Final Cut Pro: Assemble Editing with a Panasonic VTR

Symptom

If you're using a Panasonic video recorder for assemble editing (Edit to Tape) operations, you may experience a few issues with your edit In points. This can include:

• VTR doesn't go into record mode at In point
• In point occurs earlier than expected
• Duplicate frames at the In point

Solution

Update to Final Cut Pro 5.1.2 to prevent these symptoms. If you're unable to update right away, continue with the rest of this document to see possible workarounds.

VTR doesn't go into record mode at In point

If the VTR does not go into record mode when it reaches the edit In point, you may be controlling the deck with the incorrect RS-422 serial protocol.

1. Choose Final Cut Pro > Audio/Video Settings.
2. Click the Device Control Presets tab.
3. Click the Edit button.
4. If a dialog appears saying that the preset cannot be edited, click OK to make a copy of the preset.
5. From the Protocol pop-up menu, choose Panasonic RS-422.

In point occurs earlier than expected

The In point on the edited tape may occur up to three frames earlier than the timecode set as the assemble edit In point. If this happens, you can work around the issue by adding frames to your intended edit point. For example, if you want your edit In point to occur at 00:58:30:00 but the actual edit comes in three frames earlier, enter an In point of 00:58:30:03 in the Edit To Tape window to offset the discrepancy.

Duplicate frames at the In point

If you see duplicate video frames at the edit In point:

1. Choose Final Cut Pro > Audio/Video Settings.
2. Click the Device Control Presets tab.
3. Click the Edit button.
4. If a dialog appears saying that the preset cannot be edited, click OK to make a copy of the preset.
5. Adjust the value for Playback Offset so that it eliminates the extra frames. As a starting point, enter a value equal to the number of duplicated frames you observed on the edited tape, then adjust as necessary.

For more information on the settings covered in this article, refer to the Final Cut Pro User's Manual under the Help menu.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple's recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.