Frame Rate Converter wobblies

Question

Anyone had this problem.
Digitise footage from a Panasonic AG1200 at 60fps (for Varicam DVCPRO HD)
Use the Frame Rate Converter to create reference clips from the original footage (ie 60fps to 24) then import this reference clip to discover that is actually points to another clip that I've not even touched yet. Annoying.
Second annoyance. The Frame Rate Converter throws up a message saying "The selected media file (media file name) cannot be processed by this tool. Only DCVPRO HD 720p 59.94 and 50 fps media files are supported"
Inspection of the media file shows it to be fully compatible and is even from the same tape as ones that work fine previous (ie no camera alterations)
I always feel the same working with FCP, even after all these years. Initial success followed by a gradual downfall of media reference mash up and confusion and ultimate meltdown.
My solution now will be to go the more time consuming route of creating new quicktimes from the original media and importing those into the project.
Any thoughts appreciated.

Answer 1

how many hours do I have to loose in production discovering these issues before I can sit down and actually do the 'creative' stuff.
This comes from experience. And this is true for any editing system. You don't know that a "feature" doesn't work right until you find out yourself, or if you happen to work with someone who knows that "hey, that feature doesn't work right." I always did the self contained thing until I worked with another guy on a project. He started doing the REF thing and it seemed to streamline the production. Until it came time to lock the show and prep it for output. Then we had relinking issues. So we had to go back, make self contained files, link to those, then replace the REF ones in the sequence. And no, we won't do that again.
Before these forums this was something found out on the job from other editors. Or by yourself thru experience. But because you bring this up, not others who didn't know about this issue might be able to avoid it.
Now, I have a blog where I write about my experiences in editing, and share my pitfalls and successes so that this information can get out there. I was always frustrated with some feature or another on an Avid until I went to a company with 15 editors, and one of them goes "Oh, that? I figured out a way to do that..." and then they showed me. These forums are a GLOBAL way of sharing that information.
Until now, your issue really hadn't come up. And I will have to confess that I didn't blog about it. Dunno why, I should. But now many others will benefit from this experience. And if you hang out here daily, or even a couple days a week and read thru the posts, you will find all sorts of problems you can avoid.
Shane