59.94seq. & Drop Frame

Has anyone run into the problem of creating a DVCPRO-HD sequence with Drop Frame timecode in Final Cut Pro HD 5 using the 59.94 timebase and the "DVCPRO HD 720P60" Sequence Setting?

When we set up a sequence using the "DVCPRO HD - 720p60" setting, the "Drop Frame" check box gets grayed out in the "timeline" tab.

I know someone who has FCP 6 who's able to switch from NDF to Drop by simply checking the box but we are not.

Another weird issue is that with our 59.94 setting we actually get T.C. beyond 29. (ie: 01:04:16:48) Is it counting fields or ??? How can we keep working in 59.97 but get normal T.C.?

The only way we've been able to solve this issue so far has been to export our 59.94 NDF sequence to Q.T. movie and transfer it at that point to Drop Frame. Then put it into a 29.97 sequence for out put.

There must be another answer.
Thanks,
Lara

I don't know why it's graying out the DF check-box. That seems odd although it may be something with the Easy Setup you used. Can you create a custom sequence setting for 59.94 DF rather than 60 NDF?

Why is it weird that you get numbers beyond 29? You shot 60p so there are 60 frames for each second (0-59).

Dunno why you can't choose DF. That is a DF format. Make a new sequence? make a new project? Trash preferences, THEN make a new project.


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A simple answer might be: FCP 5 is not made for working with 50/60 fps timecode. Time to upgrade.

And as said by bigbossbmb: Why is it weird that you get numbers beyond 29? You shot 60p so there are 60 frames for each second (0-59).

Andreas

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That's exactly the problem. FCP 6.0.2 is the first version to support 59.94 drop frame timecode. It's in the release notes for 6.0.2.

Andrew Balis

OH? Leave that to Andrew to know the question to this. I never worked with 59.94, so I never knew.


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