Problem with Transition Over Nested Freeze

Question

In a nutshell:
My normally co-operative FCP (5.1.4, OS 10.4.10) can't seem to cope with one particular transition, in which a wipe effect overlaps with the start of a nested freeze frame. I seem to be able to do this with no problem anywhere else (even elsewhere on the same Timeline), but it's feeling like this one spot is jinxed!
The gory details:
I have a short sequence that begins with 3-4 similar shots, each of which end in a freeze frame, followed by a 2-second "Clock Wipe" transition to the next shot.
In one particular case (let's call it going from Shot A to Shot B), the Wipe needs to begin several frames BEFORE the start of the freeze. So in that case I've taken the shot + the freeze and nested them, making sure that the nested clip has ample handles. So far, so good.
But every time I then try to apply the transition, I get the not very informative error message: "Not Found." When I click OK (the only option available), the Canvas suddenly goes red, and displays the message: "Display unavailable. Close and reopen window to restore."
But if I do close the window, both the Canvas and Timeline disappear and can't be reopened -- they're each greyed out under the "Window" menu, and Cmd-2 and Cmd-3 do nothing. If I close the sequence tab and then try to re-open the sequence, nothing happens.
Meanwhile, if I don't close any windows, and just move the playhead somewhere else on the Timeline, the red Canvas seems to go back to normal. But if I then try to play that Timeline (no matter where the playhead is cued), I keep getting the same "Not Found" error message. If I Undo to before the point where I applied the transition, I STILL get the "Not Found" error!
In fact, once that "Not Found" error message appears, the ONLY way I've found to get access to that particular Timeline again is by doing a Revert Project. (Other sequences continue to work fine; it's just this one which can suddenly no longer be found.)
For anyone still interested, here's the troubleshooting I've tried:
- Doing the same procedure on another transition in the same Timeline -- works fine (even when applied to the very next transition -- the Shot B to Shot C one -- in the Timeline).
- Applying a transition that's shorter, and therefore doesn't overlap with the freeze "embedded" in the nested clip. This seems okay, but as soon as I then try to make the transition longer, so that it begins before the start of the nested freeze, it's the "Not Found" message again, and another Revert Project.
- Tried re-creating the nest: nothing. Tried re-creating the freeze frame, then re-creating the nest: still no change. Tried recreating the freeze on a different frame: no difference.
- Tried applying different wipes to the trouble spot -- but with the same result: if the wipe was short enough not to overlap with the freeze that's inside the nested clip, no problem; if the wipe is long enough that it starts before the nested freeze, it's another "Not Found" message and another Revert Project -- but ONLY for this one transition.
- Tried applying the wipe different ways (straight from the Browser; Option-dragging a copy of the transition from elsewhere on the Timeline; even making it a Favorite and applying it from the Effects menu).
- Tried copying all the clips from the sequence over into the empty Timeline of a fresh new sequence: no difference.
- Tried deleting the master shot altogether, and bringing in a new copy of the clip from the Browser: no difference.
- Tried deleting all the render files associated with this one sequence, the re-importing the clip from the Browser and re-creating the Freeze then the nest yet again: still no difference.
- Tried replacing the shot with a different clip of a different take altogether -- same thing!!!
- Made sure disk permissions were repaired, and even did a complete rebuild of the directory of the disk which has my FCP master project files plus the app itself (using Disk Warrior).
At this stage, ANY suggestions would be hugely appreciated!
Thanks,
John Bertram
Toronto

Answer 1

Margaret Norwood wrote:
Hi John,
How are you making the freeze frame? Shift n? Saving as subclip?
Shift-n.
Does the freeze frame have ample handles, or just the clip?
Handles galore.
Is there a reason that the sequence needs to be nested? How does it work if you put the clips directly into your main timeline?
It's not the sequence itself that's being nested, just a given shot together with its freeze frame. And that was so I could then begin the transition effect to the next shot BEFORE the start of the freeze frame. If the clip plus its freeze remain unnested on the Timeline, FCP treats the freeze as a separate clip, and won't let me stretch the start of the transition (to the next actual shot) past -- i.e. to the left of -- the start of the freeze.
But if the freeze and the shot which leads into it have been nested, then FCP should treat that nest as a single clip, and let me extend the transition effect I apply to it as far back into that nested clip as I want. At least that's the theory -- and it's worked for me at other times. Why it isn't working in this one case is what's driving me bonkers!
Anyway, thanks for the note.
Cheers,
jb