This document provides information about Final Cut Pro 1.0 that supplements the information found in your User Manual and on-line help. For the latest information on product updates, tips and tricks, third-party software, and qualified third-party devices always go to the Final Cut Pro Web site at:
http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/
Installation Notes
Before You Install Any Software
Turn off any security software that you may have installed on your computer.
Turn off any virus-protection software that you may have installed on your computer.
Be sure to read all the recommendations below before beginning work with Final Cut Pro.
Installation Requirements
You must install Final Cut Pro on a startup hard drive containing Mac OS 8.5 or later.
Do not interrupt the installation process, doing so may result in an incomplete installation and will require you to reinstall the application.
Install QuickTime
The Beta version of QuickTime 4.0 included on your CD-ROM has been qualified for use with Final Cut Pro. However, before installing this version of QuickTime, check the Final Cut Pro Web site for the most current version of QuickTime. The website is at the following URL:
http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/
IMPORTANT
If a new version of QuickTime 4.0 is not yet available, you need to copy the QuickTime Installer Folder (on your Final Cut Pro CD-ROM disc) to your hard disk before following the QuickTime installation instructions in the Final Cut Pro User's Manual. Open the QuickTime Installer from your hard disk to install the software.
See article 59002:
Final Cut Pro 1.0: QuickTime 4.0 Public Beta Compatibility
for the latest information.
Install All QuickTime Components
When installing, make sure to choose QuickTime Authoring as the installation type. If you experience problems or error messages when launching Final Cut Pro, reinstall QuickTime.
Unlock QuickTime Pro
A complimentary registration code has been included that allows you to unlock QuickTime Pro for this and future releases of QuickTime 4.0. See the update entitled "Read This Before Installing Final Cut Pro" in your box for your registration number and instructions.
Update your Firmware if you own a Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White)
Before installing Final Cut Pro on a Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White), you may need to update the firmware. Locate the G3 Firmware Update folder on your Final Cut Pro CD-ROM and open the G3 Firmware Updater utility. The utility determines whether updating is necessary and provides the onscreen instructions for updating.
Hardware Compatibility Notes
Check the following notes to learn of ways to solve problems with specific equipment.
Truevision Targa Audio Issues
When using Truevision hardware, if you capture audio from A2, you will get A1 from the deck. To work around this issue, capture A1+A2, then use the target track controls when editing the clip into a sequence to use only CH2.
To hear audio from a Targa card, use the Sound control panel to set the Sound In and Out to Targa. If the Sound control panel is not in the Control Panels folder in your System Folder, locate it in the Apple Extras folder on your hard disk and set Sound In and Out to Targa.
Targa Video Playback Performance
Clips compressed with non-Targa codecs may perform poorly during playback when using the Targa 2000 as the video card.
Targa Display Issues
If your monitor resolution is different each time you restart when using the Targa 2000 as your display card, use the monitor adapter that came with your Targa product and the monitor adapter that came with your monitor to stabilize your resolution setting.
If your Apple Studio Display 15" or 17" has a green tint when connected to a Targa card, turn off Sync on Green in the Targa control panel.
ATI Video Playback Issues
The Rage 128 ATI chipset is in all "blue and white" G3's and can easily play back a movie at any display resolution. However, if you are using an older model G3, movie playback might be choppy if you are using Rage II+, RagePro, LT-G, and LTPro. To avoid this problem, set the display to 1024 x 768 or smaller. Consult the documentation that came with your computer or use the Apple System Profiler to find out which ATI display card was included in your system. Also, download the latest display software from the ATI Web site at:
http://www.atitech.com/
ATI Video Acceleration
Use the ATI Video Accelerator Update to speed up playback of certain types of QuickTime movies. The update complements, but does not replace, the ATI Video Accelerator. For more information, see the Read Me that accompanies the update. The update is available at the ATI Web site:
http://www.atitech.com/
DV Playback
It's best to play your DV clips through ATI video display cards. Attempting to play DV clips on a monitor controlled by video cards from other vendors may result in dropped frames or otherwise poor performance.
If you experience poor performance when playing back DV clips, uncheck "Mirror on Desktop During Playback" in the General tab of the Preferences window.
DV Audio Playback
If you hear an echo when using DV, the built-in speaker in your computer may be competing with monitor speakers. Click the Audio button in the Capture tab of the Preferences window and choose Off in the Speaker pop-up menu.
Keyspan Serial Sevice Control Issues
Keyspan USB Serial Adapter users must use Keyspan driver version 1.5.1 or later. For the latest drivers and support, see Keyspan's Web site:
http://www.keyspan.com/
If you are using a Keyspan USB Serial Adapter for RS-422 or RS-232 device control, you need to make a direct connection between your Macintosh and video device. For stable communications, connect the Keyspan adapter directly to your Macintosh and attach the serial cable between the Keyspan adapter and video device. You will encounter intermittent communication errors if you attach your Keyspan adapter to a USB hub or pass the signal through a device such as a monitor.
No Communication With a DV Device
If you are having trouble communicating with your DV camera, shut down both your computer and camera for a few minutes before proceeding.
Device control is not available when your camcorder is in Camera mode.
Sony Analog to FireWire Converter Box
The Sony DVMC-DA1 does not provide FireWire or any other form of device control. It only converts analog video and audio signals to DV, which can then be transmitted over FireWire. If you are using this box with a video device that supports serial device control such as RS-422, choose the supported device control protocol in the Device Control tab in the Preferences window. If your analog video device does not support device control, turn off device control in the Device Control tab in the Preferences window. Using Apple FireWire device control with the DVMC-DA1 is not recommended.
Limited Display Resolutions
If your resolution settings are limited to 640 x 480 when using the Apple Studio Display 15" or 17", you can gain access to other resolutions by turning off the Data Display Channel (DDC) control using the on-screen display (OSD) feature of your display. Follow these steps:
1. Press the OSD Enter button on the left of the monitor. The Basic Adjustments menu appears.
2. Choose the ETC icon and press the Enter button.
3. Choose Off to turn off DDC.
4. Press the OSD Exit button.
Causes of Unusual or Inconsistent Behavior
FWB Hardware and Software
Using FWB driver software or FWB SCSI cards, including the HammerTime extensions, with DV or Truevision capture cards is not recommended.
Energy Saving Utilities
Before capturing, turn off the energy saver, screen saver, and sleep features of your computer. These energy saving features may interrupt the capture.
Apple SoftRaid Software
If you experience problems when capturing to an Apple SoftRaid formatted volume using a Truevision capture card, get the most current version of Apple SoftRaid software from the Final Cut Pro Web site:
http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/
Deleting Presets
Deleting a preset cannot be undone. Final Cut Pro requires at least one preset to open. If you delete the last preset, you will need to reinstall Final Cut Pro.
Splitting Windows Across Multiple Screens
Splitting a window across multiple screens while working in Final Cut Pro is not recommended.
Operating With Different Drive Formats
Make sure you do not have both Remus and Atto extensions in your System Folder at the same time.
Avoid using drives striped with more than one type of drive formatting software.
Performance Notes
Audio/Video Synchronization in Final Cut Pro
Hardware variations occasionally lead to synchronization problems between audio and video. If you experience A/V sync drifts on long clips, check the box labeled AutoSyncCompensator in the General tab of the Preferences window. The AutoSyncCompensator analyzes clips and compensates for any audio drift by adjusting the sampling rate of audio to match the duration of video in a clip. This adjustment is only applied to the timing of clips in the Browser or Timeline and does not affect the media on disk.
You can specify a minimum duration limit to trigger the AutoSyncCompensator. The AutoSyncCompensator will only analyze clips longer than this duration. The default duration of 5 minutes is suitable for most circumstances.
{Editor's Note: The term AutoSyncCompensator is a single word, not AutoSync Compensator.}
Required DV Capture Frame Rate
DV must always be captured at 29.97 frames per second.
Recommended DV Audio Sample Rates
When creating a DV project, it's best to capture the material at the same audio sample rate it was recorded in. For best results, always shoot, capture, and output at 48 kHz.
Capturing From DV Media
When working with DV, it's best to capture from the original media. If you experience difficulties capturing from mini DV tapes that have been duplicated from DVCAM originals, try capturing from the original DVCAM media.
Disable Disk Monitoring Utilities
For best performance, do not use disk monitoring software such as Symantec's DiskLight while using Final Cut Pro.
Open Video Clips in One Application Only
Do not open a video clip in multiple applications at the same time. A DV file playing in Final Cut Pro while simultaneously open in Movie Player will not play back properly.
Restoring Video Playthrough in the Log and Capture Window
Occasionally you may need to move the Log and Capture window to restore video playthrough. This occurs most often when using Truevision cards with consumer VCRs that do not put out a constant sync signal. Have your input source on and ready before opening Log and Capture.
Eliminating Bad Cuts in Recaptured Clips
When recapturing a sequence with Targa Video when imported from an EDL, you must use handles in the batch capture process. Similarly if you use the sequence trimmer, you need to trim with at least 1 second handles on either side of the clip.
Label Drives With Unique Names
Drives with similar names may cause problems with the capture process. Each drive should have a unique name or at least a unique suffix identifier, for example, Media_1 and Media_2. Using "Media" and "Media_1" will not work.
Reclaiming Storage Space
To manage disk space, make sure to look in the Render Files folder and throw away project folders and render files that are no longer in use.
Capturing Live Video
Video captured live from a camcorder on Standby in Camera mode will not have a timecode. To capture video live from a camcorder with timecode, insert a tape into your camcorder, set your camcorder to Camera mode, then press the Record button.