getting black image, can hear sound

Short description of my problem:

I'm getting a black image for picture. I can hear the sound. I can see one frame at a time on my external monitor. My guess is a QT/FCP/OS conflict. But I'm hoping you guys might have some ideas about how I can fix it. Hopefully something other than an archive and install?

Here's how I got here:

I stared today working on a Dual 2 GHz PowerPC G5, OS 10.4.11, FCP 6.0.4, 5.5 GB RAM, and I'm not sure what version of QT (lower than 7.6.2).

Last week I was editing my project with the same drives in a different town, on a different system. Not sure of all of the specs, but FCP was 6.0.5.

Today I moved back into my regular office, plugged in my drives, opened the project, copied a section of my sequence to a new sequence and saw that none of the unrendered video effects were working. A week ago I worked on this computer with no problem.

I was baffled. Thought it might be because I went down from 6.0.5 (last weel) to 6.0.4 (today). Figured it was a long shot, but decided to upgrade. I wish I didn't.

I installed some updates (but not everything that was offered) including Security, Java, Final Cut Pro, Quicktime (7.6.2), ProApps, etc.

So now I'm cutting on a Dual 2 GHz PowerPC G5, OS 10.4.11, FCP 6.0.5, QT 7.6.2, 5.5 GB RAM, and getting black picture, hearing sound.

No, I didn't backup before the update. I know, shame, shame.

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

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I'm getting a black image for picture. ? I can see one frame at a time on my external monitor.

No offense, but which is it? I ask because if your broadcast monitor freezes on a still during playback, that's a symptom of one problem ? your timeline format doesn't match your AV output settings ? but if you're getting no picture at all, that might well be something else.

Clarification:

Black image in the Viewer and the Canvass in my computer monitor, but one frame at a time (wherever the playhead is parked before I push play) on the broadcast monitor.

Yup, seen that before. Sounds like a mismatch between your timeline format and your AV output settings. What's your timeline set to, and what are your AV output settings? Are you on a Kona system or a Blackmagic system? I'm personally only familiar with Kona systems, and only know about Blackmagic systems through hearsay and rumor.

Jeff,

I appreciate the idea, but even if I turn "External Frames" off, my Viewer and Timeline are black.

As far as my system, I'm going Firewire 400 out to a DSR-25 deck and component to a monitor.

My project is SD DV NTSC.

Do the clips referenced by your project open up in Quicktime? Have you tried trashing your preferences?

Andy

You in Wireframe Mode?

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Quote
Kevin
You in Wireframe Mode?

You know, I actually wondered about that myself. I guess it would be appropriate to apply Occam's razor to this problem.

Andy

Andy: yes the clips open up and playback fine in Quicktime. I have trashed my preferences.

Kevin: I wish that wireframe mode was the problem, but alas, it's not on.

Have you tried another FireWire cable?

- Loren
Today's FCP keytip:

Cycle Image to Image & Wireframe to Wireframe with W !

Final Cut Studio 2 KeyGuide? Power Pack.
Now available at KeyGuide Central.
www.neotrondesign.com

What codec are we talking about here? That hasn't been mentioned.


www.shanerosseditor.com

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> What codec are we talking about here? That hasn't been mentioned.

Yeah, it has:
> My project is SD DV NTSC.

Now, you've actually looked at the Wireframe setting, right? You're not assuming? That is the most common cause. And you've tried pressing SHIFT-Z (Fit to Window)? And looking at the clips to make sure they are V1 + A2, etc.?


www.derekmok.com

Loren: Now I have all firewire devices unmounted and am using a clip from an internal drive. I get the same issue.

Derek: I did verify that I'm on "Image" and not "Wireframe." Interestingly enough, when I switch it to "Image+Wireframe," I'm able to see a still frame of the clip in the viewer (previously, on "Image," it was just black). I play it and the frame stays frozen but sound plays back.

My assistant was able to successfully downgrade us to Quicktime 7.5.5 last night. So now we're:

OS 11.4.11, FCP 6.0.5, QT 7.5.5

Trashed prefs again.

Still getting the same issues.

Thanks for all of your brainstorming. Please let me know if you have more ideas. We're really at a standstill here. Hoping to avoid archive/install, of course.

Thanks.

Make sure your Canvas is set to show you RGB, and not Alpha. There's a hotkey for this, if I remember correctly, but I'm drawing a blank on what it is. I've heard tales of people hitting that hotkey by mistake and having their image disappear on them.

Jeff: Thanks for the suggestion. Checked the setting and it's on RGB.

Is it possible your footage was shot with the lens cap on and nobody told you?

(This is me trying to apologize for not being able to solve the problem.)

Jeff: wait a minute... wait. a. MINUTE! The dang lens cap!

But we used a nice mic, so at least it sounds awesome.

How neat is your window arrangement? You can get anomalies in playback when you have the Canvas overlapping another image window like the Viewer by even 1 pixel. This is common in Avidland too.

Then there's the computer power test. Shrink the Canvas as small as you can and see if you get smooth motion.

- Loren
Today's FCP keytip:

Cycle Image to Image & Wireframe to Wireframe with W !

Final Cut Studio 2 KeyGuide? Power Pack.
Now available at KeyGuide Central.
www.neotrondesign.com

Thanks, Loren, but no overlaps here.

Thanks all, for your thoughtful troubleshooting.

This morning we uninstalled with FCS Remover, then reinstalled FCP Studio 2, then upgraded to FCP 6.0.5 and 7.6.2 (running OS 11.4.11). Seems to be working fine now.