 and 3.5 as well as some older ones too) and I don't understand why it is no longer working. It was fine with the iBook and it is a legal copy. I shouldn't have to re-install the whole suite AGAIN with all the older serial numbers just to get it working with m new MBP.
Apple should have all my records of having purchased this software as I registered it each time. Can I please get a number that will work without having to go through this? Thanks for any help you can give
Message was edited by: floridakid

It has nothing to do with piracy. The install puts in a number of system components which you can't install by transfer. The application has to talk to system components for QuickTime and for graphics support which have to know the application is there. Without installing the components and presets there is no way for these system elements to behave properly when addressed by the application.

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Does final cut express 4.0 work in new macbook bought in Oct 2013

I bought Final Cut Express 4.0 in 2008 and recently I bought a new MacBook Pro 15" around Oct 2013 and updated to Mavericks 10.9. I copied all the contents and apps from the old macbook to the new one and when using the Final Cut Express, it asked me for the serial number and when I tried to add it, it says serial not valid. What can I do to be able to use my Final Cut Express? Please any suggetions?

Three thoughts,
1. It is usually better to re-install pro apps (like FCE) from scratch instead of migrating them from an older Mac. If you migrated FCE from your old Mac, this could be the reason for the hiccup with the serial number.
2. The serial number is very long, and it's very easy to mistype a character. Try entering it again, being very careful typing and check the serial nubmer visually before you hit the enter key.
3. Keep in mind that FCE was discontinued in June 2011, even before Lion was released. It is no longer supported and there is no guarantee it will run, or run properly, on later versions of OS X including Mavericks. Users have had spotty success with it on Lion, Mt. Lion & Mavericks. YMMV.
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Final Cut Express, Preview not working in Capture

I've just purchased Final Cut Express, and have installed it in my G5 iMac. When I try to download film from my Sony TRV 17, I am unable to do so. The preview screen has a message "Preview Disabled", and I am unable to capture anything. The capture controls seem to control the recorder just fine. Anyone have a simple answer?

I'd tried running the camera into the computer, and only using the internal hard drive, no change.
When the camera is off and I start the program I get a message stating that the camera is not connected, but as soon as I turn the VCR on and hit the retry button, the program starts. Which easy set up option should I use if not FW basic?
Try daisy-chaining the camera to the drive. Do not
use FW basic with that camera. Make sure the camera
is turned on in VCR mode, and reboot. Launch the
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Imovie or final cut express, which one works best?

I am sick and tired of all the bugs in imovie. And I feel bad for everyone who are going out of their minds with soooooooo many problems with imove. I'm ready to buy final cut express, but does any one know if final cut express will run alot smoother and more relieable than imovie?
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Hi M
I also use iMovie (pref v6) and FinalCut Express (3.5.1) and FCP (5.x.?).
FinalCut Express and Pro are rather same in work flow. iMovie is mentally
somthing completely different.
You need to be a very organized person to get the best of FCE eg. numbering all
Your tapes (tape unique numbering), preparing a structure from beginning etc.
BUT: The freedom of about 99 video and audio tracks. Resizing a video track
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correction (much better than in iMovie), Green/blue screen and so much more
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Can Final Cut Express 3.5 work with green screen video?

Forgive my lack of technical terms but I am interested in my next FCE project being a bit more technical with some animations done in front of a green screen. Can FCE "erase" the green so I can overlay it to another background and or movie?
Cheers,
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Hi Lori.
In case you need some more practical advice:-
FCE has several different filters built in for Green and Blue Screen work.
FCE can also be used for animation and compositing.
For all the information you could ever want on the subject click on this link (and all the other links contained therein):-
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=449563&tstart=0
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Will my camcorder work if I buy Final Cut Express HD 3.5?

I have been enjoying iMovie for a long time and thought I would move on to Final Cut Express, but before I do I want to make sure my camcorder will work with it. My computer is one of the intel iMacs so I know it's not a problem. My camcorder is a Sony DCR-HC32. It uses miniDV tapes. I have an ominous feeling that Final Cut Express won't work with cameras that use miniDV tapes, but I'm not sure. Please let me know if you have any knowledge in this area. I don't want to buy the product if my camcorder can't work with it. Thanks in advance!

Hi Scott.
FCE is designed for cameras that use DV and Mini-DV tapes.
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// 12 Pb (1GHz, 1.25Gb, 120Gb) // Mac OS X (10.4.3) // FCE 3 // Motion 2 //

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Hey everyone.
Would Final Cut Express v.2 work on an iMac G5 with iSight. I know that certain versions of Final Cut Pro won't because of the video card incompatibility, but is it the same with Express?
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Jason

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All the online talk about importing MXF files into Final Cut have been about importing variations of HD in Final Cut Pro. My simple question is can I import complete MXF files at DV quality (or convert them before hand) in Final Cut Express?
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FCE only works with DV from tape capture. If you have DV in an MXF wrapper, FCE cannot bring it in.
Message was edited by: Tom Wolsky

Is there a way to import Final Cut Express projects?

I use Final Cut Express, and currently working on a project. Can I import FCE project to Final Cut X and complete it using FCX?

Thanks Tom. Bad news

I have just downloaded Yosemite but Final Cut Pro will not work can you help

Hi, I have, two days ago, updated my Mac with OS Yosemite only to find the programme Final Cut Pro no longer works. Can you explain please
imac 27" Mid 20l1
Processor 3.1GHZ intel core i5
memory 4GB 1333 MHZ DDR3
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Glad you got it going.
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http://www.fcpxbook.com/updates/101/
as the new version is very different from what you're used to.

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I have two video cameras (Sony TRV-25 and Sony HDV-A1U) which are no longer connecting to Final Cut Express through the firewire (4-pin to 800). I get the "unable to initialize" message. What's weird is that they were working fine just last month.
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I also reset video devices under the View menu.
Just for kicks, I tried connecting the TRV-25 to my old Mac. I had no problems at all. [The old Mac won't work with the HDV camera, so I didn't bother trying that.]
There are no other firewire devices connected to the Mac. There is an external drive that I use for capturing the video files that is attached through one of the USB ports.
I went and bought another firewire cable just to make sure, but got the same results.
For what it's worth, I also could not get the cameras to be recognized in iMovie.
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Thanks!

When I looked in System Profiler and click on the firewire line, it just said something about maximum speed 800 MB per second or whatever. Should it actually have the camera listed there? Is that the right way to check?
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Here's how my videos used to look:
http://vimeo.com/1067235
Here's how an exported video looks now:
http://vimeo.com/1655414?pg=embed&sec=1655414
What happened? Out of the box, everything worked perfectly. Now, tainted with actual tape, Final Cut Express seems like it's running my videos through six extra wringers and giving me clips worse than I'd get just cut-and-paste editing the Xacti files in QuickTime Pro!
I Googled my brains out, and all I've learned is, if I had Final Cut Pro, "Project Settings" would have all the switches I need. Well, I don't have FCP, just FCE.
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Mahalo for any advice!

It sounds like you didn't change the settings after you made the DV video. Did you switch it back to 1280x720 and make a new sequence in that format? Check item properties for the sequence you edited. What does it say? Also check item properties for any media you captured since working in DV.

Does the Sony DCR-HC32 camcorder work with Final Cut Express 3.5?

I was just wondering if the Sony DCR-HC32 camera model works for the Macbook or Final Cut Express 3.5. I am really interested in getting the Macbook for video editing. Thanks
Compaq Presario 700 Windows XP Pro

Yes.
Sony calls it iLink, Apple calls it firewire and the techos call it IEEE 1394.
All are one and the same.
You will require a 4-6 pin iLink cable that can be obtained from just about any computer or electrical store. Get a good quality sheilded cable no longer than 2 metres or shorter if you setup allows.
Al

Final Cut Express no longer working

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