--- Forwarded Message from Jim Hogg <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 09:51:32 -0500
>From: Jim Hogg <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #7058 Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Express and hard drives
>In-reply-to: <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum    <[log in to unmask]>

------------------


As far as hard drives, there are many variables that could contribute 
to dropped frames. Even fast hard drives may drop frames if conditions 
are not optimal. I've read many complaints about hard drive models, but 
mostly they are about drives that break down. I've had good success 
with IBM drives, although one particular model seems to have problems. 
Most complaints are about Maxtor drives. Still others use them with no 
problems. I think Apple even uses Maxtor's in their machines sometimes.

When FCP first came out, Apple recommended only ultra fast SCSI drives. 
Then people began using ATA drives which were a fraction of the cost of 
SCSI, and you could put up to six of them in a G3/G4 tower with an 
added ATA controller card. Now I don't think there is much debate about 
speed of drives and use with FCP/Express

A 7200 rpm drive with fast seek time should work. That's pretty much 
any relatively new drive. I've used 5400 rpm drives successfully with 
FCP on a G3. Most professional FCP users would recommend having one or 
more dedicated drives for media . That is have your system and program 
on one drive and your captured video files on another. If you can have 
three drives, I would even dedicate a drive for render files. Perhaps 
even a fourth drive to keep graphics and extra audio tracks like voice 
overs, music and sound effects (not the original audio with the movie-- 
that stays with the video track if its DV). That way when you've got 
multiple things happening at the same time, your single hard drive 
isn't searching all over the place and reading files trying to keep up.

If you only have one drive and  everything has to be on it, make sure 
your system is clean and your drive is optimized. A fragmented drive 
will never work with video. If your using OSX, run Disk Utility/First 
Aid/Repair Disk Permissions. To optimize the drive, you'll have to boot 
from an OS 9 disk (external) and run something like Plus Optimizer, 
Tech Tool Pro, or Norton.

Good luck, Jim


On Thursday, February 27, 2003, at 08:17  AM, LLTI-Editor wrote:

> --- Forwarded Message from Laura Atkinson <[log in to unmask]> ---
>
>> Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 16:31:04 -0500
>> From: Laura Atkinson <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>,      
>>  Mac Users Group <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Express and hard drives
>
> ------------------
>
> Have any users of Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Express out there found a 
> link
> between dropped frames and the hard drive model?
>
> There is mention on the Apple website of compatible drives, but I can't
> find a listing such as the list of approved input devices (i.e.
> http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/qualification.html)
>
> Thanks!
>
> ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
> Laura Atkinson
> Technical Coordinator for Foreign Language Computing
> Duke University
> [log in to unmask]
> 919.812.0402
> ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*