Neep Help With Dropped Frames, Slow Raid, Final Cut Pro HD Editing

[stylecouncilor]

I'm having problems with dropped frames and slow RAID speeds editing Panasonic P2 HD material in Final Cut Pro.

The computer setup is: PowerMac G4 Dual 867 (mirrored drive doors), OS 10.4.8 w/software RAID 0 setting, FCP 5.1.2, 2gb memory, dual generic flat panel displays; Seritek PCI-X Four-port eSATA card, Granite Digital four-bay SATA RAID with 400 gb Western Digital WD4000KD hard drives, GD six foot eSATA cables. The source material is Panasonic P2 720pn/24 frame HD.

The problems I'm having are specifically related to rendered transitions in the FPC timeline. Straight cuts, multiple audio channels, high quality sequence settings: no problems. But a single cross-dissolve or fade in, and I get the "dropped frames" warning. This is very puzzling to me, as the data rate on even multiple streams of this level of HDV is minimal (5.9 mb/s). I've done all of the "normal" things to reduce system strain, but nothing seems to be working.

Also, the drives in the RAID are only spinning at around 3000 rpm's. I know the G4 is capable of so much more - in 9.2 I was doing nearly uncompressed video capture without a RAID (via Aurora Igniter) and never had this many problems.

Clearly, there is a weak link somewhere, or a system setting I'm missing. Please help. Thanks!

[bobkart]

(mirrored drive doors)

Hahhah I love it. New rule; all mirrored drives must also have mirrored drive doors!

But seriously, dropping frames during rendering? My understanding is that dropping frames is a capturing problem only.

And 3000RPM drives? What's up with that? Something's fishy here. Every drive I've ever heard of spun at its rated RPM once up to speed.

You may get moved to the Mac Forum by the way.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

[redwudz]

Since you are using the Mac OS, you would probably get more answers in our Mac Forum. Moving you.

And welcome to our forums.